Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094, 1095, 1096 and 1097 together.

An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA/UK nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these appointments. The waiting time for appointments outside of Dublin is dependent on the demand for registrations in each office, and fluctuates based on seasonal demands and other variations.

My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only.

Applications for renewal of permission, including when changing stamp category, are accepted up to 12 weeks prior to expiry to allow sufficient time for processing. The Immigration Service Delivery area of my Department are currently processing applications for renewal submitted the week commencing 04 January 2024. This processing date is advertised on the Immigration Service website and updated weekly.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that immigration administrative functions should transfer from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Department of Justice. My Department and An Garda Síochána have engaged intensively on the scope of immigration operations to transfer to the Department and a roadmap outlining the functions for transfer is currently being finalised.

The roadmap will address the future transfer of work relating to the nationwide registration and renewal (outside of Dublin) of residence permission and the renewal of such permission from An Garda Síochána to the Registration Office of my Department.