Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1136. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of a visa application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1746/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The application for an Extension of Student Conditions (ESTC) permission from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.

There has been a significant increase in recent months for people seeking an Extension of Student Conditions (ESTC). These are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible but it is only in exceptional circumstances that such an application will be considered.

In the meantime, the person concerned should continue to seek meaningful graduate level employment, which would allow them to change their immigration status and remain in the State.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.