Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only.

An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these appointments.

The Garda Commissioner has advised that Henry Street Garda National Immigration Bureau office in Limerick is processing approximately 210 applications weekly and has a wait time for appointments of approximately sixteen weeks at present.

The current backlog stands at 4,720 applications.

I have been advised that every effort is being made to reduce the waiting time. An additional Garda member has been assigned on a full-time basis since mid-January 2024. This brings the number of Immigration officers to 5 as well as a registration officer. An additional desk has been set up to allow extra registrations, which is expected to further reduce waiting times.

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.