Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which work permit-related visas continue to be issued in line with the requirements of those seeking such visas; if a quick turnaround can be managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23498/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs process certain visa applications, including employment visa applications, in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.

Following the issuing of an Employment Permit by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a visa required national can apply for a employment permit visa up to 3 months before they intend to travel to Ireland. Further information about how to apply for this type of visa is available on my Department’s website, at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-work-visa-options/applying-for-a-long-stay-employment-visa/employment-visa/

The visa process has a crucial role to play in supporting economic activity in the State through facilitation of tourism from emerging markets, promotion of Ireland as a destination for international education, facilitating those coming here for business and work, etc. As with all visa services worldwide, the central concern in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time not placing unnecessary or unreasonable obstacles in the way of intending visitors.

All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/

I can advise that the Dublin Visa Office are currently processing employment visas received, in Dublin, on 20 April 2024.

Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions

I can further advise the Deputy, the Government has approved that a single permit for work and immigration permissions should be developed and implemented, following the consideration by the Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG). This group was established to examine the implications of a single permit; and to develop an implementation plan which would allow for the possibility of opting in to the EU Single Permit Directive.

The IDWG has now reported back to Government that it is feasible to begin implementation of the single permit and to opt-in to the Directive. On foot of this, the Government has recently agreed that implementation of the single permit should begin and that, in principle, Ireland should opt-in to the Directive. The opt-in will be subject to a further Government decision at the appropriate time.

The adoption of the Single Permit is expected to be completed over the course of the next three years. A programme management team is now being established between the Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to commence implementation of the Single Permit. The programme is expected to be delivered on a phased basis, which will aim to streamline existing processes as a new application platform is developed with customer benefits in the shorter term, such as developing a single payment. Short term actions include establishing data sharing agreements and enhancing communications between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my Department, such as alignment of online information.