Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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295. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current waiting times for de facto partner visas. [27070/24]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the frequently with which her Department updates a web link related to visa permissions (details supplied). [27071/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.

I can advise the Deputy that my Department provides indicative processing timeframes for certain immigration applications on the immigration website, www.irishimmigration.ie.

It is important to note that these are business targets for the immigration service. Processing times for these applications will vary depending on the type and complexity of applications, individual circumstances, peak application periods, seasonal factors, and the resources available. While every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, processing times inevitably vary as a result.

In order to be fair, to all applicants, applications are processed in chronological order by the date received in the relevant office. New decisions are published on the visa pages of each of the seven overseas visa offices and the relevant Embassy website.

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

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/

The current processing dates for De Facto Preclearance applications are listed below:

De Facto (unmarried) Partner of Irish National 16 January 2024

De Facto (unmarried) Partner of CSEP/HA 05 January 2024

I can advise the Deputy, that the date published on the above page is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may prevent the published processing date from advancing.

It is important to note that no two applications are the same and there can be a number of reasons as to why some take longer than others to process. It may be the case that the application is the subject of investigation or further checks. My Department may also be waiting for the applicant to respond to specific queries or submit additional documentation requested by the Visa Officer.

Therefore, I can assure the Deputy that if the published processing dates for De Facto Preclearance applications remains unchanged this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application to join their Partner in Ireland that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. These applications are now being processed through my Department’s online platform, this simplified application process will speed up our processing times and lead to better outcomes for applicants.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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297. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on her engagement with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on creating a separate process for non-EU and non-EEA PhD researchers to apply for the 1G visa upon submitting their thesis (details supplied). [27098/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates the Third Level Graduate Programme which allows legally resident Irish educated non-EEA graduates who hold a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies for a period of 12 or 24 months. This residence permission is for the purposes of seeking graduate level employment and applying for a suitable employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The graduate permission is also available to PhD Researchers on completion of their studies and the awarding of a recognised qualification.

While my Department has responsibility for immigration related matters, the requirements of the international education sector and our higher education institutions are a matter, in the first instance, for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science. My officials engage, on an ongoing basis, with officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on a range of issues relating to international students, including matters relating to the Third Level Graduate Programme.

There are currently no plans to amend the existing arrangements for the graduate permission. However, my Department will continue to engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on all matters of mutual interest and consider any proposals that the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science might have regarding the Third Level Graduate Programme.