Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reconsider the decision to require Limerick students to travel to Dublin to obtain their Irish residence permit cards for the first time (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27307/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that, from 8 July 2024, the registration of Irish residence permissions for non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationals in counties Limerick and Cork will now be carried out by my Department at the Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that immigration administrative functions should transfer from An Garda Síochána to the Department of Justice. It is anticipated that the nationwide transfer of registration functions to the Department of Justice will be substantively completed by early 2025.

With the transfer of registration functions for Cork and Limerick, approximately 80% of all national registrations and renewals have now transferred from An Garda Síochána to the Immigration Service Delivery of the Department of Justice. Nationwide, over 100 Gardaí undertake immigration duties, including registration. The transfer of the registration function is releasing valuable Garda resources to focus on operational and enforcement matters, such as deportations and investigations.

At this time, first time registrations for individuals residing in these counties will be registered in person at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin. I understand that this may cause inconvenience for some residents of Cork and Limerick. However, going forward residents of Cork and Limerick will be able to renew their immigration permission using my Departments online platform as opposed to the current requirement that all registrations, including renewals, be done in person. This change will significantly reduce waiting times for registration of Irish residence permissions and streamline the process overall.