Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1557.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a visa to visit family; the reason this is happening on a disproportionate level to citizens from Albania; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32391/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The visa system is an essential part of our immigration system and is a preclearance mechanism to determine who can travel to Ireland. All applications are subject to scrutiny and must be supported by documentation to be approved.

I am advised by my Department's Visa Division that the approval rate for visa applications from Albanian nationals has decreased in 2024. I am informed that this is due to an increase in the number applications where the applicant has failed to demonstrate they have obligations to leave Ireland or that they have a legitimate reason to travel. Often applications are submitted without sufficient documentation or there is reason to believe false or misleading information has been submitted as part of the application.

The central concern in deciding on visa applications, as with all visa services worldwide, 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 facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.

The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused on 21 May 2024. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was received, in the Dublin Visa Office, on 04 July 2024.

All visa applicants, regardless of nationality, are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that follow these guidelines carefully have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance. Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:

Processing times can change during the year, for example before holiday periods or for study applications prior to a new college year.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@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 e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.