Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1067.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the grounds under which an applicant for subsidiary protection can apply for family re-unification; the relationship of persons covered under family re-unification; whether she intends proposing changes to the current process; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34039/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Family reunification as provided for in s56 of the International Protection Act 2015, allows people granted International Protection status to apply for certain family members to join them in the State. This includes those who are granted both refugee status and subsidiary protection status.

The processing time can vary depending on the nature of the application and the documentation supplied. My Department engages with applicants for any further information that may be required to assist with the processing of applications.

All processing procedures and times are kept under ongoing review by my Department and every effort is made to keep these to a minimum.

Information on how to apply for family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015 is available on my Department's website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/

Non-EEA nationals legally resident in Ireland, and considering family reunification, and who do not meet the criteria as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015, should also be aware of my Department’s “Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification in Ireland”, available here:

www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf

This policy document, which is currently under review, sets out the criteria and requirements for any person considering making an application to be joined by family members in the State.

There are no current plans to amend the criteria set out in s56 of the International Protection Act.