Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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344. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for a study visa in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38929/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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An application from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department.

A decision is expected to issue shortly.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware that information regarding the processing times for decisions in respect of join family visa applications has not been updated in four months on her Department's website page concerning processing times and decisions in the Dublin office; the reason these applications have the slowest turnaround times; if she is aware that these applicants can wait up to 15 months for an initial decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38936/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.

The date published on the website referenced by the Deputy 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 result in the published processing remaining unchanged. I can assure the Deputy that if the published processing dates for applications remain unchanged this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.

I can advise the Deputy that in 2023, over 166,000 visa applications were submitted and approximately 140,000 people were granted visas to travel to Ireland. These figures are likely to be surpassed in 2024, with over 123,000 visa applications having been received in the first seven months of this year alone. This reflects an increase of 20%, compared to the same period in 2023, with over 21,000 additional applications received.

The vast majority of visa applications are determined in a matter of weeks. However, some applications, in particular those to join family members here, can take considerably longer.

It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.

Processing times for these applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.

Visa applications and appeals are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all applicants. However, due disparity in the complexity of these application, I am advised that the processing of some applications can take considerably longer than the overall average.

I understand extended wait times can be frustrating. I want to assure anyone who is waiting on a decision that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. I am acutely aware join family applications, are very important for the persons impacted and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides. In recent weeks, I have assigned additional resources and staff to my Department’s visa division which will I expect will reduce the waiting times for family applications in the coming months.