Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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584. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a decision has been made on an Irish visa application appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43255/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 10 January 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 on 14 March 2024.

All visa applicants 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 the Immigration Service website. Applicants that carefully follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.

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 to the disparity in the complexity of these applications, the processing of some applications can take considerably longer than the overall average.

Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-offices/.

A decision will be issued to the applicant as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.

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.

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.