Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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728. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how many joint family visa applications have been finalised in each week to date in 2024 in the Dublin visa office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44330/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that 173,363 visa applications were received in 2024 to 29 October 2024. In the same period in 2023, my Department received 142,789 applications. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to the same period in 2023, with 30,574 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.

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.

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; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.

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.

The below table shows the number of first instance decisions made in respect of Join Family visas by the Dublin Office between 1 January 2024 and 1 November 2024, by week.

** These figures include applications for Join Family visas for the following categories: Join Family (de facto partner of a CSEP/HA holder ); Join Family (Irish nationals.)(de facto partner); Join Family (Irish nationals.)(other); Join Family (Irish nationals.)(spouse); Join Family (Non-EEA nationals.)(de facto partner); Join Family (Non-EEA nationals.)(other); Join Family (Non-EEA nationals.)(spouse); and Join Family (UK nationals.).

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/

The date published on the above page 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 prevent the published processing date from advancing. 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.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy, my Department has now introduced a Digital Contact Centre (DCC) for our customers. The DCC allows individuals to log in and review the status of their immigration applications.

In its first phase, the DCC can be used to check the status of and raise queries in relation to Citizenship Applications, Visa Applications, Domestic Residence Permission Applications, EU Treaty Rights Applications and Travel Documents Applications.

My Department’s new platform can be accessed at the following link: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/