Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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801. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for a visa can be urgently re-examined in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45111/24]

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 New Delhi on 30 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 launched on 22 July 2024.

It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this appeal will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.

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.

Please note that the granting of a work permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not guarantee that a visa will be subsequently granted. There are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.

The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.

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

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/

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.