Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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245. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average wait time for the reunification scheme as a critical skills visa holder (not appeals). [5270/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average wait for the reunification scheme to critical skills workers when on appeal. [5271/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.

I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible.

Information regarding join family visa applications sponsored by holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP) is not collated in the manner requested by the Deputy. These applications and appeals are recorded in the same category as join family applications which are sponsored by non-EEA nationals who are residing in the State on a permission other than that of been a CSEP holder. For example, if the person has been issued General Employment Permit.

Family members of CSEP holders can apply for join family visas at the same time as the Sponsor’s employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and are typically completed within 12 weeks.

My Department aims to process join family visas applications made in other circumstances within 12 months. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification. The majority of join family visas receive a first instance decision within this business target. In 2024 the average processing time for all types of Join Family visa application was 72 calendar days.

In 2024, approximately 201,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to 2023, with over 35,000 additional applications received.

In 2024, approximately 22,000 join family visa applications were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This represents an increase of 14% compared to 2023, with over 3,000 additional applications received.

In 2024, 729 join family visa appeals were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This represents a decrease of 24% compared to 2023. In 2024, the Visa Office issued 543 decisions on join family visa appeals.

The current processing times for visa decisions and appeals are available here:

This webpage is updated weekly. Please note, the processing 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 am acutely aware that join family applications, are very important for the persons impacted and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides. In recent months, additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division which I expect reduce the waiting times for family applications in the coming months.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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247. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for the reunification scheme that are open, broken down by first-time applications and appeals. [5272/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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248. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants waiting over six months, and over 12 months, for first-time applications to the reunification scheme. [5273/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.