Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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226. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current turnaround time for category D visa applications; the date of category D applications currently being processed; if his Department has considered publishing information regarding this visa category on the Immigration Service website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30947/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to the processing of Join Family visa applications sponsored by holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP).

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.

The processing times of applications for join family visas of CSEP holders varies depending on the circumstances when the application is made. If a non-EEA national is moving to Ireland because they have been granted a CSEP, they can apply for family reunification visas at the same time as their own employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and are typically completed within four to eight 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 the 12 month business target. Information regarding the processing times for join family visa applications sponsored by a CSEP holder is not collated in the matter requested by the Deputy. However, I can advise that between 01 January 2025 to 31 May 2025, the average processing time for a join family visa sponsored by a non-EEA national was 86 days. This figure includes join family visa applications sponsored by CSEP holders.

Processing dates 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 website 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 date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.

I am acutely aware that join family applications are very important for the persons impacted. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides.

To provide greater clarity, officials in my Department are currently in the process of updating the Immigration Service website to provide processing times for decisions on visa applications at the Dublin Visa Office.