Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1522. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of pending de-facto partner visa preclearance applications, by month of receipt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45231/25]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1523. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of de-facto partner visa applications refused in the past three years; the most common grounds for refusal; the number of successful appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45232/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1522 and 1523 together.

I can advise the Deputy that preclearance programmes for De Facto partners of Irish nationals and of non-EEA nationals who hold a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) or Hosting Agreements (HA) were introduced in 2019.

The requirement to make an application for preclearance applies to both visa and non-visa required non-EEA De Facto partners. If the person is from a visa required country the visa and preclearance application are considered together. In order to be eligible for a De Facto permission the De Facto partners must be able to demonstrate sufficient evidence of their relationship, including, cohabitation of 2 years or more together, evidence of financial inter-dependence and detailed information of their relationship history. If an application is refused a letter is issued to the person which outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeals process is available which allows people to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.

Further details regarding the preclearance programmes are available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/.

The current processing times for preclearance applications decisions are available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.

Please note, 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. At this time, the oldest date of preclearance applications is 02 May 2024 for applications sponsored by a CSEP/HA holders and 01 August 2024 for sponsored by an Irish national.

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 can advise the Deputy that my Department does not collate the information sought, regarding pending De Facto partner preclearance applications or appeals in the manner requested. The tables below detail the number of De Facto Preclearance applications and appeals received and decisions issued between 2022 to 31 August 2025.

Table 1. De Facto Preclearance Applications which were received, granted and refused in 2022, 2023, 2024 to 31 August 2025.

* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application submitted in a previous year.

Table 2. De Facto Preclearance Appeals received, overturned and affirmed in 2022, 2023, 2024 to 31 August 2025.

* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application submitted in a previous year