Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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248. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of employees working in immigration visa services, broken down by role; and the number of applications currently being processed and awaiting decision, broken down by visa type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56008/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.

I can advise the Deputy there are 61.2 whole-time equivalent staff currently assigned to the Dublin Visa Office who are responsible for processing visa applications, visa appeals, and providing customer service support. Of which 36 issue first instance decisions, 14.4 consider appeals, and 10.8 provide clerical and customer support. This figure excludes some staff in management and administrative positions.

Table 1 below details the number of staff across the seven overseas Visa Offices. The overseas Visa Offices are staffed by Visa Officers posted from my Department’s Visa Division and staff employed locally.

Table 1. Overseas Visa staff as at 30 September 2025

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. These increases have continued, in the first nine months of 2025, my Department's Visa Division received approximately 165,000 visa applications and has issued over 153,000 decisions. This reflects an increase in applications of 5.5% compared to the same period in 2024. My officials are working to meet the increased level of demand, and over 8,200 additional visa decisions have issued in the first nine months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

The tables below detail the number of visa applications received and the first instances decisions issued in the first eight months of 2025.

Table 2. Type C Short stay applications received, granted and refused in the first eight months of 2025.

*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

* A decision made in a 2025 may relate to an application submitted in a previous year.

Table 3. Type D Long stay applications received, granted and refused in the first eight months of 2025.

* A decision made in 2025 may relate to an application submitted in a previous year.

Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. 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. 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.

Processing times for all applications and appeals are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.

I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a visa or preclearance that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. Staffing levels are kept under ongoing review having regard to demands placed on my Department’s Immigration Service Delivery function generally. This year additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division in response to the growing demand for these services.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dog wardens employed in each of the years 2023 to 2025, in tabular form. [55729/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. This legislation makes provision for dog licensing arrangements and the functions of dog wardens. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational, implementation and enforcement matters under the Acts.

Section 15(1) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that every local authority must employ at least one dog warden. It is a matter for each local authority to determine if more than one dog warden is required to carry out the necessary functions of the dog warden service in their local authority area.

The statistics on the number of dog wardens employed by each local authority in 2023 and 2024 can be found in the attached document. Figures for any given year are typically made available in the subsequent year following data collation across all Local Authorities and subsequent checks and validation processes by the parent Department, which is now my Department, following the transfer of functions in the area of dog control policy from the Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht during 2025.