Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1127.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average processing time for the de facto partner of an Irish or non-EEA national visa application.[34878/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that my Department provides indicative processing timeframes for certain immigration applications on the immigration website, www.irishimmigration.ie.

It is important to note that these are business targets for the immigration service. Processing times for these applications will vary depending on the type and complexity of applications, individual circumstances, peak application periods, seasonal factors, and the resources available. While every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, processing times inevitably vary as a result.

New decisions are published on the visa pages of each of the seven overseas visa offices and the relevant Embassy website.

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following page which is updated each Tuesday:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/

The current processing dates for De Facto Preclearance applications are listed below:

De Facto (unmarried) Partner of Irish National - 6 January 2024

De Facto (unmarried) Partner of Critical Skills Employment Permit/Hosting Agreement holder - 05 January 2024

I can advise the Deputy, that the 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 result in the published processing date remaining unchanged.

It is important to note that no two applications are the same and there can be a number of reasons as to why some take longer than others to process. It may be the case that the application is the subject of investigation or further checks. My Department may also be waiting for the applicant to respond to specific queries or submit additional documentation requested by the Visa Officer.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application to join their Partner in Ireland that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1129.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware that the estimated processing times and target dates for processing long stay visas on her Department's website have remained static for a number of weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34887/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that if the published processing dates for applications remain unchanged this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.

The date published on the website referenced by the Deputy 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 remaining unchanged.

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