Vol. 526 No. 4
178 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of non-national work visas for which applications have been received to date in 2000; the current processing period; the measures that can be put in place to improve the processing time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26436/00]
A total of 611 working visas have issued to date through Irish embassies and consulates abroad. Under the same scheme a total of 221 work authorisations have issued. These figures represent data for the first five months of operation of the scheme, for the period up until the end of October 2000. I understand that the current processing time for working visas and work authorisations is a day or two, and I have every reason to believe that the procedures are proving satisfactory.
Question No. 179 taken with Question No. 150.
