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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 5

Written Answers. - Work Permits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

68 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the length of time applicants for work permits can expect to await a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9656/02]

The work permits section is currently processing applications received approximately ten weeks ago, compared with an average waiting period of eight weeks in late 2001. The processing time for work permit applications has risen due to the unprecedented number of applications that continue to be received in the Department. The number of work permit applications increased from an average of over 350 per week in 2000 to over 825 per week last year. The level of applications continued to climb during the year and in December alone an unprecedented 5,690 applications were received.

At the beginning of January 2002 the backlog of applications awaiting decision was 7,000, but this has now been reduced to under 2,400. New FÁS procedures were introduced from the beginning of this year and this has resulted, at least temporarily, in a reduction in the number of applications received in my Department. In January 2002 the figure was down to an average of 325 complete and valid applications per week while in February 2002 the figure was averaging 487 per week. Increases in staff resources and overtime facilitated the issue of over 36,000 work permits last year compared with 18,000 in 2000. Already this year, over 8,400 permits have been issued. The Department is continuing to examine options for significantly reducing the processing time for the issue of work permits.
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