Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
179 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 9 December 2004, his views on whether it is acceptable that it takes 16 months to process an application; the reason the processing time has doubled in a 12 month period; the action he is taking to address this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33943/04]
View answerThere is an ongoing increase in the number of applications received for permission to remain in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national. There were 156 in 2001, 191 in 2002, 271 in 2003 and 309 in the year to date. The resources allocated to process such applications are necessarily dependent on the prioritised work requirements of the immigration division of my Department at any one time. Some additional resources have recently been allocated to this area and the number of applications on hand have decreased. As a result it is expected that the waiting time for processing such applications will be reduced.
