I wish to advise the Deputy of the current policy regarding family reunification. He will be aware that at present there is no specific legislation governing family reunification for migrants who are not refugees. There is a set of administrative procedures in place for non-refugees. There was a review of the provisions regarding family reunification for migrant workers in February of this year and the current arrangements for the processing of such applications are as follows: a non-EEA national who is not visa required and is working in the State on an employment permit or under the work authorisation scheme may apply for family reunification (spouse, minor child) immediately; a non-EEA national who is visa required and working in the State under the Working Visa Scheme may apply for family reunification (spouse, minor child) immediately; a non-EEA national who is visa required and is working on an employment permit and working in an occupation included in the working visa/work authorisation scheme may apply for family reunification (spouse, minor child) immediately; a non-EEA national who is visa required and is working in the State on an employment permit may apply for family reunification (spouse, minor child) on condition that he/she has been working here for at least 12 months and is likely to remain so for a similar period, i.e. the work permit has been renewed. The earnings criteria which apply to such applications are detailed on my Department's website.
Data is not currently collated in a manner which would allow my Department to provide definitive figures in this area. I will be considering the issue of family reunification in the context of the forthcoming Immigration and Residence Bill. Work is at an advanced stage in INIS on the delivery of a number of major IT projects which will substantially enhance the area of data collection.