Maurice Quinlivan
Question:116. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost of an apprentice per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29903/18]
View answerWritten Answers Nos. 116-129
116. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost of an apprentice per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29903/18]
View answer122. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he finalised the per capita costing for both craft-based and consortia-led apprenticeships as part of the 2019 Estimates process; the number if completed; and, if not, when this process will be completed. [29929/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 122 together.
It is estimated that the cost of training an apprentice in one of the existing craft apprenticeships is approximately €6,700 per annum and the cost of training an apprentice in one of the new consortia led apprenticeships is approximately €5,100 per annum. However, as part of the 2019 estimates process my Department is currently reviewing the per capita costing for both craft based and consortia led apprenticeships. This exercise involves collecting detailed data from both SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority and, when completed, will provide a more accurate base from which future funding requirements can be established to meet the targets set out in our Apprenticeship Action Plan. It is expected that this exercise will be completed shortly.
117. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the apprenticeship budget for 2016, 2017 and 2018; the estimated spend on apprenticeships in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29904/18]
View answer118. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the apprentice population in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 by year, that is, by stage of the apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29905/18]
View answer121. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on developing and introducing new apprenticeship programmes in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of these programmes developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29908/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 118 and 121 together.
This Government is committed to expanding the apprenticeship model into new sectors of the economy. Arising from our first call for apprenticeship proposals in 2015 eleven new apprenticeships have been developed in a wide range of sectors, including financial services, engineering, ICT and accounting. Further new apprenticeships will get underway later in 2018.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the 2016, 2017 and 2018 budget and expenditure for apprenticeship training and the apprenticeship population is set out in the tabular statements. Future years' allocations will be determined through the normal budgetary process which takes account of competing demands and the overall availability of resources.
Active Apprentices by Phase up to year 2016 |
Phase 1 |
Phase 2 |
Phase 3 |
Phase 4 |
Phase 5 |
Phase 6 |
Phase 7 |
Grand Total |
Agricultural Mechanics |
21 |
32 |
22 |
37 |
24 |
12 |
148 |
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
35 |
29 |
36 |
43 |
143 |
|||
Brick and Stonelaying |
22 |
20 |
32 |
3 |
10 |
87 |
||
Cabinet Making |
3 |
3 |
||||||
Carpentry and Joinery |
242 |
138 |
166 |
48 |
154 |
31 |
110 |
889 |
Construction Plant Fitting |
19 |
36 |
69 |
16 |
46 |
15 |
12 |
213 |
Electrical |
1207 |
333 |
564 |
217 |
540 |
140 |
437 |
3438 |
Electrical Instrumentation |
115 |
35 |
22 |
54 |
13 |
27 |
266 |
|
Electronic Security Systems |
16 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
7 |
62 |
||
Farriery |
6 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
15 |
|||
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
138 |
24 |
98 |
31 |
75 |
30 |
74 |
470 |
Industrial Electrical Engineering |
12 |
12 |
||||||
Industrial Insulation |
15 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
30 |
|||
Instrumentation |
9 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
29 |
|||
Insurance Practice |
67 |
67 |
||||||
M.A.M.F. |
128 |
40 |
138 |
32 |
141 |
15 |
81 |
575 |
Metal Fabrication |
113 |
97 |
127 |
44 |
133 |
29 |
83 |
626 |
Motor Mechanics |
310 |
137 |
241 |
124 |
259 |
31 |
160 |
1262 |
Painting and Decorating |
26 |
18 |
6 |
3 |
53 |
|||
Pipefitting |
35 |
26 |
61 |
|||||
Plastering |
11 |
9 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
8 |
39 |
|
Plumbing |
194 |
90 |
218 |
91 |
218 |
45 |
191 |
1047 |
Print Media |
3 |
1 |
15 |
19 |
||||
Refrigeration |
39 |
40 |
65 |
16 |
24 |
15 |
42 |
241 |
Sheet Metalworking |
27 |
12 |
31 |
18 |
8 |
96 |
||
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry |
4 |
10 |
13 |
27 |
||||
Toolmaking |
34 |
40 |
45 |
16 |
57 |
16 |
36 |
244 |
Vehicle Body Repairs |
32 |
14 |
63 |
19 |
27 |
155 |
||
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing |
40 |
24 |
30 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
6 |
128 |
Grand Total |
2879 |
1174 |
2052 |
702 |
1808 |
448 |
1382 |
10445 |
Active Apprentices by Phase up to year 2017 |
Phase 1 |
Phase 2 |
Phase 3 |
Phase 4 |
Phase 5 |
Phase 6 |
Phase 7 |
Grand Total |
Accounting Technician |
71 |
71 |
||||||
Agricultural Mechanics |
27 |
33 |
5 |
82 |
7 |
154 |
||
Aircraft Mechanics |
1 |
49 |
28 |
28 |
52 |
158 |
||
Brick and Stonelaying |
31 |
10 |
41 |
32 |
7 |
121 |
||
Cabinet Making |
2 |
2 |
||||||
Carpentry and Joinery |
277 |
130 |
356 |
206 |
167 |
1136 |
||
Commis Chef |
25 |
25 |
||||||
Construction Plant Fitting |
73 |
76 |
61 |
38 |
248 |
|||
Electrical |
1786 |
371 |
1042 |
711 |
574 |
4484 |
||
Electrical Instrumentation |
127 |
48 |
65 |
24 |
42 |
21 |
327 |
|
Electronic Security Systems |
59 |
12 |
13 |
33 |
3 |
120 |
||
Farriery |
2 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
18 |
||
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
126 |
44 |
125 |
1 |
118 |
79 |
493 |
|
Industrial Electrical Engineering |
31 |
31 |
||||||
Industrial Insulation |
10 |
10 |
14 |
3 |
1 |
38 |
||
Instrumentation |
10 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
2 |
43 |
||
Insurance Practice |
138 |
138 |
||||||
International Financial Services Associate |
14 |
14 |
||||||
International Financial Services Specialist |
14 |
14 |
||||||
M.A.M.F. |
148 |
25 |
174 |
168 |
97 |
612 |
||
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 6) |
39 |
39 |
||||||
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 7) |
36 |
36 |
||||||
Metal Fabrication |
142 |
66 |
234 |
124 |
115 |
681 |
||
Motor Mechanics |
266 |
128 |
350 |
367 |
182 |
1293 |
||
Painting and Decorating |
32 |
14 |
25 |
10 |
4 |
85 |
||
Pipefitting |
27 |
41 |
13 |
81 |
||||
Plastering |
13 |
14 |
22 |
5 |
9 |
63 |
||
Plumbing |
333 |
119 |
312 |
330 |
178 |
1272 |
||
Polymer Processing Technology |
23 |
23 |
||||||
Print Media |
12 |
1 |
13 |
|||||
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning |
68 |
28 |
81 |
82 |
36 |
295 |
||
Sheet Metalworking |
28 |
11 |
39 |
30 |
10 |
118 |
||
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry |
3 |
7 |
23 |
33 |
||||
Toolmaking |
26 |
26 |
100 |
42 |
48 |
242 |
||
Vehicle Body Repairs |
21 |
11 |
61 |
52 |
22 |
167 |
||
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing |
37 |
23 |
61 |
29 |
11 |
161 |
||
Grand Total |
4064 |
1186 |
3288 |
25 |
2588 |
32 |
1666 |
12849 |
Active Apprentices by Phase YTD 2018 |
Phase 1 |
Phase 2 |
Phase 3 |
Phase 4 |
Phase 5 |
Phase 6 |
Phase 7 |
Grand Total |
Accounting Technician |
66 |
66 |
||||||
Agricultural Mechanics |
37 |
38 |
38 |
42 |
155 |
|||
Aircraft Mechanics |
49 |
28 |
55 |
132 |
||||
Brick and Stonelaying |
42 |
10 |
31 |
32 |
19 |
134 |
||
Cabinet Making |
2 |
2 |
||||||
Carpentry and Joinery |
297 |
146 |
318 |
319 |
188 |
1,268 |
||
Commis Chef |
51 |
60 |
||||||
Construction Plant Fitting |
79 |
49 |
64 |
51 |
243 |
|||
Electrical |
1,882 |
473 |
984 |
842 |
578 |
4,759 |
||
Electrical Instrumentation |
98 |
60 |
104 |
43 |
26 |
331 |
||
Electronic Security Systems |
53 |
26 |
13 |
29 |
16 |
137 |
||
Farriery |
5 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
23 |
|||
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
102 |
59 |
96 |
145 |
112 |
514 |
||
ICT Software Development |
1 |
1 |
||||||
Industrial Electrical Engineering |
32 |
32 |
||||||
Industrial Insulation |
19 |
2 |
10 |
14 |
45 |
|||
Instrumentation |
12 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
41 |
|||
Insurance Practice |
130 |
130 |
||||||
International Financial Services Associate |
14 |
14 |
||||||
International Financial Services Specialist |
14 |
14 |
||||||
Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting |
145 |
26 |
143 |
191 |
104 |
609 |
||
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 6) |
45 |
45 |
||||||
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 7) |
39 |
39 |
||||||
Metal Fabrication |
152 |
70 |
173 |
216 |
97 |
708 |
||
Motor Mechanics |
244 |
128 |
280 |
406 |
244 |
1,302 |
||
Painting and Decorating |
21 |
15 |
24 |
17 |
11 |
88 |
||
Pipefitting |
36 |
25 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
102 |
||
Plastering |
12 |
11 |
27 |
8 |
10 |
68 |
||
Plumbing |
373 |
177 |
293 |
321 |
272 |
1,436 |
||
Polymer Processing Technology |
23 |
23 |
||||||
Print Media |
11 |
11 |
||||||
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning |
77 |
27 |
81 |
70 |
61 |
316 |
||
Sheet Metalworking |
33 |
22 |
40 |
16 |
17 |
128 |
||
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry |
4 |
6 |
11 |
12 |
33 |
|||
Toolmaking |
19 |
14 |
71 |
76 |
49 |
229 |
||
Vehicle Body Repairs |
11 |
12 |
44 |
54 |
33 |
154 |
||
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing |
50 |
15 |
65 |
44 |
23 |
197 |
||
Grand Total |
4,227 |
1,293 |
2,984 |
14 |
3.022 |
12 |
2,037 |
13,589 |
Apprenticeship Training |
Allocation (€m) |
Expenditure (€m)* |
2016 |
74.7 |
69.6 |
2017 |
98.7 |
88.7 |
2018 |
122 |
47.5** |
* Expenditure on developing new apprenticeship programmes only is not currently available.
** YTD end of June 2018.
119. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of female apprentices in 2017 and to date 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29906/18]
View answerAt the end of June, 2018 there was a total of 160 female apprentices registered across the 36 apprenticeship schemes currently on offer, which represents an increase of almost 170% on the 2016 figure of 60 and over 500% on the 2015 figure of 26.
The 2014 Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland acknowledged that the number of women employed in craft apprenticeships is low as they operate in sectors that have traditionally low levels of female employment. SOLAS offers a bursary to employers to encourage them to employ female apprentices in these areas. Despite this the number of female apprentices in the craft apprenticeships remains low.
Currently the Apprenticeship Council is overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system in Ireland into a range of new sectors of the economy, following two calls for new apprenticeship proposals from employers and education and training providers. To date eleven apprenticeship programmes are operational and we are now seeing a strong increase in female participation in many of these new programmes, particularly in the financial and hospitality sectors. With further new apprenticeships to get underway this year, many of which that are in sectors where there is a different gender balance in the workplace, it is expected, as these new apprenticeships are rolled out, that this will lead to a continued increase in female participation. While this is welcome, it is also important to address issues influencing the low level of recruitment of women in the craft sectors.
As set out in our Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland, my Department, in conjunction with SOLAS, is currently reviewing the pathways to participation in apprenticeship in a range of diverse groups, including female participation. The review is due to be completed shortly.
Furthermore, a digital campaign to promote apprenticeship is now underway with a dedicated Twitter feed #Generation Apprenticeship, a new apprenticeship website www.apprenticeship.ie, an Apprenticeship Ireland Facebook page and a LinkedIn page. In all aspects of the digital campaign women feature prominently and there will be a specific focus on encouraging women and girls to consider apprenticeship as a means of launching or developing their careers.
120. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons with a disability engaged in an apprenticeship in 2017 and to date in 2018; the steps he is taking to increase this level of participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29907/18]
View answerAs set out in our Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland, SOLAS, in conjunction with my Department, is currently reviewing pathways to participation in apprenticeship for a range of underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities. The review, due to be published shortly, will identify any barriers that may exist to participation in an apprenticeship programme for these groups and make recommendations for the future. It will also examine the level of participation for those with disabilities. The purpose of the review is to ensure that our national apprenticeship system is more reflective of the range and diversity of our population and more inclusive of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
123. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual forecasts for the National Training Fund levy in each year over the next five years, in tabular form. [29930/18]
View answerThe table sets out the annual forecasts for National Training Fund levy receipts for 2019 to 2021, based on different levy rates. As part of Budget 2018, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform announced a rise of the levy to 0.8% and indicated that the levy will rise to 0.9% in 2019 and to 1.0% in 2020 subject to the implementation of necessary reforms.
These forecasts were provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and are based on macroeconomic employment and wage projections, which are not currently available beyond 2021.
The expenditure ceiling for the National Training Fund is set as part of the Estimates process, having regard to the Government's overall budgetary and fiscal stance, and so the amount available for expenditure in any given year may vary from the forecast income.
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Income generated from 0.8% levy (current rate) |
€589.2m |
€620.1m |
€650.3m |
Income generated from increase to 0.9% levy from 2019 |
€662.1m |
€703m |
€737m |
Income generated from increase to 0.9% levy from 2019 and 1% from 2020 |
€662.1m |
€780.5m |
€824.9m |
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an institution (details supplied) is a recognised third level institution for the purpose of eligibility for the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29989/18]
View answerUnder my Department's Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme.
The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2018.
The institution referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied, is not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
125. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Garda stations in Lauragh and Sneem, County Kerry, will reopen on a full-time basis. [29825/18]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including the opening times of Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
126. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the efforts he is undertaking to reduce the high rates of recidivism here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29727/18]
View answerMy Department recognises that, in order to protect the public and reduce reoffending behaviour, a joined up approach to the management of offenders is essential. There are a number of ongoing joint initiatives and policies which my Department leads across the criminal justice agencies aimed at preventing crime, increasing detection of crime, rehabilitation and supporting desistance from crime by persistent offenders. The first Joint Strategy on the Management of Offenders was developed in 2016 between my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service and is being implemented on an ongoing basis.
Initiatives such as the successful Joint Agency Response to Crime (J-ARC) which involves these four bodies are a strategic response to the management of prioritised prolific offenders. The evidence-based, intelligence-led objectives of J-ARC target the 25% of recidivists responsible for 75% of crime; manage identified prolific offenders in order to reduce crime, and enhance public safety by strengthening the co-ordination and integration of policy, practice and research. In 2017, the Irish Prison Service in conjunction with the Probation Service and An Garda Síochána extended J-ARC to three new locations in Dundalk, Waterford City and Limerick City.
A further development in this area is the Youth Joint Agency Response to Crime Initiative (YJ-ARC) launched in 2017. This targets young people aged 16 to 21 years who are the most prolific in their offending and provides a structured co-ordination between the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, Irish Prison Service, Irish Youth Justice Service (Oberstown campus), Tusla and the Department of Education and Skills.
This Government is fully committed to tackling all forms of criminality and this is evidenced by the increased allocations of resources provided by the Government in recent times. This includes a budget of €1.6 billion in 2018 to support ongoing Garda operations, such as Operation Thor which involves special targeted patrols carried out with the assistance of Garda National Support Services against criminal groups who are committing crime inter-regionally.
This Government will continue to support a high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. Indeed, I recently announced the launch of the 2018 recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána.
In relation to legislation, in 2015 the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act was enacted which specifically targeted repeat offenders with provisions concerning bail and consecutive sentences. While sentencing within those limits is a matter for the judiciary, the Deputy may be aware of recent judgments of the Court of Appeal which set out principles to guide trial courts in imposing sentences for the offence of burglary.
It is also the case that the Irish Prison Service has, in recent years, placed a much greater emphasis on rehabilitative and support services to prevent reoffending and support desistance from crime. The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. Access to these services is a critical feature for offenders in addressing their offending behaviour. Greater emphasis is now placed on pre-release planning, putting supports in place and making links to services in the community for offenders leaving custody.
The year 2017 saw the continued successful implementation of the Joint Irish Prison Service & Probation Service Community Return Programme and the Community Support Scheme. These are structured temporary release schemes which provide for supervised community service and assist with reducing recidivism rates by providing additional supports for carefully selected prisoners.
Overall I can reassure the Deputy that it is a priority of the Government and the Department of Justice & Equality to reduce crime, and specifically reoffending by those previously convicted.
127. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the new Garda allocation of resources tool COHORT; the timeline for its roll-out and use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29749/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am informed that the Cohort model of resource allocation has been in use by Garda management since 2015 and is currently the model utilised for the allocation of personnel within An Garda Síochána, including newly attested probationer Gardaí from the Garda College. The model is a dynamic distribution model and aims to impose a numerical/mathematical measure on the policing needs of each Division nationwide. The allocation and transfer of Garda Personnel, is determined by a number of factors, including crime and non-crime workload, population, area, policing arrangements, operational strategies and transfers applications, including welfare issues. When allocation of resources is under review, comprehensive consultation is carried out with local Garda management during which all relevant factors are taken into consideration. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.
In relation to the allocation of newly attested Gardaí, it has to be factored in that they have a further 16 months of practical and class-room based training to complete in order to receive their BA in Applied Policing. To ensure that they are properly supported and supervised and have opportunities to gain the breadth of policing experience required, the Commissioner's policy is to allocate them to specially designated training stations which have the required training and development structures and resources in place, including trained Garda tutors and access to a permanently appointed supervisory Sergeant who is thoroughly familiar with their responsibilities under the training programme. While not all Garda Stations are training stations it is important to note that the allocation of probationer Gardaí to a Divisional training station facilitates the reassignment of Gardaí to other stations within the Division, if required, by the Divisional Officer.
128. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans allocated to the County Kildare Garda division as of 31 December 2016, 2017 and 8 June 2018, respectively. [29750/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.
There has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. Indeed in the period 2013 to the end of 2017 almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I understand that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table outlines the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans allocated to the Kildare Garda Division for the dates requested by the Deputy.
Year |
Cars |
Vans |
||||
Marked |
Unmarked |
Total |
Marked |
Unmarked |
Total |
|
2016 |
23 |
17 |
40 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
2017 |
23 |
19 |
42 |
9 |
3 |
12 |
2018 (as at 3 July) |
21 |
18 |
39 |
10 |
3 |
13 |
129. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting times for visa applications with the Irish naturalisation and immigration service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29754/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that decisions regarding the grant or refusal of visas are made in a number of INIS Visa Offices overseas, the INIS Visa Office in Dublin, and at Embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which process certain visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department.
The processing times for visa decisions are published on the Visa pages of each Visa Office and Embassy website. The table underneath sets out the current processing dates (as of 2 July, 2018) up to which applications received in the Dublin Visa Office have been processed.
Purpose of Visa Applications |
Current Processing Date in the Dublin Visa Office |
Visit |
21 May |
Business |
11 June |
Conference/Event |
11 June |
Join Family (under national legislation) |
07 February |
Join Family (EU Free Movement) |
See note below |
Study |
15 May |
Employment |
11 June |
Other* |
11 June |
*Includes training; exam; conference/event; performance/tournament; and sundry applications.
It should be noted that target times for visa processing are established as a business target reflecting the detailed and often complex assessment required to be carried out in relation to applications, and do not constitute a legal obligation.
The processing time in each location is determined by a number of factors such as the volumes 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.
In relation to applications under the Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC), there had been an exponential increase from the second quarter of 2015 in the number of such applications. That gave rise to a caseload of around 10,500 applications which had to be assessed very carefully to ensure that any fraudulent applications or potential abuses of the Directive are detected and dealt with appropriately. Considerable progress is being made in processing these applications. However, as legal proceedings in relation to a number of similar such applications are currently before the courts, the Deputy will appreciate that I am limited in what I can say on the matter.
The central concern, as with all visa services worldwide, in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.