Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021
195. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the alterative arrangements that have been put in place to allow persons (details supplied) applying for a GNIB card for the first time to submit an application while the Burgh Quay Registration Office is closed. [24722/21]
View answer196. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice when the Burgh Quay Registration Office will reopen for appointments. [24734/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Burgh Quay Registration Office reopened earlier this week on Monday, 10 May 2021.
Customers who had their appointments cancelled when the Office closed in December under Level 5 restrictions are being contacted directly by the Immigration Service of my Department to arrange a new appointment date.
All other first time registrations will be carried out by appointment only and the online appointments system opened to accept bookings from last Thursday, 6 May 2021, at: burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie.
It is not possible to complete first time registrations online because customers need to have their photograph and fingerprints taken during the registration process. However, while waiting to register in the Dublin area, customers are covered by the extension of immigration permissions to 20 September 2021. This means that all those legally in the State in March 2020 when the pandemic began can remain in the State until 20 September 2021.
Registrations outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network.
Further details can be found on the Immigration Service website www.inis.gov.ie along with a Frequently Asked Questions document.
