Written Answers Nos. 445-464
445. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a SUSI grant has not been paid for the final year of studies in the case of a person (details supplied); if the decision to refuse can be reviewed; if an option of appeal is still available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56051/21]
View answerAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service, which was set up at the behest of Oireachtas members, complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
The principal support provided by my Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Officials in my Department has advised that the student referred to by the Deputy has engaged in the SUSI appeals process and was issued an award letter on the 10 November 2021.
Where an individual applicant remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
446. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the response his officials have received in relation the request made for a copy of the McHugh Report into the pay of student nurses and midwives; if he has received a copy of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56095/21]
View answerI can confirm that my officials have received a copy of the McHugh report and are reviewing its contents.
447. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the public sector benchmark for National Maritime College of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56096/21]
View answerThe development of a Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is now a key part of the Value for Money assessment prior to proceeding with a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The PSB represents the full estimated cost, including risk to the State of delivering the project using “traditional” public sector procurement.
The National Maritime College of Ireland, which is part of Munster Technological University, is a PPP project that pre-dates the publication of PSB guidance.
448. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the public sector benchmark for the Cork School of Music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56097/21]
View answerThe development of a Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is now a key part of the Value for Money assessment prior to proceeding with a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The PSB represents the full estimated cost, including risk to the State of delivering the project using “traditional” public sector procurement.
The Cork School of Music, which is part of Munster Technological University, is a PPP project that pre-dates the publication of PSB guidance.
449. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the public sector benchmark for Carlow Institute of Further Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56098/21]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, the Carlow Institute of Further Education & Training was delivered as part of the School Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.
The development of a Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is now a key part of the Value for Money assessment prior to proceeding with a PPP project. The PSB represents the full estimated cost, including risk to the State of delivering the project using “traditional” public sector procurement.
Current policy is that where the public sector is likely to procure a similar project in the same or other sectors in the foreseeable future, the PSB (or any elements thereof) should not be released for an appropriate period of time after the contract has been awarded to allow any commercial sensitivities to elapse.
In this regard, the PSB for the School Bundle 5 PPP project will be due to publish shortly.
450. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the practice in the education sector of allowing approximately five years to elapse after the award of a public private partnership contract before a public sector benchmark is published in order to allow for a reasonable level of transparency and political accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56099/21]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, the development of a Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is now a key part of the Value for Money assessment prior to proceeding with a PPP project. The PSB represents the full estimated cost, including risk to the State of delivering the project using “traditional” public sector procurement.
It is the practice in the education sector to allow approximately five years to elapse after award of a PPP contract before a PSB (or any elements thereof) is published in order to allow any commercial sensitivities to elapse. This policy provides the appropriate protection where the public sector is likely to procure a similar project in the same or other sectors in the foreseeable future. The timing of publication may also depend on whether there is another similar PPP programme in procurement and a judgement must be made as to whether the publication of the PSB might influence the bidding strategies of tenderers.
In this regard, there are no plans to review this practice at present.
451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the grants and scholarship schemes which are currently available to third-level students will be further expanded in order to cater for students that are refugees such as a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56101/21]
View answerThe principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
My Department is committed to the provision of graduates for the health service through undergraduate and postgraduate provision, with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce and allow for growth and upskilling in the future.
Progression is a key tenet of the SUSI scheme and Bursary schemes funded by my Department. Section 2 of the Student Support Act 2011 defines progression as "the process by which learners may transfer from one course to another course where the award that may be made on the successful completion of the second mentioned course is of a higher level..."
Students accessing graduate entry medicine will, as a matter of course, hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification. Students pursuing second degree courses are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants, and therefore graduate entry medicine students have not qualified for these programmes since the introduction of this course.
However to widen access to Graduate Entry Medicine programmes and to assist the students pursuing these programmes, the fees of EU students enrolled in graduate entry medicine are partly subsidised by the State via the HEA.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund for financial support. The guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website.
452. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of warranted searches involving the use of the ASU nationally that have been conducted in each year since 2015, in tabular form. [55497/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes decisions regarding the deployment of Garda members and Garda units in Garda operations. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Regional Armed Support Units do not engage in standalone operations and are deployed as a specialist resource in support of national and/or divisional units performing operational searches.
I am further informed that it is the operational prerogative of local Garda management, in conjunction with their operational plan for planned searches, to request or requisition the support services of the Special Tactics and Operational Command (STOC) Bureau regarding the deployment of regional Armed Support Units in order to ensure that operational searches are conducted in a professional and safe manner.
I am advised that Regional Armed Support Units consist of Garda personnel who are highly trained and experienced in specialised tactics and operational deployment in the areas of method of entry, hostage and barricade management and in the use of both lethal and less-lethal firearms in order to counter any threat arising from the use of force or firearms during such operations.
I am assured that prior to the sanctioning of Regional Armed Support Units’ deployment, each operational requisition is assessed on its individual merits utilising the Garda decision making model and in compliance with policy, legal, human rights and ethical considerations.
I am informed the Garda authorities that the data requested by the Deputy in respect of operational search activity relating to Armed Support Unit nationally is not currently available.
453. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if a citizenship application process will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [55548/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, all applications for citizenship are processed in chronological order and due to the nature of the naturalisation process, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times. This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.
454. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice when an application for Irish citizenship by a person (details supplied) will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55571/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times. This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.
455. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered allocating work visas for foreign students who worked and contributed to the economy throughout the pandemic but now struggle to access work visas and permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55580/21]
View answer456. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider introducing a couples visa to allow only one member of the couple to study rather than the current requirement of both partners to enrol in a college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55581/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.
My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectoral stakeholders, in this area.
The conditions attaching to all immigration permissions are kept under ongoing review by my Department with all relevant stakeholders. However, any changes to the work entitlements of non-EEA students would be a policy decision for the wider stakeholder group.
Those in the State on a Stamp 2 student permission are not require to make an application for an employment permit. Their primary purpose for being in the State is as a student. However, since April 2001, non-EEA students with an immigration Stamp 2 permission, and who are enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work.
This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.
In September, a final temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 15 January 2022 was announced. This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 21 September 2021 and 15 January 2022 and includes permissions that have already been extended by the previous seven temporary extensions since March 2020.
A Frequently Asked Questions document on the practical arrangements of the extension is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/FAQs-Extension-of-Permissions-Sep-2021.pdf.
In addition, the Third Level Graduate Programme provides that when an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may qualify for a Stamp 1G for 12 months. Where an individual receives an award at Level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a Stamp 1G for up to 24 months subject to the overall limit of 8 years on student conditions that applies.
Following that, graduates will require an employment permit in order to remain and work in the State. As the Deputy is aware, employment permits are a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
All applications for visas or an immigration permission are made on an individual basis and there are no provisions to allow for a multi family member visa or immigration permission. People entering the State under student conditions are not entitled to family reunification. Any family member wishing to travel or accompany the student, would have to make an application for a visa or an immigration permission in their own right.
457. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of deaths that have occurred among prisoners in the Midlands prison in each of the years from 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the cause of death in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55602/21]
View answerThe information relating to the number of deaths that have occurred among prisoners in the Midlands Prison from 2016 to date is set out in the table below.
All deaths in custody are the subject to a Garda investigation and an inquest held in a Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner’s Court. As the Deputy can see from the table in the majority of cases listed below the inquest is still pending.
The Deputy will also be aware that since April 2012 all deaths in custody are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.
The Irish Prison Service also has a robust, internal review mechanism which assesses the circumstances of a death in custody, highlights accountability and actions taken in relation to the incident, and outlines lessons learned. This outcome review is reported to the Irish Prison Service National Suicide and Harm Prevention Steering Group, which is chaired by the Director General.
The circumstances of each death in custody and incident of self-harm are also examined by a suicide prevention group in each institution. The groups are chaired by the Prison Governor, and include representatives from the various services: Doctor, Psychiatry, Psychology, Chaplaincy, Probation, Education, and Prison staff. The Groups are required to meet quarterly, or more often if necessary. Their examinations fully cover the background and circumstances of each death. Their objective is to identify, where possible, measures which might be implemented to contribute to a reduction in the risk of deaths in the future.
I believe that it is important to note that the age profile of those in custody in the Midlands prison is higher than the average prisoner population profile.
In their most recent State report, the Council of Europe Committee on the Prevention of Torture acknowledged the progress that has been made in the delivery of health care in Irish prisons since the 2014 visit. The delegation found very good access to health care in prisons and noted that the carers employed at Midlands Prison to assist the older population of prisoners were very good, displaying genuine warmth and affection towards their charges.
Table 1. Deaths in custody, Midlands Prison, 2016 - 2021
|
Year |
No. of Deaths in Custody |
Cause of Death - as determined by Coroner |
|
2021 to date |
2 |
Inquest pending in both cases |
|
2020 |
0 |
N/A |
|
2019 |
4 |
Inquest pending in all cases |
|
2018 |
3 |
Inquest pending in all cases |
|
2017 |
2 |
Natural Causes Inquest pending |
|
2016 |
1 |
Natural Causes |
|
Total |
12 |
458. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice her views on France’s decision to waive some of the period required for citizenship by naturalisation for frontline workers and reduce it to two years which resulted in over 12,000 workers being granted citizenship; if her attention has been drawn to the action Canada took in granting long-term residency for foreign nationals working on the frontlines; and if she will consider extending this to non-EU nationals working in healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic by granting them citizenship. [55614/21]
View answerI recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
However, all applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the legislation. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment of the applicant. All applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence and standard checks are carried out as part of the overall process to maintain its integrity. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on any measures that may be taken in other jurisdictions.
My Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions. However, processing rates have been negatively impacted by the necessary health and safety related restrictions imposed and it has not been possible to hold in-person citizenship ceremonies since March 2020.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications. In January, my Department opened a temporary system to enable these applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. Since the introduction of the temporary system, 8,196 citizenship applicants have been contacted by my Department and 7,405 new Irish citizens have received their certificates of naturalisation. This includes a significant number of healthcare and other frontline workers.
A number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times. This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.
To further support healthcare workers making citizenship applications, I announced on 15 November 2021, that, for doctors who are employed in the HSE or in Voluntary Hospitals, the provision of a “Medical Practitioner Employment History Summary” will be accepted as proof of residence. I know that this will be very much welcomed by doctors who face very unique challenges arising from moving hospitals as part of their training.
Unfortunately, for public health reasons, the in-person citizenship ceremony scheduled for 13 December in Killarney has been postponed. While this is disappointing for all of us, I know that the Deputy will agree that the safety and wellbeing of everyone is paramount. Instead, arrangements are underway in my Department to hold a virtual citizenship celebratory event next month.
459. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the current powers, duties and responsibilities of peace commissioners; the way the system has evolved; the current process including vetting aspects; the number that have been appointed in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55633/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. A Peace Commissioner is an honorary appointment and those appointed receive no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services.
The powers and duties of Peace Commissioners consist primarily of:
- Taking statutory declarations
- Witnessing signatures on documents if required by various authorities
- Signing certificates and orders under various Acts
- The Courts of Justice Act 1924 also gives Peace Commissioners the power to issue summons and warrants but these powers are now rarely used.
An application for appointment may be made by a person on their own behalf or a nomination for appointment may be made by a third party in respect of a person considered suitable for appointment.
The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice. The fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner. This is because other factors, such as the need for appointments in particular areas, are taken into account.
There is no qualifying examination involved but appointees are required to be of good character and they are usually well established in the local community. Persons convicted of serious offences are considered unsuitable for appointment. To this end, a background check on nominees is carried out by An Garda Síochána.
Persons who are members of professions or employed in occupations which engage in legal work or related activities and members of the clergy are, as a matter of practice, not appointed because of their occupation. Civil servants are usually only appointed where the performance of their official duties requires an appointment (i.e. ex-officio).
An application for consideration to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner can be made at any time by contacting my office:
Office of the Minister for Justice51 St. Stephen's GreenDublin 2IrelandD02 HK52
Email info@justice.ie
The Department of Justice maintains the Roll of Peace Commissioners. While every effort is made to keep the Roll up to date, the records do not always reflect the actual situation on the ground because the Department is reliant on the Peace Commissioners themselves and other interested parties to advise of changes in the personal circumstances of individual Peace Commissioners since their appointment. The Peace Commissioner Unit updates the Roll when advised of these changes, for example, resignation from Office. For that reason, the figures provided below in tabular format are subject to change from previous figures provided.
|
Year |
Number appointed |
|
2016 |
76 |
|
2017 |
47 |
|
2018 |
89 |
|
2019 |
92 |
|
2020 |
106 |
|
2021 |
134 |
460. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the ongoing delays in granting probate or processing applications of probate at the Probate Office; if steps can be taken to expedite the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55648/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court and under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices, who are also independent in carrying out their functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update.
Applications by solicitors continued to be processed throughout the period of the pandemic restrictions in both the Dublin Probate Office and the District Probate Registries. I am advised that the waiting time for solicitor and personal applications at present in the Dublin Probate Office is eight to ten weeks, assuming that the papers received are correct. Any arrears that had built up have now been cleared. Applications where queries had to be raised on foot of the papers first lodged are taking eight weeks from the date they are re-submitted.
The Courts Service has embarked on multi-year programme of modernisation to enhance the delivery of services to the people of Ireland. As part of its aims for the programme, the Courts Service is committed to simplifying services and processes. A key project in the civil law workstream for the Service is the development of an e-probate project, which will have the benefit of standardising the processing of probate applications and so enhance the delivery of the service to Courts Users.
461. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Justice the status of a residency application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55650/21]
View answerIn response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted to my Department on behalf of the person concerned. A request for further representations was sent by letter to the person’s legal representative on 4 November 2021.
All representations will be fully considered under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
462. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) to upgrade their residence card; if a fee is owing in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55726/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 4 permission, which has been extended until 15 January 2022, under the automatic extension of immigration permissions announced on 14 September 2021. All permissions are extended on the same terms and conditions as the permission already held.
Where a non-EEA national holds a valid immigration permission granted to them as the parent of an Irish citizen child, they may renew this permission at their local immigration office, even after the Irish citizen child turns 18 years of age.
A letter has been sent to the person concerned by my Department, informing them that their permission may be renewed at their local immigration office. Once received, they can present this letter to their local immigration office to facilitate their registration and a fee of €300 will be required.
All non-EEA nationals are required to pay the registration fee of €300, unless they fall into one of the following exempt categories:
- Under 18 at the time of registration;
- A spouse, widow or widower of an Irish citizen;
- A civil partner or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen;
- A spouse or dependent of an EU national who has a residence permit;
- A Programme Refugee or a person granted Refugee Status under Section 47(1) of the International Protection Act 2015;
- A person granted Subsidiary Protection under Section 47(4) of the International Protection Act 2015;
- A person granted Permission to Remain under Section 47(4)(a) of the International Protection Act 2015;
- A family member reunited with a recognised refugee in Ireland under Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
463. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if an application by a family (details supplied) will be expedited on humanitarian grounds. [55746/21]
View answer464. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if an application by a family (details supplied) will be expedited on humanitarian grounds. [55748/21]
View answer465. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if an application by a family (details supplied) will be expedited on humanitarian grounds. [55755/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 463 to 465, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that Ireland does not offer family visas. Each visa-required person who wishes to travel to Ireland must apply separately for their own visa.
The first step in the visa application process is the completion of the applicant's details online and this step has been completed for the applications referred to by the Deputy.
The applicants must then print off the Summary Application Form (generated at the end of completing the online details), sign and date it and then submit the Summary Form, together with supporting documentation, to the appropriate office. I understand that the relevant Visa Office has not yet received any Summary Forms or supporting documentation from any of the applicants.
Contact details for the appropriate Visa Office or a link to it will be provided on the Summary Application Form. The appropriate office is decided by where the applicant is living at the time they make the application.
My Department's Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie) contains comprehensive guidelines to assist applicants with the application process. The documentation needed for each application type can be found by choosing the appropriate visa option. All information that the applicant wishes to have taken into consideration should be included with the visa application.
