Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
488. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice his plans to improve the registration system at The Garda National Immigration Bureau, Burgh Quay Office given there have been reports that it is not possible to make an appointment currently. [57458/21]
View answerImmigration registration for Dublin based customers at the Registration Office in Burgh Quay is carried out by my own Department. Currently, due to public health restrictions, for the safety of all our customers and staff, the office can only operate at 50% of our normal capacity. This means that we can register a maximum of 200 customers per day. My Department is currently examining plans to operate the Registration Office seven days a week to meet demand.
My Department is also aware that there have been issues in the past around the securing of registration appointments and has continually introduced software fixes designed to improve the system. These new measures have been partly successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents.
However, some third party agents continue to provide appointment booking services in return for payment on the basis that the person provides them with their personal details in advance. My Department strongly advises against this practice of providing sensitive and personal data to unregulated and unknown third parties.
Customers should continue to apply directly for appointments as they become available without charge, through the online appointments system: burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie.
A new Immigration Service appointment and scheduling system, which will streamline and further improve the registration process, is currently being developed and is expected to be available to customers by the end of the year.
Last week, I announced a number of immigration changes to simplify and streamline the processing of citizenship applications and to facilitate immigration requirements for our customers over the Christmas period.
This has ensured that over the Christmas period, customers with expired Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards may continue to use these cards to enable them to depart and return to the State in confidence until 15 January 2022.
I also suspended the re-entry visa requirement for minors aged 16 years and under from 12 November 2021 to 15 January 2022. This will help families intending to travel together during the Christmas period, without the requirement to apply for re-entry visas.
When travelling, customers should print the Travel Confirmation Notice on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/new-immigration-changes-announced/, and present it, along with their expired IRP card, to immigration authorities and airline carriers, as requested.
