I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.
In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. The Afghan Admissions Programme is an additional avenue open to Afghan nationals to bring close family members to live here with them. There are a number of other options already in place through existing immigration programmes that have been availed of by members of the Afghan community in Ireland and we continue to also process these applications sympathetically.
The process of contacting proposers is underway, with over 95% contacted to date. The requested information has begun to be received by officials in my Department and, as of Friday 25 November, approvals have issued in respect of 22 beneficiaries under the Afghan Admissions Programme. To date no refusal letters have issued.
The Afghan Admissions Programme is an additional avenue open to the relatively small number of Afghan nationals living here to bring close family members to live here with them. There are of course a number of other options already in place through existing immigration programmes that have also been availed of by members of the Afghan community in Ireland since the beginning of August 2021 to 28 November 2022, a total of 142 join family visas have been approved for Afghan nationals and 105 family reunification applications have been approved and we continue to also process these applications sympathetically.
I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and their loved ones. I would also like to assure the Afghan community that applications under this Programme continue to be assessed in a pragmatic and humanitarian manner with a view to issuing decisions as soon as possible.