Written Answers Nos. 444-463
444. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if plumbing apprentices who fail the colour vision test are unable to continue with the apprenticeship even if they can benefit from corrective lenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2951/23]
View answerMy Department's officials have engaged with SOLAS on this issue and have been informed that currently, a SOLAS statutory apprenticeship requires that in certain designated crafts, apprenticeship applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses.
SOLAS are continually reviewing the existing statutory apprenticeships and the matter of colour vision testing will be included in this process.
445. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to tackle the barriers in place that prevent QQI and FETAC graduates in nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and so on from accessing university level education and progressing into their chosen field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2975/23]
View answerMy Department remains committed to removing barriers to third level education. Creating additional capacity in higher education healthcare programmes will provide greater access for students who hold a QQI/FETAC qualification and my Department is working with the higher education sector and the Department of Health in this regard. Healthcare programmes are by their nature complex in delivery. In particular, securing appropriate long-term placements and placement supports is a key element in unlocking additional provision. It is also crucial that any increases in places are introduced in a sustainable way, so that higher education institutions can build appropriate staffing capacity.
I recognise that the number of applicants for these programmes outstrips the number of places available, no matter what route a student applies for entry. I am committed to exploring options to expand progression opportunities from Further Education to Higher Education in healthcare disciplines such as Nursing, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has recently sought expressions of interest (EOIs) from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary from academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26. The HEA has informed my department that 39 expressions of interest have been received. Of these, 20 institutions have proposed to deliver new courses, and 19 institutions are proposing to expand on existing courses in the selected disciplines. Overall, responses represent a rapid, nationwide engagement with the call. A similar process will commence for the therapies area in 2023.
In the further education and training (FET) sector, there are a number of Pre-Nursing , Physiotherapy , and Speech and Language Therapy Assistant courses that allows participants to use to work as an a healthcare assistant or to use the programmes as a foundation for further study in the areas of healthcare and social care. FET is primarily delivered or contracted by the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the country. An Adult Education Guidance Service is available in each of the 16 ETB’s. The service is confidential and free of charge and can guide potential learners through each stage of the application and can advise which FET courses and supports may be available to them including information about progression opportunities . A full list of Adult Education Guidance Service can be found on the Right Course website www.gov.ie/en/publication/0da49-career-guidance-and-information/
My Department will continue to engage regularly with the Department of Health, the HSE, the Higher Education Authority and the tertiary education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system to meet critical skills needs.
446. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a report (details supplied) concerning students with disabilities on placement. [3124/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for her question on this matter.
It is worth noting that as the report is about reasonable accommodations for professional placements, some of its findings and recommendations relate to the work of professional bodies e.g. Teaching Council, Nursing and Midwifery Board, CORU, etc which don’t come under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science or the Higher Education Authority.
A fully inclusive Further Education and Training (FET) system that meets all learners' education and training needs is a key priority for my Department. The FET sector is committed to increasing inclusion levels for all. It does this by providing high-quality, more accessible and flexible education and training, including work placements, that incorporate relevant supports suited to the identified needs of individuals. The enhancement of high-quality support for learners is one of the key priorities for the sector.
To this end, both my Department and SOLAS, welcome this report. This report will inform and enhance the FET systems planning and funding arrangements over 2023 – 2024.
The National Access Plan (NAP) which was published in August 2022 aims to support inclusion and diversity in our student body and recognises the needs of vulnerable learners, the most marginalised and those with special and additional needs. The ambition of the NAP reflects the need to move beyond looking solely at access to higher education. It places the student at the centre of everything delivering positive and inclusive outcomes for all students at all stages of their higher education journey.
Students with disabilities are still under-represented in higher education, despite increases in numbers and the NAP sets a new participation target of 16% of new entrants by 2028. The Plan contains Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as student diversity across fields of study and graduate outcomes among selected priority groups. These targets and KPIs aim to increase participation by students with disabilities across all fields of study and improve their graduate outcomes.
The NAP places the student at the centre with everything directed at delivering positive and inclusive outcomes for all students at all stages of their higher education journey so the report with its focus on achieving positive outcomes for students with disabilities on professional placements is a welcome contribution to this.
The report speaks to the ambition of the NAP that we need to move beyond looking solely at access to higher education – it’s also important to consider inclusive higher education experiences for students as well as a culture of student success and positive outcomes. Student placements is a part of this. The report makes sure that the student voice and perspective are to the fore which is a critical element in understanding the challenges faced by students with disabilities.
447. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the assessment procedures to be used in relation to the submissions from colleges to establish the proposed new school of veterinary medicine in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/23]
View answer448. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the assessment criteria upon which the decision to establish the proposed new school of veterinary medicine in Ireland is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3173/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 448 together.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA), is the funding and regulatory body for higher education in Ireland. The HEA has been working through a process to identify opportunities in the higher education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. This HEA process is designed to respond swiftly to national skills needs by identifying options for programme creation or expansion in academic years 2024-25 or 2025-26.
The HEA has designed this process to identify capability and capacity within the higher education system to develop viable programme offerings for further consideration by the appropriate regulators in due course.
This process is being conducted to the highest standards by the HEA and will be externally validated as such, including by an Expert Advisory Panel. As the process is ongoing the HEA is not releasing further details at this point in time.
An expert panel is to review all applications in the coming weeks. The HEA will then make recommendations to the Minister on where capacity can be increased across the country in these disciplines.
449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it is envisaged that the proposed new school of veterinary medicine in Ireland will be capable of achieving accreditation by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK, American Veterinary Medical Association, the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council and the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education; the way that he will ensure this is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3174/23]
View answerNo decisions have been made in respect of provision or determining whether a new school is to be established at this stage as an expression of interest process is still underway and is being managed by the HEA.
An expert panel is to review all applications in the coming week. The HEA will then make recommendations to the Minister on where capacity can be increased across the country in the relevant disciplines.
Any new courses or expanded courses would have due regard to Irish regulatory requirements regarding appropriate accreditation. It would be a matter for the schools and the relevant regulatory authorities to engage in respect of any international accreditation.
450. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there have been any updates on the previously discussed topic of the lack of eligibility for student grants by persons who hold stamp 4 visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3360/23]
View answerThe nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2022. The candidate's nationality or immigration status in the State determines whether or not she or he meets the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations, and would be therefore eligible to qualify for a student grant.
Permission to remain in the State on the basis of a Stamp 4 Visa, of itself, does not meet the nationality requirements of the Student Grant Scheme 2022.
There is provision for a review of eligibility where a person’s circumstances changes in the academic year. This includes a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. Where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation, or is granted one of the permission to remain criterion provided for in the Act or Regulations during the course of their studies, she or he may apply to SUSI to have their application re-assessed.
I think it is important that our approach to these issues is equitable, consistent and fully aligned with the intent and purpose of the immigration permissions which are granted to individuals. The issues raised are subject to consideration by my Department as part of the ongoing budget process. The annual options paper will be prepared in the summer which sets out the possible policy options and their indicative costs ahead of Budget 2024.
At this time it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of Budget 2024 and any measures which may follow. As is usual with Budget announcements all details of measures impacting my Department and, if applicable, how they will apply will be made available as soon as possible on/after budget day.
451. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total monetary amount of non-repayable moneys provided by his Department through grants, funding supports, tax breaks or other means to businesses in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [3383/23]
View answerThe funding allocated to my Department, as set down in the annual Estimates, enables the Department make grant payments to various agencies and bodies that come under the aegis of my Department. These grants are primarily used to fund:
- a range of programmes and initiatives in the further and higher education and research sectors,
- the salaries of further and higher education staff and pensions of retired staff,
- the development of further and higher education infrastructure,
- the provision of student supports, and
- research.
Funding is also provided to enable the Department meet its general administration costs.
The annual Appropriation Account and Revised Estimates for Public Services for my Department's Vote provides detailed information regarding expenditure and receipts.
My Department makes a significant number of payments every year. Such payments are made to individuals and organisations both by way of grants and also for the provision of goods and services to the Department. Some recipients of this funding may be businesses although my Department’s funding programmes are not generally directly aimed at enterprises. Such labels are also not necessarily assigned to payees on the Financial Management System, however if the Deputy wishes to obtain further information regarding specific businesses or grants I will arrange for this information to be provided.
452. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if he will confirm the law in regard to a gun club being allowed to fire shots while the public is in close proximity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3194/23]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to note that the general legal framework for the operation of rifle or pistol clubs is contained in section 4A of the Firearms Act 1925.
The section requires rifle or pistol clubs to be authorised by the Garda Commissioner, on payment of the prescribed fee, for the purpose of using or storing any firearm or ammunition on the premises of or at the club in connection with target shooting.
In addition, the Firearms (Authorisation of rifle or pistol clubs) Regulations 2009 set out the requirements that must be met by any rifle or pistol club for the purposes of being authorised by the Garda Commissioner under section 4A of the Firearms Act 1925.
These include that the members must be of good character, that the club must have no fewer than five members who each hold a firearms certificate, a requirement for a written constitution and a requirement for a register of members.
In relation to the specific details provided by the Deputy, I am advised that the matter refers to a recent licenced shooting event for the purposes of vermin control on Coillte lands.
The licencing framework involved are not subject to the firearms legislation for which I have legal responsibility as Minister for Justice. They are a matter for Coillte, which operates under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine .
453. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if a case regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be finalised as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2752/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for Mr. Sylvester Poff and Mr. James Barrett was submitted by the Castleisland District Heritage Inc, the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021.
The application has completed an internal review within the Department, and I have approved a proposal to engage an independent expert in trial law to further examine and review the case of Mr. Poff and Mr. Barrett. The Department has been in touch with the applicants to provide this update.
Following completion of this independent expert review of the case, I will consider the report and decide how to proceed.
454. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Justice the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2760/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
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.
Applications are processed in chronological order by date received. Due to the high volume of applications currently on hand, regrettably, the median time for processing applications is 19 months.
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.
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.
455. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the value of fines issued to airlines or ferry companies for failure to carry out adequate checks on travel documents of persons prior to them arriving into Ireland in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2772/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, information in relation to fines levied on airlines for failure to carry out adequate checks on travel documents is maintained by An Garda Síochána.
I have sought the information requested from the An Garda Síochána and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
456. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the total number of community gardaí posts nationally, broken down by division, in each of the years 2015 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2787/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that my Department publishes a breakdown of Community Gardaí by Division, covering the period form 2008 to 30 November 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. These figures may be found on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/f69f7-community-policing/
It is important to note that, to date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.
Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.
457. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí attested in 2022; the total number of gardaí currently in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2788/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
Since 2015, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment and as Minister, I am committed to delivering the necessary resources to bring the number of Gardaí to at least 15,000.
This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, and the Government will continue to work with the Commissioner to ensure that An Garda Síochána is fully supported. Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,029 Garda members have attested, this includes the 369 Probationers who attested in 2022 and the 24 Probationers who attested on the 13 January 2023.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 13 January 2023 a total of 89 Garda recruits were undergoing the training programme at the Garda College. Successful candidates from last year's recruitment campaign will continue to join the College throughout the coming months.
The table below which has also been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of probationer Gardaí who were assigned to Garda stations nationwide from 2015 to 13 January 2023, the date of the last attestation. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
Divisions |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
13/01/2023 |
Total |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
10 |
19 |
38 |
30 |
26 |
14 |
4 |
17 |
2 |
160 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
20 |
32 |
69 |
77 |
55 |
42 |
6 |
31 |
3 |
335 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
23 |
45 |
70 |
73 |
38 |
23 |
7 |
36 |
2 |
317 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
19 |
34 |
66 |
56 |
54 |
24 |
4 |
25 |
2 |
284 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
20 |
43 |
78 |
61 |
75 |
23 |
5 |
34 |
2 |
341 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
30 |
35 |
73 |
81 |
61 |
32 |
7 |
42 |
3 |
364 |
|
CAVAN / MONAGHAN |
10 |
7 |
23 |
35 |
45 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
143 |
|
CLARE |
10 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
51 |
|
|
CORK CITY |
7 |
6 |
26 |
23 |
15 |
27 |
9 |
14 |
1 |
128 |
|
CORK NORTH |
0 |
5 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
17 |
6 |
15 |
82 |
|
|
CORK WEST |
5 |
0 |
15 |
11 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
44 |
|
|
DONEGAL |
10 |
5 |
13 |
26 |
43 |
15 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
121 |
|
GALWAY |
5 |
5 |
10 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
7 |
9 |
79 |
|
|
KERRY |
10 |
0 |
17 |
14 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
0 |
61 |
|
|
KILDARE |
15 |
20 |
47 |
30 |
17 |
23 |
7 |
18 |
177 |
|
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
10 |
10 |
30 |
12 |
8 |
23 |
4 |
9 |
106 |
|
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
9 |
20 |
42 |
22 |
5 |
21 |
8 |
16 |
143 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
9 |
17 |
19 |
34 |
12 |
31 |
7 |
14 |
1 |
144 |
|
LOUTH |
11 |
17 |
34 |
32 |
42 |
21 |
5 |
16 |
178 |
|
|
MAYO |
4 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
34 |
|
|
MEATH |
5 |
19 |
30 |
19 |
19 |
25 |
3 |
16 |
2 |
138 |
|
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD |
0 |
5 |
10 |
3 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
45 |
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
5 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
13 |
15 |
6 |
0 |
58 |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
5 |
14 |
21 |
13 |
8 |
25 |
8 |
8 |
102 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
14 |
10 |
30 |
36 |
21 |
16 |
4 |
15 |
1 |
147 |
|
WESTMEATH |
5 |
5 |
22 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
50 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
15 |
10 |
34 |
26 |
9 |
13 |
4 |
8 |
119 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
10 |
0 |
19 |
21 |
9 |
10 |
1 |
7 |
77 |
|
|
REMAINING IN COLLEGE (STATION TO BE NOTIFIED) |
1 |
1 |
||||||||
|
Total |
296 |
393 |
883 |
789 |
605 |
522 |
148 |
369 |
24 |
4,029 |
For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
458. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of scramblers and quad bikes seized by gardaí in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [2793/23]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
459. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of illegal immigrants who have been detected in transport vehicles such as hauliers' trucks at Irish harbours from 2020 to date in 2023. [2794/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. All other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
I have sought the information requested from the Garda Commissioner and the number of incidents and number of associated persons with each incident is listed in the table below by year.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
No. of Incidents |
11 |
37 |
47 |
* |
|
No. of persons associated with incidents |
17 |
61 |
84 |
15 |
* Less than 10
The data related for 2023 is to 22 January.
460. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 519 of 13 December 2022, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities. [2795/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, which includes internal competitions for specialist units within An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions.
The Deputy’s previous question had sought information on the number of competitions that were held for sworn Garda personnel to join divisional roads policing units in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form.
The below table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, shows the number of competitions held by Division and rank for the years requested by the Deputy.
Divisional competitions for Roads Policing Units held in 2021 and 2022 are as follows:
|
YEAR |
COMPETITIONS |
DIVISION 1 |
DIVISION 2 |
RANK(S) |
|
2021: |
2 |
Monaghan |
Kerry |
Garda, Sgt |
|
2022 (to date): |
2 |
Westmeath |
Cork City |
Garda, Sgt |
I hope that this information is of assistance.
461. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full-year cost of installing two defibrillators in each Garda station that is opened on a 24-7 basis; and the number of Garda stations that currently have a defibrillator installed. [2797/23]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not available on time, however, I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
462. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice if he will support the introduction of a transport police service for national, regional and local bus, tram and rail services. [2963/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing decisions. As Minister I have no these matters.
I am advised by the Commissioner that the Garda Commissioner does not propose to establish a dedicated transport policing unit at this time, as he is of the view that the policing needs of public transport can be met through community policing.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, as demonstrated by the unprecedented allocation of over €2.14 billion in Budget 2023.
A range of regional and local operations have been put in place by Gardaí to prevent and detect criminal activity on public transport. For example, I understand that since October 2022 to date, additional Garda patrols have been undertaken in the West Tallaght area in particular, as part of Operation Saul.
Operation Saul is implemented across the Dublin Region with the aim of keeping people safe on public transport services. The operation is undertaken as a proactive response and is informed by analysis of crime and anti-social behaviour trends, supported by Garda analysts.
I also understand that the Assistant Commissioner of DMR met with the CEO of Dublin Bus and senior management and provided reassurance that An Garda Síochána will continue to provide a proactive response in support of Dublin Bus and other transport operators in the West Tallaght area.
463. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the grounds upon which visas were refused in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2967/23]
View answerThe visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Dublin Visa Office. The letter issued to the applicant on 16 January 2023 outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available and allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.
It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered. Further details on the appeals process can be found at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/appeal-a-negative-decision/
Full consideration will be given to any appeal received on behalf of the applicant, however the onus is on the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted.
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.
