Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
956. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the application status of a person (details supplied) to the Afghan admission programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16703/23]
View answerThe person referred to made an application to the Afghan Admission Programme which was received by my Department on the 9th of March 2022 and continues to be processed. I would like to take this opportunity to assure the person concerned that my Department is processing applications under the Afghan Admissions Programme as quickly as possible.
To ensure as many people as possible can avail of this important programme my Department has been liaising with representatives of the Afghan Community and with applicants directly to ensure the Afghan Admission Programme team have everything needed progress applications.
Where applicants are missing important information, such as proof of identity and familial relationships, the Afghan Admission Programme Unit contacted people directly to gather the required documents. This process is now complete. The requested information has begun to be received and applications continue to be assessed in a pragmatic and humanitarian manner.
My Department commenced issuing decisions in the final quarter of 2022. As of the 6th of April approvals have issued in respect of 409 beneficiaries under the Afghan Admissions Programme. To date no refusal letters have issued.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in the coming months.
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.
