Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
957. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the current processing times for travel document applications for the family reunification of a person who has refugee status; if the grounds on which they are applying is taken into account in ensuring their timely processing, given the limited timeframe for permission to enter and reside with family reunification cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16784/23]
View answer958. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice what an individual may do if their travel document applications are not processed and issued in time to allow for a family to travel within the one-year timeframe given upon family reunification approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16785/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 957 and 958 together.
I recognise the importance of international protection recipients having their family members reunited with them as soon as possible. To this end my Department engages, where necessary, with applicants for family reunification to ensure that they have every opportunity to meet the requirements of the International Protection Act 2015 in this regard.
Family reunification under Section 56 of the international Protection Act 2015 is open to any individual for whom a refugee or subsidiary protection declaration is in force. Successful applicants have a period of 12 months from receipt of the permission letter arising from their family reunification application to make arrangements for their family members to come to Ireland. It is the experience of my Department that the period of 12 months is adequate to make the necessary arrangements.
The Travel Document Unit in my Department processes travel documents for people who are deemed to be refugees under the 1951 United Nations Convention. This Unit also processes travel documents for beneficiaries of family reunification programmes who do not have a national passport. When a Travel Document applicant is outside the State, the completion of their application form, and the issuing of any subsequent document can be facilitated by the nearest Irish Embassy.
The applicant should submit their application form, and all required documentation, to:
Travel Document Section, Repatriation Division, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70
Once this information has been received the Travel Document Section will make arrangements to have the applicant attend the relevant Irish Embassy in order to have the rest of their application completed and witnessed. This will then be returned to our Dublin office by Embassy staff in order for processing to be completed. Any Travel Document that is produced will then be sent to the relevant Embassy for collection.
In recent times, the Travel Document Unit has experienced a very high volume of applications requiring processing and this has unfortunately had a negative impact on processing times. As a result, regrettably, the processing time for travel documents is currently 22 weeks, upon receipt of a fully completed application.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made to ensure that the travel documents are made available to enable family members to be admitted to Ireland and the particular circumstances of any individual case will be taken into account.
