Thursday, 15 Jun 2023

Written Answers Nos. 246-255

Family Reunification

Questions (246)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) can be joined by their family. [29048/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Deputy does not state the nationality of the family members referred to in his query. If the family members referred to are unsure as to whether they require a visa or preclearance to enter Ireland, they can check the list at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Immigration-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf.

If they are visa required, any visa required national that wishes to enter the State, and remain, for up to 90 days must have a Type C Short Stay Visa. A visa required national that wishes to reside in the State for longer than 90 days must have a Type D Long Stay Visa.

Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:

www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.

The guidelines for the processing of long stay Join Family applications are set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf.

The following webpage, which provides general information in relation to coming to Ireland to join a family member as a non-EU/EEA national, may also be of assistance to the family members referred to in the Deputy's query: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/ .

Citizenship Applications

Questions (247)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current position in regard to an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied); if provision can be made for a late renewal in respect of their stamp 4 residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29050/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The person referred to by the Deputy previously held a Stamp 4 permission which expired on 10 February 2023.

Any period spent on a Stamp 4 permission is considered as reckonable residence when applying for citizenship by way of naturalisation, and an application for Naturalisation on behalf of this person was received by my Department on 25 August 2022.

However, it is important to note that all persons must keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Citizenship cannot and will not be granted if the applicant does not hold a valid immigration permission.

The person cited by the Deputy will need to reapply for a permission letter as their previous permission has lapsed for a significant period of time. The person should apply to the Repatriation Division as they previously granted the prior permission.

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 ([e-mail]), 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.

Family Reunification

Questions (248)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if favourable consideration will be given to facilitating the children of a person (details supplied) to join them here in this jurisdiction. [29051/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 7 July 2022. Supporting documentation was received in the Pretoria office on 27 September 2022. The applications were received in the Dublin Visa Office on 1 November 2022, where they await examination and processing.

Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf .

This Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders, should be dealt with within 6 months of application.

A 12 month target will apply for applications to join Category B sponsors, such as Non Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders or Stamp 4 holders not covered by other more favourable arrangements.

However, it must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.

It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.

The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.

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 ([e-mail]), 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.

Immigration Status

Questions (249)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if an extension of time can be given to facilitate an application for GNIB renewal in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29053/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The person referred to by the Deputy has no current immigration permission to remain in the State.

It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local immigration office and to take all the appropriate steps to regularise their status.

Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and provide any documentation they feel will support their application.

In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally.

The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) examines each application to remain in the State on a case-by-case basis and has consistently urged anyone in this position to come forward if they wish to apply to regularise their immigration position in the State.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at [e-mail], 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 email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Pesticide Use

Questions (250, 251, 252)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

250. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has tested land at an area (details supplied) following the use of poisons on land at Castletown Estate, Celbridge, and assessed its impact on human health where the area is widely used by the public and adjacent to a river that a particular area of the lands are poisoned where there are protected species of birds/wildlife on these lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29018/23]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

251. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department sanctioned the use of poisons on land at Castletown Estate, Celbridge (details supplied); if his Department ensured that legal pesticides were used and that the landowners are licensed and trained to lay poison on the land and if the records are appropriately maintained in line with pesticide regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29019/23]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

252. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department sanctioned the use of poisons on land at Castletown Estate, Celbridge, where there are new signs that have never appeared before stating that a particular area of the lands (details supplied) where there are protected species of birds/wildlife, is poisoned; if his Department has ensured that legal pesticides were used and that the landowners are licensed and trained to lay poison on the land; if the records are appropriately maintained in line with pesticide regulations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29017/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 252, inclusive, together.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority for pesticides in Ireland.

Pesticide active substances contained in pesticide products (plant protection products or biocidal products) are approved centrally at EU level based on detailed assessments and a rigorous peer review process managed by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency.

Products are subsequently authorised, or not, nationally by the relevant competent authorities, in accordance with evaluation and decision-making criteria agreed at EU level. Products are only authorised if it can be reliably concluded that the intended uses are effective and safe. It must be robustly demonstrated that there are no unacceptable impacts on human and animal health and the environment.

It should be noted that there are no pesticide products authorised in Ireland to kill birds or animals, apart from rodenticide products for the control of rats and mice.

There are also a range of mandatory controls on the use of pesticides including a requirement for training and registration of professional users of these products.

Users are not obliged to seek sanction from the Department prior to use since the allowed uses and authorisation conditions are assessed in detail as part of the decision making process on whether or not to permit products to be placed on the market. Products placed on the market must only be used in accordance with the conditions of use as detailed on the product label.

Regarding the specific matter referred to, Department officials have conducted an investigation and no non-compliances with the relevant pesticide regulations were identified.

My Department continues to verify compliance with pesticide legislation and takes seriously any complaints or allegations of non-compliance and will continue to do so in the future.

Question No. 251 answered with Question No. 250.

Question No. 252 answered with Question No. 250.

Disability Services

Questions (253)

Bríd Smith

Question:

253. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will investigate the reason that an autistic person's home support hours have been reduced by an autism support service (details supplied); what process to appeal this reduction is open to the person affected; if this person's care plan can be unilaterally changed like this; if the HSE will ensure that their hours are reinstated with appropriate and necessary home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28933/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this question refers to operational / service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Children in Care

Questions (254)

Martin Browne

Question:

254. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in care who have been allocated a social worker in 2023; the number of children in care who are waiting allocation of a social worker on three-monthly increments in 2022 and to date in 2023, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28947/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Disability Services

Questions (255)

Michael McNamara

Question:

255. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expedite a residential service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29006/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As the TD's query relates to an individual's case, I am referring it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.