Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
454. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of visa applications for those issued with general work permits that were processed each week in the past 12 months; if she is aware of the effect delays in processing have on businesses when employers are waiting over six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30494/23]
View answerIn order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).
In relation to the role of my Department, non-EEA nationals cannot work in Ireland unless they have an immigration permission. For non-EEA nationals that are not visa-required, they must register their permission with my Department within 90 days of their arrival in Ireland. For those who are visa-required, they must apply for a long stay employment visa, also called a 'D' visa, once they have been granted an employment permit from DETE.
Further details on long stay employment visas can be found on my Department's Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie).
It is important to note that the granting of a work permit and the granting of a visa are two distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of the time sensitive nature of employment visas and ensures that they are treated as priority applications.
Employment applications of this nature are processed by Department of Justice officials in the Dublin visa office and the seven dedicated Visa offices overseas, as well as by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs under delegated sanctions in the many missions/Embassies located across the world. Processing times for visas in the overseas offices will vary by location but an average processing time of 4-6 weeks would be expected, no applicant should be waiting as long as indicated by the Deputy for a first instance decision on an employment application. The Visa office Dublin are currently processing first instance applications of this type received on the 20 May 2023.
Appeals of a negative first instance decision are not processed by DFA officials under delegated sanctions and come to Department of Justice staff, typically the Dublin visa office, for processing. As a result appeal decisions typically have a longer lead time. Currently the Dublin office is processing appeals which were received in 29 August 2022. Applicants can keep up-to-date with the dates the Visa Office in Dublin are processing by checking the following page; which is updated weekly:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
I can further advise the Deputy that following Government approval in December last year, my Department has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to prepare an implementation report for consideration by Government on the introduction of a single permit process for employment permit and immigration permissions.
The aim of such a single permit process would be to simplify the procedure for third country nationals wishing to migrate legally for work. This will improve the experience for people who want to move to and work in our country, as well as enhance the service provided to employers.
The below table outlines the number of Employment Visa applications received in each week for the past 12 months, the number of applications approved, refused, and the number granted on appeal.
|
Week starting |
Week ending |
Total received |
Total Granted |
Total Refused |
Granted on Appeal |
|
2022-05-30 |
2022-06-03 |
338 |
332 |
3 |
3 |
|
2022-06-06 |
2022-06-10 |
325 |
306 |
19 |
0 |
|
2022-06-12 |
2022-06-17 |
413 |
407 |
6 |
0 |
|
2022-06-19 |
2022-06-24 |
350 |
340 |
9 |
1 |
|
2022-06-26 |
2022-07-01 |
301 |
287 |
14 |
0 |
|
2022-07-03 |
2022-07-08 |
511 |
504 |
5 |
2 |
|
2022-07-10 |
2022-07-15 |
425 |
415 |
9 |
1 |
|
2022-07-16 |
2022-07-22 |
537 |
518 |
16 |
3 |
|
2022-07-23 |
2022-07-29 |
487 |
436 |
47 |
4 |
|
2022-07-30 |
2022-08-05 |
454 |
430 |
15 |
9 |
|
2022-08-08 |
2022-08-12 |
411 |
383 |
21 |
7 |
|
2022-08-15 |
2022-08-19 |
415 |
400 |
15 |
0 |
|
2022-08-21 |
2022-08-26 |
336 |
324 |
12 |
0 |
|
2022-08-29 |
2022-09-02 |
427 |
415 |
11 |
1 |
|
2022-09-05 |
2022-09-09 |
436 |
425 |
5 |
6 |
|
2022-09-10 |
2022-09-16 |
459 |
450 |
7 |
2 |
|
2022-09-17 |
2022-09-23 |
489 |
480 |
8 |
1 |
|
2022-09-25 |
2022-09-30 |
496 |
478 |
16 |
2 |
|
2022-10-03 |
2022-10-07 |
454 |
430 |
23 |
1 |
|
2022-10-08 |
2022-10-14 |
487 |
459 |
28 |
0 |
|
2022-10-17 |
2022-10-21 |
426 |
411 |
13 |
2 |
|
2022-10-24 |
2022-10-28 |
268 |
251 |
16 |
1 |
|
2022-10-30 |
2022-11-04 |
461 |
440 |
19 |
2 |
|
2022-11-07 |
2022-11-11 |
440 |
414 |
19 |
7 |
|
2022-11-14 |
2022-11-18 |
478 |
442 |
31 |
5 |
|
2022-11-20 |
2022-11-25 |
345 |
339 |
5 |
1 |
|
2022-11-27 |
2022-12-02 |
298 |
284 |
12 |
2 |
|
2022-12-03 |
2022-12-09 |
337 |
319 |
17 |
1 |
|
2022-12-12 |
2022-12-16 |
380 |
362 |
15 |
3 |
|
2022-12-19 |
2022-12-23 |
411 |
396 |
12 |
3 |
|
2022-12-24 |
2022-12-30 |
119 |
115 |
3 |
1 |
|
2023-01-02 |
2023-01-06 |
341 |
320 |
21 |
0 |
|
2023-01-09 |
2023-01-13 |
504 |
476 |
28 |
0 |
|
2023-01-16 |
2023-01-21 |
341 |
312 |
26 |
3 |
|
2023-01-22 |
2023-01-27 |
356 |
335 |
18 |
3 |
|
2023-01-29 |
2023-02-03 |
423 |
404 |
19 |
0 |
|
2023-02-05 |
2023-02-10 |
278 |
267 |
9 |
2 |
|
2023-02-12 |
2023-02-17 |
284 |
254 |
15 |
15 |
|
2023-02-20 |
2023-02-24 |
327 |
285 |
31 |
11 |
|
2023-02-27 |
2023-03-04 |
322 |
282 |
32 |
8 |
|
2023-03-06 |
2023-03-10 |
321 |
282 |
34 |
5 |
|
2023-03-12 |
2023-03-17 |
231 |
212 |
17 |
2 |
|
2023-03-20 |
2023-03-24 |
162 |
150 |
10 |
2 |
|
2023-03-27 |
2023-03-31 |
238 |
218 |
15 |
5 |
|
2023-04-02 |
2023-04-07 |
241 |
230 |
9 |
2 |
|
2023-04-10 |
2023-04-14 |
240 |
217 |
15 |
8 |
|
2023-04-16 |
2023-04-22 |
247 |
235 |
11 |
1 |
|
2023-04-24 |
2023-04-28 |
268 |
240 |
26 |
2 |
|
2023-05-01 |
2023-05-06 |
201 |
184 |
16 |
1 |
|
2023-05-08 |
2023-05-12 |
286 |
274 |
12 |
0 |
|
2023-05-14 |
2023-05-19 |
298 |
266 |
30 |
2 |
|
2023-05-22 |
2023-05-26 |
213 |
206 |
4 |
3 |
|
2023-05-29 |
2023-06-02 |
145 |
134 |
8 |
3 |
|
2023-06-05 |
2023-06-09 |
230 |
219 |
9 |
2 |
|
2023-06-11 |
2023-06-17 |
328 |
319 |
7 |
2 |
|
Total |
19339 |
18313 |
873 |
151 |
