I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the primary consideration is to process applications affected by the Luximon and Balchand judgments of the Supreme Court in compliance with legal requirements.
INIS has taken a number of measures to address the cohort of complex cases associated with the judgments including the assignment of additional staff resources and the sanction of overtime. I am also advised that the resources available for these activities, and the accompanying operational and organisational structures, are kept under ongoing review to ensure that resources are deployed as efficiently as possible.
The Deputy may be aware that I launched a new scheme last month which allow certain non-EEA nationals, who came to Ireland to study between January, 2005 and December, 2010, to apply for permission to remain in the State.
Eligible applicants may apply for a permission to remain in the State including the right to reside and work in the State and will be subject to renewal after two years. The scheme is open for on-line applications until 20 January, 2018. Persons concerned may wish to consult the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie for further information.