Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:630. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the additional resources put into place to increase capacity to process applications for immigration permissions. [24696/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 September 2020
Ceisteanna (630)
Freagraí scríofa
The Immigration Service of my Department is constantly reviewing its capacity and providing additional resources as required to enable the efficient processing of applications for immigration permissions in the State and the registration and renewal of those permissions.
Significant demand accumulated during the four months that the Registration Office of the Immigration Service of my Department was closed due to COVID-19. To assist in addressing this demand, a new online system for the renewal of Registrations in the Dublin area was developed and launched on 20 July, enabling applicants to engage with the Registration Office without the need to attend in person at Burgh Quay.
Since the launch of the new online renewal system, my Department has received some 27,000 renewal applications. The volume of applications for the renewal of permissions online, together with the reduced capacity of the Registration Office due to social distancing requirements, has resulted in longer than anticipated processing times. However, my officials have already completed approximately 11,000 of these online renewal cases.
The Registration Office of the Immigration Service of my Department is currently processing the remaining approximately 16,000 applications that have been sent in by people seeking to renew their immigration registration. My Department recognises the difficulties that delays may cause for applicants and it is providing additional resources to the Registration Office to increase its capacity to handle current and expected demand. Where an applicant urgently needs their passport for travel or other such reasons, they should email the Registration Office at burghquayregoffice@justice.ie and set out the circumstances involved.
Starting on 24 August 2020, the Public Office is also accepting applications for first time registrations on an appointment basis which requires presentation in person by the applicant. Priority for appointment allocation was given initially to those who had their application for first time registration cancelled when the Office closed in March. Following this, the online appointment system for new first time applicants went live again on 28 August 2020, with almost 2,000 appointments offered to date. Further appointments are being continually added. It is planned to significantly increase capacity over the coming months. My Department registers persons residing in the Dublin area only. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) processes all applications outside of Dublin through the Garda Station network.
On 18 September 2020, I announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 20 January 2021. This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 20 September 2020 and 20 January 2021. Renewal is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply.
The extension provides the necessary time to make arrangements with the Immigration Service in Dublin or An Garda Síochána outside Dublin to ensure that registrations are renewed in the normal way by that date. I encourage people to do so at the earliest opportunity and not to wait until January to do so.
All renewals in the Dublin area are being processed online only since 20 July 2020, at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie. Renewals outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/reopening-of-registration-offices.html .
As regards visa processing, a limited resumption of visa services commenced from 22 June 2020. During this initial resumption phase, my Department is only accepting Long Stay “D” visa applications, including Study, as well as those identified under our current criteria as Emergency/Priority visas. It remains the position that we are not yet accepting any short stay visa applications, except for cases that fall under the Emergency/Priority criteria.
My Department is providing regular updates on all immigration related matters on the Immigration Service website: http://www.inis.gov.ie . A detailed Frequently Asked Questions document on the COVID-19 impact on immigration and international protection can also be found on the website. This document is also regularly updated and can be found at:
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Immigration-Service-Delivery-Covid-19-FAQ4.pdf/Files/Immigration-Service-Delivery-Covid-19-FAQ4.pdf .