Carol Nolan
Ceist:515. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of asylum applications which were granted in each of the years from 2011 to 2025 and to date in 2026. [47216/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational Protection
Ceisteanna (515, 516)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:516. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of asylum applications in each of the years from 2011 to 2025 and to date in 2026. [47217/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.
I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust, and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately a third.
There has been a significantly increased investment into the international protection system to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
The International Protection Act 2026 gives effect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and came into effect on 12 June 2026.
The Pact provides a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU including standardised processing times for decisions: six months for a standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures and two months for processing applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in Europe.
The below table shows the number of applications for international protection made from 2011 to 31 May 2026.
|
|
IP Applications 2011 to 2026* |
|
2011 |
1,290 |
|
2012 |
956 |
|
2013 |
947 |
|
2014 |
1,448 |
|
2015 |
3,276 |
|
2016 |
2,244 |
|
2017 |
2,920 |
|
2018 |
3,674 |
|
2019 |
4,783 |
|
2020 |
1,565 |
|
2021 |
2,647 |
|
2022 |
13,642 |
|
2023 |
13,271 |
|
2024 |
18,553 |
|
2025 |
13,162 |
|
2026 |
5,135 |
*to 31 May
The table below shows the number of international protection first instance decisions made from 2011 to 31 May 2026. Statistics pre-2017 are not readily available as data would have to be extracted from a number of legacy systems.
|
First instance decisions |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026* |
|
Granted (RS, SP, PTR) |
816 |
1,080 |
1,115 |
725 |
1,521 |
3,537 |
3,235 |
3,906 |
3,743 |
1,226 |
|
Percentage |
45.87% |
36.36% |
32.52% |
32.17% |
61.78% |
71.86% |
36.79% |
28.07% |
18.55% |
16.06% |
|
Refused / withdrew / inadmissible/ Dormant |
963 |
1,890 |
2,314 |
1,529 |
941 |
1,385 |
5,558 |
10,010 |
16,434 |
6,406 |
|
Percentage |
54.13% |
63.64% |
67.48% |
67.83% |
38.22 |
28.14% |
63.21% |
71.93% |
81.45% |
83.94% |
*To 31 May
Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Question No. 516 answered with Question No. 515.
Immigration Policy
Ceisteanna (517)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:517. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons whose deportation from the State has been confirmed and carried out in each of the years from 2011 to 2025 and to date in 2026. [47218/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.
Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. A person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued and I have increased resources into this programme to enable individuals who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.
If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed, and my Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals.
The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024. 2,108 deportation orders have been signed up to 19 June 2026.
In 2024, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.). In 2025, 2,111 people had their departure confirmed through these pathways, an increase of 88% compared to 2024. Up to 19 June 2026, 1,126 people have departed the State through these pathways.
In 2025, six charter flight operations removed 205 people from the State. Of these, five operations to non-EU destinations removed 182 people who were subject to deportation orders and one operation removed 23 EU citizens on grounds of criminality.
Four charter operations to date in 2026 have seen the removal of 172 people from the State, including 67 EU citizens who were removed on grounds of criminality.
The table below details the number of deportations, removals and voluntary returns from 2011 to 19 June 2026.
|
Year |
Enforced deportations |
Otherwise Confirmed Deportations (1) |
Total Deportations |
Other Removals (2) |
Number of Voluntary Returns |
Total Removed |
|
2011 |
243 |
35 |
278 |
41 |
481 |
800 |
|
2012 |
278 |
22 |
300 |
56 |
449 |
805 |
|
2013 |
169 |
30 |
199 |
67 |
427 |
693 |
|
2014 |
85 |
26 |
111 |
88 |
242 |
441 |
|
2015 |
48 |
202 |
250 |
90 |
132 |
472 |
|
2016 |
65 |
363 |
428 |
110 |
187 |
725 |
|
2017 |
81 |
57 |
138 |
140 |
183 |
461 |
|
2018 |
91 |
72 |
163 |
92 |
213 |
468 |
|
2019 |
157 |
139 |
296 |
99 |
261 |
656 |
|
2020 |
42 |
97 |
139 |
40 |
201 |
380 |
|
2021 |
5 |
33 |
38 |
46 |
132 |
216 |
|
2022 |
24 |
93 |
117 |
39 |
91 |
247 |
|
2023 |
51 |
28 |
79 |
24 |
215 |
318 |
|
2024 |
134 |
28 |
162 |
26 |
934 |
1122 |
|
2025 |
367 |
67 |
434 |
61 |
1616 |
2111 |
|
2026 (to 19 June) |
233 |
39 |
272 |
96 |
758 |
1126 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
1. Otherwise confirmed deportations is where it has been confirmed a person has left the state following receipt of a deportation order without being escorted.
2. Other removals include Dublin III Transfer Orders of International Protection applicants to another EU State and EU Removal Orders for the return of EU Citizens under the Free Movement Regulations (these orders are made on grounds of criminality) and people who are deemed inadmissible under the International Protection Act.
The enforcement of deportation orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and my Department works closely with the GNIB to progress arrangements for the removal of people subject to deportation orders. If a person issued with a deportation order does not leave the State independently then they are required to present to the GNIB in accordance with the conditions of their deportation order.
It is the case that a significant number of individuals who were subject to deportation orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities; As there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to definitely provide the number of people who have or have not complied with an order. I am, however, informed that the GNIB has reviewed a large sample of cases of people subject to deportation orders; their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.
Citizenship Applications
Ceisteanna (518)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:518. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason for the delay in a citizenship application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47301/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The naturalisation application referred to by the Deputy is at the registration stage.
This naturalisation application was returned to the person cited as it was incomplete, and has been resubmitted to the Citizenship Division.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, 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.
Crime Prevention
Ceisteanna (519)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:519. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason Government funding for the Garda community text alert system (details supplied) ceased in or around 2022; if he recognises the importance of this service in helping to protect vulnerable people and local communities; if there are plans to restore funding for the system nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47302/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should feel safe and be safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for this Government. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in.
I have prioritised and secured a record investment in Budget 2026 of €2.74 billion for An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for how the organisation utilises this budget and how it is administered to deter and reduce crime.
The Community Text Alert Scheme enables communities to set up a group to receive alerts advising them of suspicious or criminal activity in their area. As well as ensuring awareness among users of the service, it can also lead to them reporting suspicious activity to Gardaí. Sending the information by text means that it can be disseminated rapidly to a large amount of people in a cost-effective way.
I am advised by the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau that the Garda Text Alert Scheme is established in many communities across the country.
My Department provides direct funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover the costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The Scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre. In 2026, my Department secured €370,000 for Muintir na Tíre to cover the administration costs and rebates for the text alert scheme.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (520, 521)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:520. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of the recommendations of the 2023 Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews; and to outline the work conducted by his Department to date to implement the recommendations. [47349/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraHolly Cairns
Ceist:521. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the publication of the final report on the Study on Familicide, Domestic and Family Violence; to provide a reasoning for the delay in publication; and to provide a timeline for the publication of the final report. [47356/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together.
The independent Study on Familicide and Domestic & Family Violence Deaths Reviews was published in 2023. There are currently no plans to publish any further reports on it.
My Department is progressing recommendations arising from the Study which were prioritised following a consultation process that took place in 2024. The consultations involved three dedicated groups; a cross functional Interdepartmental Group, an Advisory Group of relevant NGOs, and a family consultation group made up of the bereaved families of victims of familicide and domestic homicide who shared their experiences of the criminal justice system. I'm informed that consultations with the groups have concluded and a paper on this process, and detailing the progress made in relation to the recommendations made under the Study, will be sent to me in due course.
In terms of the work of the Department in implementing the recommendations, one of the key priorities identified by the consultation groups in respect of guardianship rights has advanced. In April 2025, I secured Cabinet approval for drafting of legislation that will, in certain situations, remove guardianship rights from individuals convicted of killing their partner or the other parent of their child. The primary aim of the proposed legislative changes under the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 is the promotion of child protection and welfare. The Court will be required to consider in these cases whether a revocation of guardianship would be in the best interests of the child. The Bill, known as Valerie’s Law in memory of Valerie French, completed all stages in the Dáil on 17 June 2026.
Further scoping is being carried out in partnership with relevant stakeholders in relation to the Study’s recommendations for the establishment of Multi-Agency Critical Planning and Response (MACPAR) teams in each Garda region to support close family members of victims in the most competent, caring and efficient way. Their purpose will be to co-ordinate agency critical incident responses and develop protocols to ensure that there is a consistency in responses across the country following incidents of domestic homicide or familicide.
My Department is also developing a Domestic Homicide Review model for Ireland as per the recommendations made in the Study. The purpose of these reviews is to identify the circumstances surrounding the death, lessons to be learned, and to make recommendations to improve systemic responses to those in need or at risk, in order to help prevent similar deaths in future.
I have directed that the work to develop the Domestic Homicide Review process be progressed as a matter of priority. It is anticipated that the scope of the Domestic Homicide Review process will include cases where children have died by or through the actions of a relative where the cause and context of the death appears to be as a result of violence, abuse or neglect, as well as cases where the death of a child has, or appears to have, resulted from violence by someone to whom the deceased was not related but which occurred during an incident of domestic or family violence.
In this regard, my Department is liaising with DCDE, as lead Department for the Child Death Review process, given the potential similarities of the two mechanisms, both aimed at attempting to draw learnings on how state agencies have performed their functions, in the interests of developing effective law and policy to better protect children in future.
Question No. 521 answered with Question No. 520.
Residency Permits
Ceisteanna (522)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:522. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to expedite and approve an application for the renewal of an Irish residence permit on behalf of an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47391/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/.
I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I can assure the Deputy that my Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals. Additional staff have been assigned to this work, which has now begun to reduce the processing time for renewals. For certain categories of renewals, the processing time is now approximately 6 - 8 weeks from the time of initial application, with no category exceeding a wait time of 16 weeks.
In order to ensure a fair and equitable service, renewals are processed in order of date submitted. If the application is approved, the person concerned can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the following 10-15 working days.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at []https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, 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.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (523)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:523. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of each category of firearm training courses for armed garda personnel in either Garda Headquarters or the Garda Training College in 2025 and to date in 2026; and the duration of each of those courses, in tabular form. [47420/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
National Lottery
Ceisteanna (524, 525, 526)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:524. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he would consider bringing the National Lottery under the remit of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland to ensure standardisation of the regulatory framework and a level playing field with other licensed operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47441/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Heneghan
Ceist:525. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in light of concerns raised by experts in gambling addiction, if the strict advertising regime which will apply to all gambling companies under the Gambling Regulation Act will also be applied to the National Lottery; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47442/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Heneghan
Ceist:526. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration following last year's ESRI report identifying lotteries and scratch cards as among the most widely used gambling products, if he would now consider extending oversight of the National Lottery to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47443/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 524, 525 and 526 together.
The operation of the National Lottery is subject to the provisions of the National Lottery Act 2013 which is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and his Department, and is subject to regulation by its own dedicated regulator: the Regulator of the National Lottery.
Neither the National Lottery, its activities, nor matters concerning it fall under my remit or that of my Department.
Question No. 525 answered with Question No. 524.
Question No. 526 answered with Question No. 524.
Family Reunification
Ceisteanna (527)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:527. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to clarify the position in relation to a non-EU spouse coming to live and work in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47450/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, on 26 November 2025, Minister O'Callaghan and I published the review of the non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, which had remained largely unchanged since 2013, and sets out how Irish citizens and most non-EEA Irish residents may apply to bring non-EEA family members to live with them in Ireland. Further changes were made to the policy on 12 June 2026 based on commitments made in the review, including an annual review of financial thresholds to keep them in line with the cost of living, and to align with the new Statutory family reunification scheme under the International Protection Act 2026. The latest version of the policy document is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Family-Reunification-Policy-12-June-2026.pdf.
Financial thresholds for Irish citizens applying to be joined by spouses/partners and children increased from a gross income over 3 years of €40,000 (€13,333 per year) to €75,000 (€25,000 per year). This reflects increases in the cost of living since the figure was set in 2013, and is intended to limit any future migrant reliance on State supports, on which the sponsor must not have been mainly reliant on in the two years prior to application. It also remains below the level of €30,000 per year at which non-EEA nationals can be joined by their spouse or partner. There is also now a requirement for sponsors not to be in certain supported accommodation.
However, income earned in another jurisdiction by an Irish national may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, towards financial thresholds for the purposes of a family reunification application, except where the application is regarding a dependent adult relative other than a spouse, civil partner or de facto partner (e.g. a dependent parent, or a dependent adult child). An important consideration in such cases will be that the sponsor is in a position to continue meeting the thresholds into the future, for instance by having verifiable future employment in the state with a sufficient salary.
Declared and verifiable savings by the family member or sponsor may also be taken into account in assessing cases that fall short of the thresholds.
An important consideration in all family reunification applications is the ability of the sponsor to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for their family members if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland. The purpose of the revised Policy is not to deter people from making applications, but to ensure that people who are sponsoring an application have sufficient resources to provide for their family, without the reliance on State funds.
Further information on how to join an Irish spouse or partner in Ireland is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-an-irish-national/.
For specific queries related to your application, please use the Customer Service Portal: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
Persons who obtain a Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) sign a declaration that they will leave the State upon its expiry and must do so on or before the expiry of their current WHA. They may not apply for a change of immigration permission in-State.
It is also open to a spouse or partner of an Irish national to apply for an employment permit in their own right to work in Ireland for an eligible role earning a minimum of €36,605 per year.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (528, 529, 530)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:528. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of members of An Garda Síochána that have been trained in mountain bike use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47458/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRoderic O'Gorman
Ceist:529. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the frequency with which training undertaken for members of An Garda Síochána for mountain bike use; when was the last set of training; when is the next set of training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47459/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRoderic O'Gorman
Ceist:530. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of members of An Garda Síochána that are currently on a waiting list for training for mountain bike use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47460/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 528, 529 and 530 together.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes all operational policing matters such as the recruitment and training of Gardaí. Under Section 34(1) of the Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions.
Garda authorities have provided the below table which provides a breakdown of the number of members of An Garda Síochána that have trained in mountain bike use in 2023, 2024, 2025, and as of 18 June 2026.
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
220 |
158 |
136 |
12 |
I am advised by the Garda authorities that non-serving members and members on a career break have been removed and that only those who have successfully completed each course have been included.
I am informed by Garda authorities that on average two mountain bike training courses are scheduled from March to September each year. As EU Presidency training took priority for the first six months of 2026, one course was delivered in April 2026 and further courses will be scheduled before the end of this year with dates to be confirmed.
The Garda authorities have further advised that there are currently 13 divisions awaiting training for mountain bike use. 12 participants are facilitated on each course.
Question No. 529 answered with Question No. 528.
Question No. 530 answered with Question No. 528.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (531)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:531. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of garda vetting appeals heard by appeals officers in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47474/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. This includes all operational matters, such as Garda vetting applications which are an operational matter for the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (as amended).
Specified Information Appeals Officers are appointed by me under section 17 of the Act. Under the Act an Appeals Officer shall be a practising barrister or practising solicitor of not less than 7 years’ standing and are fully independent in the performance of their functions.
The following table outlines the annual numbers of appeals heard by Appeals Officers for the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2023 |
1 |
|
2024 |
0 |
|
2025 |
2 |
|
2026 |
1 |
Sex Offenders Notification Requirements
Ceisteanna (532)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:532. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department or An Garda Síochána records the nationality of persons subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 as amended; if so, the number of such persons who are nationals of a country other than Ireland in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47475/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have sought information requested by the Deputy, however it has not been available in time.
I will contact the Deputy directly once this information has been received.
Visa Applications
Ceisteanna (533)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:533. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the persons short stay visa application; the expected timeframe for a decision; the steps the applicant will need to take to request expedition of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47496/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can advise the Deputy that the Visit visa application referred to was created on 02 January 2026. Supporting documentation was received in the Abuja office on 21 January 2026 where it awaits examination and processing.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. 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. Some applications can take longer than others if the Visa Office needs to seek further information or if the application is made during a busy time of year, e.g. before holiday periods.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions.
Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having first been issued with a visa. The person will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, 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.
Immigration Support Services
Ceisteanna (534)
Eoghan Kenny
Ceist:534. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on current ISD staffing levels; the application backlog size, by stamp category; the timeline for returning to reasonable processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47525/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand the Deputy has been in contact with officials in my Department and it has been agreed that information would be provided in relation to staffing and applications in relation to the Visa division, Registration Office and the Citizenship divisions of my Department.
Table 1 below sets out the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff assigned to the specified divisions of Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) as of 15 June 2026.
|
Division |
FTE staff (as of 15 June 26) |
|
Dublin Visa Division |
57.4 |
|
Registration Office |
93.1 |
|
Citizenship Division |
76.4 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Staffing levels are kept under ongoing review having regard to demands placed on my Department’s ISD function generally.
The Registration Office of my Department is currently experiencing an exceptionally high demand for first time registration appointments and immigration permission renewal applications.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals. Additional staff have been assigned to this work, which has now begun to reduce the processing time for renewals. For certain categories of renewals, the processing time is now approximately 6 - 8 weeks from the time of initial application, with no category exceeding a wait time of 16 weeks.
The Registration Office provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/
There are approximately 77,000 online renewal applications awaiting to be processed by my Department.
Processing times for naturalisation applications are now decreasing year on year. The median processing time for a decision on an application in 2024 and 2025 was 8 months, down from 15 months in 2023, and 19 months in 2022. It is expected that going forward, the vast majority of applicants will continue to receive a decision within one year, however, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process.
The number of naturalisation applications on hand is approximately 50,000, with around 70% of those on hand 12 months or less.
In relation to Visa and preclearance applications, these provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons, and to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. They are important screening processes, designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system. Each visa application is assessed on its own merits, taking all relevant information into consideration at that time.
While processing times can vary across the different Visa Offices and Irish Embassies, the majority of visas are processed within stated target times. However, some applications can take considerably longer. Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods, such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
Processing times and decisions at the Visa Offices in Dublin and overseas can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The table below outlines the number of short stay (Type C) and long stay (Type D) visa applications received and first instance decisions issued across all Visa Offices for 2025 and up to 31 March 2026.
|
|
C-Visa Applications Received |
C-Visas Granted |
C-Visas Refused |
D-Visa Applications Received |
D-Visas Granted |
D-Visas Refused |
|
2025 |
144,465 |
114,324 |
22,586 |
61,144 |
45,349 |
13,327 |
|
2026 (to 31/03) |
32,905 |
20,920 |
4,901 |
10,282 |
6,868 |
3,118 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
** A decision made in a particular month may relate to an application received in a previous year.
* **Grants and Refusals are all first instance decisions