My Department received 782 family reunification applications for 2,287 family members under the International Protection Act 2015 between, 31 October 2021 to 31 October 2022. The table below gives the number of applications received and decided by month. Decisions issued may relate to applications which were received outside the requested period due to the time taken to process applications.
Month
|
Applications received
|
Applications Decided
|
November (2021)
|
122
|
73
|
December
|
211
|
107
|
January (2022)
|
253
|
179
|
February
|
161
|
76
|
March
|
143
|
48
|
April
|
143
|
129
|
May
|
235
|
97
|
June
|
202
|
132
|
July
|
191
|
146
|
August
|
198
|
86
|
September
|
245
|
156
|
October
|
183
|
185
|
I recognise the critical importance of International Protection recipients having their family members reunite with them as soon as possible. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) continued to accept and process Family Reunification (FRU) applications under the International Protection Act 2015.
It is recognised that all applicants for FRU would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the FRU process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Further information can be found on my Department's website here:
www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/