Increasing numbers of immigrant workers and overseas students are forced to wait for hours to have documents processed at the Aliens Registration Office in Dublin.
Long queues outside the premises on Harcourt Street begin up to four hours before it opens at 8 a.m. and many people must endure lengthy waits in cramped conditions before their papers are processed. A senior garda overseeing the office has predicted a "crisis" in September when more foreign students join the queues.
The delays are due to the unprecedented growth in immigrants living legally in the Republic for more than three months who must register as an "alien" at the office.
Students, workers with work permits or visas, and people granted refugee status or residency are among the categories of non-EU immigrants who have to attend the office to register, usually annually.
They receive a document known as "the green book" which shows they have complied with immigration laws and is needed if they wish to leave the State and return.
The numbers of people attending the office has grown almost threefold in the past four years. In 1997, it dealt with 10,529 people, rising to 17,064 in 1999 and 26,564 last year. Staff have already dealt with more than 24,644 people this year to the end of June. The office processes between 250 and 300 applications a day.
One chilly morning last week people began queueing at 4.20 a.m. Up to 150 people including mothers with young babies were lined along the metal railings when the office opened at 8 a.m. Some said it was their second visit as they had previously been turned away.
A woman handed out numbered tickets as people filed into the small office which has seats for only about 30 people and five service windows. There is no information desk. People began filling in registration forms and those who could not find room inside spilled out into the shady courtyard.
The office has two toilet cubicles with a baby changing area outside the door to the men's toilet. A bin for the disposal of soiled nappies propped open the main door to the small toilet area.
Three Estonian shop assistants with one-year work permits had travelled by taxi from Finglas to ensure they were first in the queue at 4.20 a.m.
"I think it's bad to have to queue," said Janne. "If you already have a work permit why do you have to stand here? You are not illegal if you come here with a permit."
Sister Breege Keenan from the Vincentian Refugee Centre in Dublin, who has accompanied people to the office, said the system was clearly inadequate. "The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is inviting people to work here and they are left waiting a whole day without even enough room for them to sit," she said.
Det Chief Supt Martin Donnellan from the Garda National Immigration Bureau which oversees the office said it was regrettable that people had to wait for hours as this was stressful for both them and his staff.
He said the office's civilian staff had been increased from 10 to 24 and its opening hours extended to cope with the increased demand. Some categories of immigrants were now required to register less frequently. "This is going to reach crisis proportions in September when foreign students are enrolling," he said.
Det Chief Supt Donnellan acknowledged the premises were not suitable for the numbers attending and said he had expected the office to move to a new city-centre premises last year.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said the Department was in consultation with the Office of Public Works to secure a new larger office in the city. It was hoped that this would be ready by the end of the year.