Getting quicker

Asus1

Here in Kildare maybe.Handed in licence application for 12g semi auto on May 23rd and received this morning the 26th with letter having signed off date as the 23rd of this month,so it only took a month.I had a call from the FO as i was also cancelling a rifle licence about 2 weeks ago to tell me all was ok with application but that the superintendent was only back and he had a heap of paperwork to do so expect it to take about 3 weeks.This is the shortest waiting time ive had bar subs which i usually have in 2 weeks.Now i have to wait till next week to pick it up cant wait its my first shotgun in my own name.

Cass

Funny, i was just about to ask is anyone waiting longer than normal.

Did you get the actual license yet? I ask because i got the receipt letters this morning and one month ago, but no actual licenses or grant letters yet.

Asus1

Cass wrote: »

Funny, i was just about to ask is anyone waiting longer than normal.

Did you get the actual license yet? I ask because i got the receipt letters this morning and one month ago, but no actual licenses or grant letters yet.

I received the firearms certificate grant notice and paid for said licence this morning.I have never gotten any notification from the garda if or when my application is being processed.The FO usually rings me to say that she has looked through it and its all ok and she was sending it to the superintendent and it was now up to them.Ive read about receipt letters but ive never gotten one.

solarwinds

Got 2 letters last week to say my renewals were received and i would have a decision conveyed no later than Sept. First time i have ever received letters acknowledging receipt of paperwork.

scwazrh

I put my application for 12g on 9th June
Got a call from FO on 16th and got my grant letter this morning - 15 days is not bad

Grizzly 45

Bit of a delay getting some info for AGS from the club RE membership.Emailed the revelant info to my local on Friday,had the grant notice Tuseday.

Asus1

Its weird,its the same feeling every time you buy a firearm.First its excitement,then its guilt about spending money you dont have,finally its impatience waiting for grant notice to come through.Then you head out and do a bit of shooting and all the above is forgotten.

cookimonster

Asus1 wrote: »

Its weird,its the same feeling every time you buy a firearm.First its excitement,then its guilt about spending money you dont have,finally its impatience waiting for grant notice to come through.Then you head out and do a bit of shooting and all the above is forgotten.

.......and then you go out and buy another one or two!!!!

Asus1

cookimonster wrote: »

.......and then you go out and buy another one or two!!!!

FECK NO...........well yeah probably!!!

ezra_

I had three renewals, and these were in a new county for me.

Took about 6 weeks from handing in to grant letters (which arrived in the same post as the letters stating my application had been received). The licences themselves arrived about a week after payment.

First time that I had all of the correct ammo limits, S, etc.

Peppa Cig

7 weeks for me for grant letter

Anyone getting licence quicker than a week after payment?

Asus1

Peppa Cig wrote: »

7 weeks for me for grant letter

Anyone getting licence quicker than a week after payment?

Paid for my licence the 26th of last month and still have not gotten it.Am heading down tomorrow to pick it up with grant letter and receipt of payment as dealer said thats fine.Hopefully it might be in the post before I leave in the morning.Like a child on Christmas eve there wont be alot of sleep tonight.Might stick up a picture when i get it home.

Benny mcc

Sent in a renewal a month ago and got a call last week from the local station looking for it. They've lost it again

Peppa Cig

It seems to vary between RFD’s as to if they will accept grant letter with payment reciept vs. licence card.

Most start dealing with those RFD’s that will

ezra_

Peppa Cig wrote: »

It seems to vary between RFD’s as to if they will accept grant letter with payment reciept vs. licence card.

Most start dealing with those RFD’s that will

Last RFD I dealt with was happy with the letter and receipt as the licence number is printed on the receipt (and he wasn't selling my any ammo).

Asus1

ezra_ wrote: »

Last RFD I dealt with was happy with the letter and receipt as the licence number is printed on the receipt (and he wasn't selling my any ammo).

Same here,I've picked up all my firearms with just the grant notice and proof of payment.

Asus1

Licence came this morning,so i paid last Wednesday and received today so 5 full working days it took,not to bad.Overall from cancelling licence,applying for new licence and receiving said licence in my hand its taken just 5 weeks which is really all it should take for someone who already has firearms licenced.Now to get up early tomorrow morning and head down and pick new shotgun up......

alanmc

That's 5 weeks quicker than any application or substitution I've ever done.

Congrats. Happy shooting.

Asus1

alanmc wrote: »

That's 5 weeks quicker than any application or substitution I've ever done.

Congrats. Happy shooting.

Longest I've had to wait was my first application for a gamo .22 air rifle it was 9 weeks.Wish id kept it and subbed it for a better one instead of subbing it for .22lr.Love the .22lr but an air rifle is just a great thing to have on a sunny evening down in the fields trying to hit a lump of clay at 80y and all for a few €.

Peppa Cig

Asus1 wrote: »

Longest I've had to wait was my first application for a gamo .22 air rifle it was 9 weeks.Wish id kept it and subbed it for a better one instead of subbing it for .22lr.Love the .22lr but an air rifle is just a great thing to have on a sunny evening down in the fields trying to hit a lump of clay at 80y and all for a few €.

My current application is for an Air Rifle. Looking forward to it. Modern PCP high power air rifle should be a great tool around the farm for pest control inside and outside of buildings. Highly accurate too so good for target work also. Here’s a link to mine:

https://youtu.be/ngOVCE_JE2c

del boi

Peppa Cig wrote: »

My current application is for an Air Rifle. Looking forward to it. Modern PCP high power air rifle should be a great tool around the farm for pest control inside and outside of buildings. Highly accurate too so good for target work also. Here’s a link to mine:

https://youtu.be/ngOVCE_JE2c

You wont be disappointed, I up graded to the air arms s510 xs last week. Very accurate

minktrapper

del boi wrote: »

You wont be disappointed, I up graded to the air arms s510 xs last week. Very accurate

Would it be fair to ask as to the price of the air arms.

Sika98k

In actual fact dealers should not hand over firearms on the strength of a grant letter. The licence issued is to use, possess and carry. Been down that road with the FPU in the park.

ezra_

Sika98k wrote: »

In actual fact dealers should not hand over firearms on the strength of a grant letter. The licence issued is to use, possess and carry. Been down that road with the FPU in the park.

Stictly speaking - once the letter is paid, the licence exists.
You don't have the representation of the licence (the yellow slip) but the licence exists at that stage.

Still though - I wouldn't want to try this in the wild!

Sika98k

ezra_ wrote: »

Stictly speaking - once the letter is paid, the licence exists.
You don't have the representation of the licence (the yellow slip) but the licence exists at that stage.

Still though - I wouldn't want to try this in the wild!

My experience of this was getting a rifle licensed before a hunting trip abroad.
Ok, approved and in the system but not in hand. The FO was going to enter it into my EFP but said he’d better check with FPU in the park.
The reply was as I have previously stated. As I did not physically have the licence, no it could not be entered in my EFP. Sure it’s in the pipeline but not to hand.

Cass

I know some of ye are still getting quick service, but i'm still waiting as are a good few people i know. Months for subs let alone applications.

Reading this today and wonder would it have anything to do with it.

Peppa Cig

Peppa Cig wrote: »

Asus1 wrote: »

Longest I've had to wait was my first application for a gamo .22 air rifle it was 9 weeks.Wish id kept it and subbed it for a better one instead of subbing it for .22lr.Love the .22lr but an air rifle is just a great thing to have on a sunny evening down in the fields trying to hit a lump of clay at 80y and all for a few €.

My current application is for an Air Rifle. Looking forward to it. Modern PCP high power air rifle should be a great tool around the farm for pest control inside and outside of buildings. Highly accurate too so good for target work also. Here’s a link to mine:

https://youtu.be/ngOVCE_JE2c

Six weeks for my first grant to come through in June plus 5 days for licence from An Post.

Peppa Cig

Anyone experiencing current delays on grant letter/licence issue?

madmac187

Deeply unhappy waiting since May for a new application. FO would not return a call in that time. Spoke to Super and he said to me I will get to it when I can, highest number of guns in country in his county. Lies. Registered letter in the end and see. Not restricted firearm either.

oldgit1897

I believe the new super in Bray Co.Wicklow is a foot dragger, crazy delays issuing licences.

Sika98k

Peppa Cig wrote: »

Anyone experiencing current delays on grant letter/licence issue?

I’ve been waiting 6 months for renewals. Not a peep, no acknowledgment.
If they worked in the private sector they’d be slung out of their jobs.

Fx Royale

Not sure if they are getting quicker dropped in applications on the 7/9 got letter in post the other day that they have received my application on the 19/10 and I will have communication on or before the 19/1/20 6 weeks sitting on a desk somewhere

Cass

What makes me laugh (sarcastically) is there are notices being sent around by An Gardaí and the regional game clubs for gun owners to submit their renewals in a timely manner because due to incomplete renewals AGS staff are backlogged trying to contact the applicants for the remaining info.

Here is why i laugh.

Granted some people will forget to attach something, but in the cases of FCRs they were designed to be be idiot proof. You are meant to sign it, attach a photo and once nothing on the form has changed from your last license you send it back as is, otherwise you correct the info and still send it back. The problem is what is being asked for. Information outside the purview of the FCR or the renewal/re-application process, and to compound that weeks go by between when the forms are submitted to when they are acted on by AGS.

Fx Royale

Cass wrote: »

What makes me laugh (sarcastically) is there are notices being sent around by An Gardaí and the regional game clubs for gun owners to submit their renewals in a timely manner because due to incomplete renewals AGS staff are backlogged trying to contact the applicants for the remaining info.

Here is why i laugh.

Granted some people will forget to attach something, but in the cases of FCRs they were designed to be be idiot proof. You are meant to sign it, attach a photo and once nothing on the form has changed from your last license you send it back as is, otherwise you correct the info and still send it back. The problem is what is being asked for. Information outside the purview of the FCR or the renewal/re-application process, and to compound that weeks go by between when the forms are submitted to when they are acted on by AGS.

So the “3 months” that they have to process the application does it start from the time they put it on pulse or from the time you submit it???
I have a signed letter from on Garda of who I handed the application into as I was sick of “lost” paperwork so I have time date and badge number of gaurd

Cass

Fx Royale wrote: »

So the “3 months” that they have to process the application does it start from the time they put it on pulse or from the time you submit it???

My understanding is it starts from when you submit the application however that is our [the shooting community's] view. The real world time frame is from when its processed which includes adding it to PULSE.

Its for this reason AGS can claim a processing within the 3 month time limit rate of 98%.

tikkamark

My missus applied for a o/u back in September and she’s not heard a peep back since.The system is a mess it’s almost laughable,I do feel for firearms dealers trying to make a living in this country!

meathstevie

tikkamark wrote: »

My missus applied for a o/u back in September and she’s not heard a peep back since.The system is a mess it’s almost laughable,I do feel for firearms dealers trying to make a living in this country!

Is that where you live now Mark or in your old district? They’re still on a weeks rather than months timescale.

Sika98k

tikkamark wrote: »

My missus applied for a o/u back in September and she’s not heard a peep back since.The system is a mess it’s almost laughable,I do feel for firearms dealers trying to make a living in this country!

Was that September 2018 or 2019 ? September 2019 I would not be unduly concerned. 2018....... I would already have been sitting on the doorstep of the Garda Station.

A while back I was getting nowhere. In desperation I printed off all my mobile phone bills and highlighted the amount of times I had rung, unsuccessfully, the station trying to contact the firearms officer. 27 calls.
A short letter enclosing my copied bills asking for something to be done or I would move it up a couple of paygrades to the Cig resulted in a grant letter in 4 days.

However here I am now waiting 5 months for a renewal. Not a dicky bird, not an acknowledgement of my application being received. I feel that we are treated with a total lack of respect. Which I might add as I quite enjoy my “chats” with my FO. When I finally get to meet him, I bring the biscuits and we get on grand.
The problem is it generally requires me writing a stroppy letter to someone who when we’re face to face are quite convivial to each other.

But the system sucks. Back in the day when they overhauled the licensing system it was suggested that similarly to the U.K. and the North we had shotgun certificates and firearms certificates, aka SGC and FAC. great system, it works.
It was knocked on the head by some Department of AGS. Lack of traceability was an issue. Bo****ks !
So with our current system every bit of information on an application has to be put onto Pulse and repeated for each and every firearm owned by an individual. What a waste of time and resources!
A woman from Cork runs the firearms licensing unit in the PSNI. Pity she doesn't get a job down here. It’s not perfect but it’s a lot better than it was. One to ones done on line at a RFD’s premises. Like for like sales/purchases in designated caliber bands completed at the RFD’s, rim fires are one band, 22 centre fires are another,, etc etc.
So maybe you guys would get your act together and stop treating us like secondhand citizens. Rant over.

oldgit1897

I think its a fact that the guards don't want to do firearms licencing, but they don't want anyone else to do it either. Why not the German system ? A civilian staffed office that has the power to access police/criminal/mental health records, and the police themselves have very little to do with it. But if we had that system, the guards would lose the power to be vindictive pains in the arse.

tikkamark

meathstevie wrote: »

Is that where you live now Mark or in your old district? They’re still on a weeks rather than months timescale.

It’s in my current district Steve if it was the old there actually not too bad

tikkamark

Sika98k wrote: »

Was that September 2018 or 2019 ? September 2019 I would not be unduly concerned. 2018....... I would already have been sitting on the doorstep of the Garda Station.

A while back I was getting nowhere. In desperation I printed off all my mobile phone bills and highlighted the amount of times I had rung, unsuccessfully, the station trying to contact the firearms officer. 27 calls.
A short letter enclosing my copied bills asking for something to be done or I would move it up a couple of paygrades to the Cig resulted in a grant letter in 4 days.

However here I am now waiting 5 months for a renewal. Not a dicky bird, not an acknowledgement of my application being received. I feel that we are treated with a total lack of respect. Which I might add as I quite enjoy my “chats” with my FO. When I finally get to meet him, I bring the biscuits and we get on grand.
The problem is it generally requires me writing a stroppy letter to someone who when we’re face to face are quite convivial to each other.

But the system sucks. Back in the day when they overhauled the licensing system it was suggested that similarly to the U.K. and the North we had shotgun certificates and firearms certificates, aka SGC and FAC. great system, it works.
It was knocked on the head by some Department of AGS. Lack of traceability was an issue. Bo****ks !
So with our current system every bit of information on an application has to be put onto Pulse and repeated for each and every firearm owned by an individual. What a waste of time and resources!
A woman from Cork runs the firearms licensing unit in the PSNI. Pity she doesn't get a job down here. It’s not perfect but it’s a lot better than it was. One to ones done on line at a RFD’s premises. Like for like sales/purchases in designated caliber bands completed at the RFD’s, rim fires are one band, 22 centre fires are another,, etc etc.
So maybe you guys would get your act together and stop treating us like secondhand citizens. Rant over.

It was September 2019 sika it’s still a pain in the arse it’s the bare faced lies that pisses me off,each and everytime she rings they have a new story on the issue!How some stations can get a cert processed in 2 weeks and another 20km up the road can take 6 months.....a complete joke.

ZiabR

@tikkamark Any word on your OH licence? Did the grant letter arrive yet?

Are the main delays just with new applications or are parts of the country just really bad for waiting times?

Where are the worse wait times? Wicklow, Dublin?

I take it that ALL applications, whether they are New, Re-newels or Substitutions are all thrown into the same pile. They should be split. Preference should be Re-newels, as you risk hundreds of firearms around the country being held illegally. Second should be Subs, you already have a licence and are recorded on the systems. New applications should take a little longer but nothing crazy.

Realistically Re-newels and Subs should be back within 14 days. New Apps should be back no latter than 4 weeks.

tikkamark

ZiabR wrote: »

@tikkamark Any word on your OH licence? Did the grant letter arrive yet?

Are the main delays just with new applications or are parts of the country just really bad for waiting times?

Where are the worse wait times? Wicklow, Dublin?

I take it that ALL applications, whether they are New, Re-newels or Substitutions are all thrown into the same pile. They should be split. Preference should be Re-newels, as you risk hundreds of firearms around the country being held illegally. Second should be Subs, you already have a licence and are recorded on the systems. New applications should take a little longer but nothing crazy.

Realistically Re-newels and Subs should be back within 14 days. New Apps should be back no latter than 4 weeks.

No still not a peep in the post about it,it’s coming up on its 3 months timeframe that legally they should have had made some contact.
It’s looking like the nargc will have to get involved with there solicitor to get something done.
She rang the firearms officer about 2 weeks ago now and his response was are you in a panic and could you wait another month!!!Another Gaurd tried to make a seer of her and how long she was waiting and said sure that could be another 3 months.
It’s actually laughable at this stage.

ZiabR

Disgraceful carry on. I would do up a letter for the super and/or request a meeting. I would not be willing to accept that bullsh*t.

Croohur1

ZiabR wrote: »

@tikkamark Any word on your OH licence? Did the grant letter arrive yet?

Are the main delays just with new applications or are parts of the country just really bad for waiting times?

Where are the worse wait times? Wicklow, Dublin?

I am in South Wicklow and a family member put in their application in late September. 3 weeks later it was processed! I hear a civilian is now processing them for Wicklow HQ and things are flying.

ZiabR

Croohur1 wrote: »

I am in South Wicklow and a family member put in their application in late September. 3 weeks later it was processed! I hear a civilian is now processing them for Wicklow HQ and things are flying.

That is correct, 99% of stations have civilians processing forms and inputting data. I know that there are 3 women in my local station that are now processing the applications once they have been signed off by the super or garda.

The only problem is that these people for the most part dont understand firearms or what is involved with them and this can result in mistakes. My neighbourhood garda told me of a case where a substitution was submitted. When the new licence was received a few weeks later, it had the original firearm on it and not the new serial. Turns out the civilian didnt read the form as a sub and just inputted the same details again. Person in question had to resubmit and wait a few more weeks to get another licence.

tikkamark

Croohur1 wrote: »

I am in South Wicklow and a family member put in their application in late September. 3 weeks later it was processed! I hear a civilian is now processing them for Wicklow HQ and things are flying.

I know well.....a mate of mine in a different district had his new side by side processed in 2 weeks.
The big problem I find is that different stations have far too much control with nobody in power over there actions so if they feel like it they will leave an application happily sitting in a drawer as long as they feel like!
If it was a private sector job and you decided you didn’t feel arsed doing it you would obviously get the boot fairly lively.

meathstevie

tikkamark wrote: »

I know well.....a mate of mine in a different district had his new side by side processed in 2 weeks.
The big problem I find is that different stations have far too much control with nobody in power over there actions so if they feel like it they will leave an application happily sitting in a drawer as long as they feel like!
If it was a private sector job and you decided you didn’t feel arsed doing it you would obviously get the boot fairly lively.

Not too sure about the private sector being much better. The biggest advocates of privatisation, the banks, had to be nationalised in all but name due to their superb competency.

ZiabR

meathstevie wrote: »

Not too sure about the private sector being much better. The biggest advocates of privatisation, the banks, had to be nationalised in all but name due to their superb competency.

They really should centralise the application process. Setup a central office in a County that is responsible for the processing of ALL firearms applications. Stations are given a new mandate that states once an application is received it must be processed within 14 days for a new application and 7 days for a Substitution or Renewal. Once processed, they hand it off to the new central office where 10 civilian staff are in-charge of processing the information and sending the granted letters or new licences to the applicant.

This way, applications are not left piled in a station and the onus for information processing is not left with the Gards. I should also point out that this new central office is public facing and are available to receive queries from the applicants.

The process would be fully traceable and it would result in happier applicants and Gards. It would take a few months to clear the backlogs but once up and running things would be handled much faster.

"PS... I have just woken up from a dream"

oldgit1897

meathstevie wrote: »

Not too sure about the private sector being much better. The biggest advocates of privatisation, the banks, had to be nationalised in all but name due to their superb competency.

The banks were nationalised because the Irish people and government would not heed the warnings that the property market was overheating, and the banks were too greedy too. Remember good oul Bertie telling people who were preaching caution that they should go hang themselves.

Peppa Cig

Just double checking.

So if you have 2 licences for say a .22 and both licences have say 500 ammo limit - you are entitled to be in possession of 1000 rounds total?

Thanks