The review of 200 applications for marriage of convenience interviews in the two counties comes as the level of applications for such interviews across the country increases.
The interviews are held where at least one half of a couple is from outside the European Union, in a bid to ensure that the proposed marriage is not taking place to enable one or both parties to gain immigration status. Without such an interview taking place, such couples cannot obtain a marriage licence.
The wedding of one Cork woman and her foreign partner, which was due to take place in October, is currently on hold after the couple was told that they would not be able to secure an appointment for a marriage of convenience interview in Cork for 18 months.
According to the HSE South region, marriage of convenience interviews are required after a notice of marriage appointment and are carried out by Civil Registrars under agreed national procedures.
The HSE says there has been an increase in such cases in Cork and Kerry and that the Civil Registration is currently reviewing over 200 open files to prioritise current cases and close those no longer required.
A spokeswoman said: “While this review is underway, new notice appointments requiring an MOC interview are paused. The review is expected to finish in February, after which bookings will reopen based on an updated waiting list, with plans to streamline the process into a single extended appointment.”
The spokeswoman said that prior to the pause, couples were being advised of a six- to nine-month wait, with most interviews completed within six months.
She said however: “Longer delays occur only where foreign divorce documentation requires clearance. We continue to schedule interviews in line with staffing and facilities and are working with local management to improve waiting times.”
It is understood that there are difficulties in other areas of the country, with one case raised with the office of Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger by a woman who has been resident in Ireland for 10 years and who has been told she will have to wait over a year for a marriage of convenience interview in Dublin.
Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke said the Cork-based couple had booked a venue for their October wedding and began the process in January in the belief that it would take between three and six months.
However, they have been told that their application cannot be taken by the Cork civil registration office and that the waiting list for them could be over 18 months in Cork.
The couple has been offered one marriage notification appointment in Kilkenny for May, and have been told over the phone that they may be able to get a marriage of convenience interview appointment for September at the same office — a month before their planned wedding.
However, there is no guarantee that they will be able to secure a marriage licence on time. The couple is now considering the possibility of being married legally abroad because of the delay.
Mr Burke said the HSE needs to examine the deployment of additional staff to deal with the issues that have arisen.