Vol. 483 No. 6
55 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who are in the State on residence permits; the number who are applying for refugee status; and the number of people who have got refugee status. [20956/97]
Non-EEA nationals resident in the State are required by law to register with the Garda Síochána. Statistics of such registrations are compiled on an annual basis and I am informed by the Garda authorities that 15,684 such persons were registered in 1996.
An EEA national exercising a right to reside in the State may apply for a residence permit. The period of validity of such a permit may be up to five years and 892 such permits were issued from 1992-96. It is the case, however, that the number of permits issued would not reflect the number of EEA nationals resident in the State, having regard to the fact that the right to reside in the State is not subject to possession of such a permit.
The numbers of such persons applying for refugee status, or who have been recognised as refugees, is nil.
