Vol. 553 No. 2
620 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when Irish citizenship status will be granted in the case of the children of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13699/02]
The persons referred to in the Deputy's question, who are naturalised Irish citizens, have two children, one of whom is an adult and the other a minor. An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the adult child was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 13 May 2002. At the moment, the average processing time for an application for naturalisation is 15 months and it is therefore likely that this application will be finalised in the second half of 2003. I am informed that there does not appear to be a record in my Department of an application for a certificate of naturalisation having been received on behalf of the minor child. I have asked my officials to send the appropriate application form to the persons referred to so that they can make an application at this stage.
The citizenship section of my Department operates a telephone helpline every Tuesday and Thursday morning between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. If the persons in question require any further information or assistance, they should contact the helpline – 01-602 8202 – during those hours.
