Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014
165. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who currently have pending applications with his Department for residency based on the Zambrano judgment; the number of these persons waiting longer than six months; the number of these people waiting longer than 12 months; and the number of persons waiting longer than 18 months to have a final decision made on their application. [12526/14]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, as of 10th March, 2014, there were 781 'pending' applications for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on parentage of an Irish born minor citizen child, and based also on the principles of the Zambrano judgment. Of these 781 applications, 165 were lodged between six and 12 months ago, 80 were lodged between 12 and 18 months ago and 243 were lodged over 18 months ago.
The Deputy should note, however, that in practically all instances where a case of this nature has been in the system for six months or more, it is because the information, documentation or clarification sought from the individual applicants has not yet been provided. As a result, all of the information and documentation required to make a decision has not been supplied by the individual applicants themselves in the cases which are awaiting a decision for more than six months.
