asked the Minister for Justice the current procedures in practice which should be followed by a person seeking to obtain a residence permit and naturalisation; the number of permits which were granted in 1985 and 1986; the number of applications for residence permits in 1985 and 1986; the number of naturalisation orders that were made for 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Residence Permits and Naturalisation Orders.
10.
A citizen from a member state of the European Community residing in the State may apply to his local Garda station or, if resident in Dublin, to my Department for an application form for a residence permit. Completed application forms are returnable to my Department for consideration under the European Communities (Aliens) Regulations, 1977.
The number of residence permits issued in 1985 and 1986 were 157 and 156 respectively. Statistics are not kept in such a way as to enable me to indicate the number of applicants who applied for residence permits during 1985 and 1986. Perhaps I should also point out that the figures mentioned are not necessarily indicative of the numbers of European Community nationals who have been legally residing in the State since 1985, as such persons can reside here without a permit.
Residence permits as such are not issued to non-EC aliens. The latter may be permitted to remain in the State under the Aliens (Amendment) Order, 1975 under conditions which the Minister for Justice may attach and there may be frequent extensions of these permissions. Statistics are not kept in such a way as would enable me to indicate the number of non-EC nationals who applied for permission to stay in the State.
Any alien residing in the State may write to my Department for an application form for naturalisation. An applicant has to fulfil certain statutory conditions as specified in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 and 1986. Routine inquiries are made by my Department to establish if these conditions have been fulfilled. An explanatory leaflet on naturalisation and citizenship is available.
The number of certificates of naturalisation issued in 1985 and 1986 were 253 and 271 respectively.
Would the Minister confirm that at least in 1985 and 1986 the position was, that as a result of cutbacks, there was no staff member working in the naturalisation section of his Department and would he indicate whether he has restored to reasonable competency the staff levels required to run the naturalisation section?
I have no information in my brief to help me in the question from Deputy McCartan but I will inquire into the matter and communicate with him.