Vol. 495 No. 7
638 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application for a certificate of naturalisation submitted on 10 December 1996 by a person (details supplied); whether his Department is in possession of all documentation and information required in this case; the average length of time taken by his Department to process these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21759/98]
An application was received from the person referred to on 10 December 1996. The application was not accepted because the applicant's status in the State was that of a student and students' permission to remain in the State is on the basis that they are here for a limited duration. The application was returned along with the original supporting documentation to the applicant, through his solicitors, in February 1997. My Department has no record of any subsequent correspondence regarding this application.
Because of all the elements involved in processing an application for a certificate of naturalisation, coupled with the number of applications being received, the process normally takes in excess of 12 months from date of application to complete.
