Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:131 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expedite the grant of citizenship to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10327/01]
Written Answers. - Grant of Citizenship.
Three applications for certificates of naturalisation from the person referred to, her husband and minor child, were received in my Department on 8 November 2000.
Section 15(1)(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended in 1986, requires that the Minister must be satisfied that an applicant is of full age before granting an application for naturalisation. Section 16 of the Act empowers the Minister to waive that condition where the application is made by a parent on behalf of a minor child and where he or she is acting on behalf of a minor of Irish descent or Irish associations, or where he or she is a naturalised Irish citizen acting on behalf of a minor child.
As the child covered in the Deputy's question does not come within the ambit of any of the foregoing provisions, the application in question was not accepted. However, the applications of the parents have been accepted. When these applications have been processed and if a certificate of naturalisation is granted to either or both parents, it will be open to the successful applicant(s) to make an application on behalf of the child. Alternatively, it will be open to the child to apply for naturalisation upon the attainment of full age.
Due to the various procedures involved in processing an application for a certificate of naturalisation in respect of a person of full age, together with the high number of applications being received, the average processing time at present is approximately two years. Extra resources have recently been allocated to the citizenship area of my Department and these will impact considerably on the current processing time.
As soon as full consideration has been given to the applications, I will advise the applicants and the Deputy of my decision.