Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2009
382 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in the matter of residency in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15184/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a certificate of naturalisation from the first person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in February 2008.
The average processing time from application to decision is now at 23 months. More complicated cases can at times take more than the current average while an element of straight forward cases are now being dealt with in less than that time scale. There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that the status of citizenship is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.
Officials in the Citizenship Division inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the second person referred to in the Deputy's Question.
I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that they have no record of applications for Long Term Residency from either of the persons concerned.
