Written Answers Nos. 131-140
131. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received for residency, based on the extension of criteria for investors in the real estate investment trust scheme under the immigrant investor programme, as announced in budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32639/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, no applications have been received under the Real Estate Investment Trust option of the Immigrant Investor Programme.
However, 44 applications have been received across the other options in the period of time since Budget 2014. Of these, 32 applications have been approved and 12 are under consideration.
The Real Estate Investment Trust option is subject to ongoing review.
132. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when applications for stamp 4 and naturalisation by persons (details supplied) which were received in her Department on 17 April 2015 will be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32656/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that these applications were dealt with and decision letters regarding a review of their cases were issued by registered post on 30 July 2015. Copies of these letters were emailed to the Deputy on 5 August 2015 as requested. I understand that the letters were returned to INIS marked 'not called for' and it is unclear to INIS if the persons are still resident at the address given and no information has been received to indicate that the people referred to by the Deputy have moved address.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32657/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf an application for asylum or subsidiary protection in the State has been received from the persons whose details were supplied, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications until they have fully completed the protection process. All protection applicants are issued with a temporary residence permission pending a final decision on their application.
In the event that an applicant is finally determined not to be in need of protection or in instances where a protection application is withdrawn by the applicant, consideration may then be given to whether the persons should be granted leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds should they elect to pursue this option.
I understand that the persons in question will shortly be contacted by my Department in relation to their options in this regard.
134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status, eligibility for naturalisation and-or procedures to date in the context of determination of status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if that person's family status will be upgraded in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32658/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf the person in question has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications until such time as they have fully completed the protection process.
With regard to residency status, the Deputy is reminded that protection applicants are issued with a temporary residence permission pending a final decision on their application. In the event that an applicant is finally determined not to be in need of protection, consideration is then given to whether the person should be granted leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds.
The question of eligibility for naturalisation does not currently arise in the case of the person in question.
I understand that the person in question has not applied for a transfer to alternative accommodation within the Direct Provision system in the past two years. If she wishes to apply for such a transfer, she may do so directly to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) at PO Box11487, Dublin 2, and her request will be considered without delay.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed to facilitate the possibility of regularisation of residency status for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32659/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a proposal to deport letter was issued to the address provided by the person concerned on 22 October 2009. As this letter was returned undelivered and there was no further contact from the person concerned, no further action was taken.
However, now that an up to date address has been provided by the Deputy, INIS can proceed with the continuation of the process and will write to the the person concerned in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in determining eligibility for residency or naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32662/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 13 April 2016, is ongoing and the case will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most cases are now generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and-or expected residency status of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32664/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and the case will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation. If they have not already done so, the person concerned should apply for renewal of their permission to remain.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most cases are now generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32672/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 17 February 2018.
The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to the residency status and-or eligibility for naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32674/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf the person in question has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications until such time as they have fully completed the protection process.
With regard to residency status, the Deputy is reminded that protection applicants are issued with a temporary residence permission pending a final decision on their application. In the event that an applicant is finally determined not to be in need of protection, consideration is then given to whether the person should be granted leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds.
The question of naturalisation does not arise at this time in the case of the person whose details were supplied.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to residency status and-or eligibility to apply for naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32675/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was initially granted permission to remain in the State for one year on 12 February, 2001. This person's permission has been regularly renewed and is currently valid until March, 2016.
I understand, however, that there is no record of a recent application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned but that a previous application was refused for reasons provided to the person concerned in April 2014.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended.
The Deputy will be aware that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
