Written Answers Nos. 90-109
90. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of claims nationally that have been initiated with regard to primary school liability and personal injury claims taken by or on behalf of students; the monetary amounts awarded for successful claims in each of the years 2012 to 2016; the cost of the claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24104/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary school liability and personal injury claims are a matter for the board of management of each primary school.
The Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015-2019 requires each board of management of a primary school to put in place comprehensive insurance cover to safeguard the school, the Board and the Trustees.
Claims arising under such insurance policies are processed directly between boards and their insurers without recourse to my Department, and information on such claims is not collated centrally.
91. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the increase in capitation rates for primary schools and secondary schools respectively in each year since 2016; if he is satisfied with these increases; his plans to increase the rates in the coming two years; if so, the amount by which they will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24118/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education.
Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and Training service the best in Europe within a decade. In 2018, the budget for the Department of Education increased by €554 million to over €10 billion. Through budget 2017 and Budget 2018, we are now investing €1 billion more in education.
While the capitation rates for Primary and Voluntary Secondary schools have not increased in the period since 2016 the process is underway for restoring grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016, €5 in 2017 and €5 in 2018, in order to enable primary schools to implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation. A similar type approach in relation to improvements in grant funding was applied, as appropriate, at post-primary level.
92. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24121/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers was announced as part of my Department's Six Year Capital Programme in 2015.
Officials in my Department are working closely with officials from the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable permanent location for the school in question.
A number of potential site options have been identified and these are currently under consideration, in consultation with the local authority. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
93. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24122/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently wrote to my Department advising that it expects enrolments to increase in the coming academic year 2018/2019.
My Department contacted the school and advised the Principal that should enrolment increase to a level that would warrant the appointment of an additional teacher, it is then open to the school to submit an application for additional accommodation, under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, should the school's existing accommodation not be capable of accommodating the additional teacher. An application form can be accessed on www.education.gov.ie,
94. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the community at a school (details supplied) in respect of the fact that the school will have no special needs assistant from September 2018 and will be the only special school in the country in such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24127/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie , in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed. The Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the SENOs take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources. SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
I was very pleased to announce on Friday 18th May that 800 additional Special Needs Assistants will be allocated for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
I was also pleased that the announcement was in keeping with the commitment made last year to inform schools of the September 2018 allocation before the end of May. In making this announcement at this time the Department is providing certainty to schools, parents and of course SNA's in relation to the posts that will be in place for the coming school year.
By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA supports to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE. The closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.
As this question relates to a particular school I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.
95. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad é cúis na moille le cead a thabhairt do scoil (sonraí tugtha) dul ar aghaidh le togra tógála atá riachtanach don scoil; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [24130/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, cheadaigh mo Roinnse deontas suntasach cineachta i Meán Fómhair 2014 don scoil i dtrácht le haghaidh leathnú buan agus oibreacha athchumraíochta a d’fhágfadh go bhféadfaí gach cóiríocht réamhdhéanta a bhaint de shuíomh na scoile.
Beidh a fhios agat go bhfuil an plean costais athcheartaithe, a fuarthas ó údarás na scoile mí Aibreáin seo caite, á scrúdú faoi láthair agus beidh mo Roinnse i dteagmháil leis an scoil mar gheall air go luath.
96. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the length of time the provision of a replacement school is being considered for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay with this project; the steps in the process it is hoped to complete in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24138/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that building projects for the schools referred to by the Deputy are included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme.
The development of the project brief must have regard to the continuance of the existing schools whilst construction is underway. Due to the complexities of the schools existing site, issues to be considered in the development of the project brief include identifying the preferred location of the buildings (having regard to the challenging site), decanting considerations and construction traffic access. My Department is in ongoing contact with the school authority in the matter.
97. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the methodology and the forecasting model used for registration targets for all craft based and consortia led apprenticeships under the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020; and the specific methodology and models used in coming up with annual targets. [24190/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market.
SOLAS, through its Skills and Labour Market and Research Unit (SLMRU) and its Apprenticeship Services Unit, regularly conducts forecasts of apprenticeship requirements. The SLMRU has developed a comprehensive methodology to generate annual five-year forecasts of apprentice intake for construction trades. The methodology takes account of output forecasts, in money terms, for various segments of the construction industry, the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and the relationship between apprentice intake and employment trends in the sectors.
This Government is committed to doubling the number of new apprenticeship registrations by 2020 which will see 31,000 people starting an apprenticeship programme during the period. The Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 sets out target new registrations for each of the years to 2020 and targets for new apprenticeship programmes to support these registrations. In addition, the Plan sets out various actions, such as an additional calls for apprenticeship proposals, an apprenticeship branding and marketing campaign and a review to barriers to participation in apprenticeship all designed to drive registrations into the future. To date 11 new apprenticeship programmes have been developed in various new sectors of the economy ranging from international financial services to hospitality. In addition, arising from our second call for apprenticeship proposals last year, 26 new programmes were approved for further development into national apprenticeship programmes which have added to the pipeline of apprenticeships that are in development and to be rolled out during this and future years. As well as developments in new apprenticeships, as the employment and economic situation continues to improve, we have seen strong growth in registrations across the craft trades nationally during 2017 with 4,508 at year end, which represents a 20% increase on 2016.
The annual targets for both craft and consortia led apprenticeships set out in the Plan in each of the years to 2020 were informed by the SLMRU forecasts in the craft trades and the Programme for Government commitments in the area. The targets for consortia-led apprenticeships in the early years of the Plan were also informed by information on planned registrations provided by consortia who had been approved in the 2015 call for proposals.
98. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the State training schemes, supports and requirements for training persons in the hospitality sector (details supplied). [24193/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2015 the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) carried out a study on the future skills needs of the hospitality sector including skill needs for chefs and cooks.
The objective was to assess demand arising within the sector in Ireland including hotels, restaurants, bars, canteens and catering over the period to 2020. The aim was to ensure that there will be the right supply of skills to help drive domestic hospitality sector business and employment growth. Key findings within the report related to the high replacement/exit rates in the sector which has implications for the ongoing skill requirements of the sector and also with regards to staff retention, including education and training, and workplace conditions and remuneration.
The Study assessed skills demand at all NFQ levels, with a particular focus on career progression opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings. The report provides a set of recommendations designed to address the skills requirements of the sector over the period to 2020, including the need to establish a National Oversight and Advisory Group, comprising of key hospitality stakeholders, to provide a forum for on-going collaboration to support the needs of the sector and oversee implementation of the EGFSN recommendations.
Established in 2016 and currently chaired by the Irish Hotels Federation the group identified five priority areas for progress on which significant progress has been made:-
- Promoting careers in the sector
- Audit of hospitality related courses and facilities in both HE and FET
- Development of apprenticeship and traineeship programmes
- Launch of a dedicated skillnet for the hospitality industry
- Making employment connections – DEASP/Jobsbridge etc
The group has published its first progress report which is available on the Skills Ireland website and work is currently underway on its second progress update. It has also published its report on the audit of both higher and further education courses providing a high level of analysis of the data available that shows the numbers of courses, enrolments and awards in the Hospitality sector to enable the Group to determine how it might address the skill sets required by the sector and to aid it in identifying gaps in the provision of courses.
Arising from Government’s commitment to expand apprenticeship and traineeship education, a new Commis Chef Apprenticeship has been developed by the Apprenticeship Council, led by the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland working with Kerry ETB. To date, 66 people have been registered on this programme with an expected full year intake of around 160. The Apprenticeship Council also approved development funding for separate proposals to develop a Chef de Partie and Sous Chef Apprenticeship, with expected intakes this year of 48 and 16 respectively. It is expected that the Chef de Partie programme will be rolled out later this year. Separately, an Executive Chef apprenticeship is also in development.
In 2015 a new Career Traineeship initiative was initiated by SOLAS in collaboration with the ETBs and enterprise to develop a more effective model of work-based learning, primarily at NFQ levels 4 and 5, incorporating best national and international research and practice. Networks have been created to facilitate partnerships between ETBs and employers to identify training needs, design training programmes, recruit learners and deliver training on and off the job. There are currently three hospitality traineeships available with further traineeships in development.
A Restaurant and Hospitality Skillnet was established in 2017 and, along with the Taste 4 Success Skillnet, will address skill needs in the sector. There were also almost 5,500 beneficiaries in 2017 of further education and training in the food and beverage and tourism areas.
All further education and training programmes on offer are fully accessible to all EU citizens.
99. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) will be called for a citizenship ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24021/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed.
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 straightforward cases are now 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.
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.
100. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the INIS will publish quarterly figures for student visa statistics as part of the international education strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that there has been contact made with the Deputy by my officials seeking clarification in relation to this Question. A detailed response will issue when this clarification is received.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
101. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the full-year cost associated with the programme for partnership Government commitment to increase paid parental leave in the first year of a child's life. [24080/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has referred to in their question, the Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to increase paid leave for parents during the first year of a child’s life, as research shows that parental care is of particular importance during this time. The Government has established an interdepartmental working group to develop proposals to give effect to this commitment and I expect it to make its report in the next month.
In this context, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be pre-emptive of me to detail any costs outlined in the Report, as it is in the process of being finalised, the Government has not yet had sight of the Report and as such, has not yet had an opportunity to consider the proposals presented in the Report.
102. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he has taken in respect of each of the recommendations relevant to his Department made by the Law Reform Commission’s Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety. [24115/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the Government recognises the importance of integrated actions across all relevant Departments to address online safety.
In March, Minister Naughten hosted an Open Policy Debate with a wide range of stakeholders to consider future actions in this area, including matters addressed in the Law Reform Commission Report. On foot of this, all relevant Government Departments with responsibility in this area are working together to develop a whole of Government approach in the form of an integrated Action Plan, and this work is being taken forward under the auspices of the relevant Cabinet Committee.
As Minister for Justice, my primary responsibility in this area relates to the development of effective responses under the criminal law and my Department has been working to bring forward additional legislation on foot of the LRC recommendations in this regard. However, I have recently accepted a Labour Party Private Member's Bill aimed at progressing these issues, along broadly similar lines to the legislation that was in the course of being drafted in my Department. Deputy Howlin's "Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill" completed second stage in the Dáil in January 2018 and was not opposed by Government. The main provisions of the Bill as published include:
- A new offence of non-consensual distribution of intimate images with/without intent to cause harm or distress (generally referred to as “revenge pornography”).
- The existing offence of sending threatening or indecent messages will be extended to apply to all threatening, false indecent and obscene messages using any form of online or traditional method of communications.
- The existing offence of harassment will be extended to include all forms of communication, including through online or digital communications.
My officials will be meeting with Deputy Howlin in the coming weeks with the intention of bringing forward Government amendments to ensure the Bill is legally effective.
As Minister for Justice I am committed to working with colleagues across politics to ensure that we make rapid progress and enact legislation in line with these LRC recommendations at the earliest opportunity.
103. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position in relation to Garda clearance to work with children of persons that were incarcerated in Northern Ireland in the pre-1994 period for offences related to the Troubles in Northern Ireland and that have no criminal convictions otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24129/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraVetting for the purpose of employment with children or vulnerable adults is carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 and other relevant laws. The primary purpose of these vetting arrangements is to enhance protection for children and vulnerable adults. Neither I nor my Department has any role in the processing of such applications.
While the Garda National Vetting Bureau will make such enquiries within An Garda Síochána or with a Scheduled Organisation under the Acts as they deem necessary to establish whether there is any criminal record or specified information relating to a vetting applicant, the Vetting Bureau does not make decisions in respect of the suitability of an applicant for a position. This is, of course, the responsibility of the employer or other relevant organisation that is engaging a person to work with children or vulnerable adults.
What constitutes a criminal record and what constitutes specified information in relation to a person who is the subject of an application for a vetting disclosure is defined in the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016. Furthermore, the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 sets out the arrangements in law whereby certain past convictions may not be disclosed. This Act made a series of amendments to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 in respect of the arrangements that must be followed for the disclosure or otherwise of past convictions in the context of the vetting process.
These provisions in the law are applied by the National Vetting Bureau in the context of processing all vetting applications, including those in respect of persons who may have previous convictions for offences related to the troubles in Northern Ireland.
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24150/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy has not submitted an application for family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015. However, the person was approved as a family member in an application on the 30 January 2004 by the family reunification unit.
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.
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to an application for long-term residency status or stamp 4 in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24151/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.
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.
106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if reconsideration of an application for permission to remain can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); if their case can be considered on the basis set out; if permission to appeal under permission to remain can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24152/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, if an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State, for confidentiality reasons it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant or his legal representative should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate.
The IPO may be contacted either by email to info@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008, or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted either by email to info@protectionappeals.ie, by telephone at 01 474 8400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
Following the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015 on 31 December 2016, new arrangements for the investigation and determination of applications for international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) and cases involving permission to remain in the State have been introduced. Such applications are now processed, as part of a single application procedure, by the International Protection Office (IPO) which has replaced the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) from that date. The staff of that Office (the Chief International Protection Officer and International Protection Officers) are independent in the performance of their protection functions.
For your information, on 27 February 2017, the Chief International Protection Officer, following consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published a statement on the Prioritisation of Applications under the International Protection Act 2015 which is available on the website of the International Protection Office (www.ipo.gov.ie).
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (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.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for naturalisation or permission to remain will be awarded to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24154/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the spouse and children of the person referred to by the Deputy. The spouse of the person referred to by the Deputy currently has permission to reside in the State until 2 March 2019. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation 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, which governs the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application forms, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains guidance on the completion of an application for naturalisation and an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the statutory residency requirements are met.
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.
108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24156/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the original documents submitted by the applicant will be returned immediately.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).
109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the residency status and eligibility for long-term residency and naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24158/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of a current application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy. This person currently has permission to reside in the State until 11 January 2019. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received. In order to make an application for Long Term Residency in the State the person concerned must have been legally resident in the State for a minimum of 5 years (i.e. 60 months) on work permit/work authorisation/working visa conditions.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation 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, which governs the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application forms, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains guidance on the completion of an application for naturalisation and an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the statutory residency requirements are met.
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.
