Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda National Immigration Bureau cards issued annually since 2005 to date in 2010; the amount received annually for these cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24809/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The number of registration cards issued to foreign nationals in the years 2006 to 2010 is as follows:

2006: 144,090

2007: 127,893

2008: 127,253

2009: 116,332

2010 (to May 30): 47,864

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Total: 563,432

From 29 May 2006 to 22 August 2008, a statutory fee of €100 was charged in respect of each Certificate of Registration (GNIB Registration Card) issued to a non-EEA national, subject to certain exemptions. On 23 August 2008, this fee was increased to €150.

Registration Fee receipts to date are as follows:

2006: € 5,771,200

2007: € 10,861,800

2008: € 12,580,950

2009: € 14,156,550

2010 (to May 30): € 6,054,850

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Total € 49,425,350

The following categories of persons are excluded from paying the statutory fee:

Convention Refugee

Dependent and Spouse of EU National

Family Reunification

Minors

Programme Refugee

Spouse of Irish Citizen

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process business permission applications from non-European Economic Area nationals for permission to reside in the State for the purposes of establishing and operating a commercial business; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected annually since 2005 to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that applications for Business Permission are currently taking 5-6 weeks to process on receipt of fully completed applications.

The following table outlines the figures since 2005 to May 2010 in respect of applications processed by the Business Permission Unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Applications are dealt with as quickly as possible having regard to the nature of the application and overall resources across the full range of services provided by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. At the end of May 2010 there were 7 applications on hand awaiting decision.