Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure for applying for permission to return and reside here with their Irish born children for the former Kosovar programme refugee parents who gave birth to children during their stay here between 1999 and 2000; the documents required; the closing date for the applications; if the application forms are issued by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6886/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The revised arrangements which I have introduced for the making of applications for permission to remain on the basis of the parentage of a child born in Ireland prior to 1 January 2005 apply only in cases where the parents are and have been resident in the State since the birth of the child. The arrangements do not apply in respect of parents who are not resident in the State.

A separate application form IBC 05, which is available on the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform website at www.justice.ie, must be completed by each applicant parent and be accompanied by the following original documents: original passport or national identity cards for each applicant parent; original birth certificate for the Irish born child; two passport size photographs signed on back; evidence of continuous residence in the State since the birth of the child, which could include utility bills, lease or rental agreements, etc.; a letter from a community welfare officer stating the period of receipt of welfare payments in the State; if either applicant was ever employed in the State, details of that employment, such as tax certificate, letter from employer, etc..

Completed applications, completed statutory declarations and supporting documents must be returned by post to the Irish Born Child Unit, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, P.O. Box 10003, Dublin 2 before 31 March 2005.

In relation to the former Kosovar programme refugee parents who gave birth to children during their stay here between 1999 and 2000, I am prepared to examine applications for residency in the State on a case by case basis outside of the terms of the general scheme above, subject to the requirements of the common good. I should emphasise that this separate consideration applies only to this cohort of persons in view of the unique nature of their presence in the State at the time of birth of their children here and the specific circumstances of their departure.