Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Citizenship Applications

9:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 970: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his policy of denying naturalisation to applicants who have availed of social welfare within the past three years applies to parents in receipt of child benefit. [25010/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have informed this House on several occasions in the recent past in response to parliamentary questions that I have adopted a general policy that applicants for naturalisation, other than refugees, programme refugees or stateless persons, should have been supporting themselves and their families without recourse to State support for a three-year period prior to applying for naturalisation and, furthermore, that they must show, as far as is practicable, that they have the capacity to support themselves into the future. I apply that general policy to all applications for naturalisation unless the exceptional circumstances of a particular case suggest otherwise.

Since child benefit is payable in respect of all children who are resident in the State, irrespective of the family's financial circumstances, persons will not be refused naturalisation solely on the basis of receipt of that benefit.

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