John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for naturalisation will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; the number of applicants who might travel to Britain and Europe with their spouses on holiday or to visit relatives, while this application is being processed by his Department, in view of the timeframe involved. [17035/06]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for Irish citizenship by a person (details supplied) will be granted; the reason such long delays are now the norm in applications such as this; if, pending the grant of citizenship a document may be provided to the person in question to enable them to travel with their spouse to EU countries for holiday purposes and to visit relatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17064/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 327 together.

An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in the Citizenship section of my Department from the person referred to by the Deputies on 21 February 2006. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at the present time. It is likely, therefore, that the application of the person referred to will be finalised in or around February 2008. I will advise the Deputies and the applicant when I have made a decision in the matter.

If the person concerned wishes to travel outside of the State prior to her application for naturalisation being finalised, she can travel on her current passport and apply, in advance of her departure from the State, for a re-entry visa to the Visa Office at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. With regard to the processing time for applications for naturalisation, I set out the current position in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 17 on 27 April 2006.