Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has to wait until 2008 before their application will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The lengthy processing time for applications is primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications that were received in the last number of years. The following table shows the number of applications received in the years 2000 to date.

The above figures illustrate a significant upward trend in the number of applications received during that 7 year period. With over 3,000 applications received to date in 2006, the upward trend looks set to continue and it appears likely that over 6,000 applications will be received this year — a potential increase of 33% on 2005.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is an honour and applications must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is given only to persons who are suitably qualified. I believe it would be beneficial to the Deputy if I set out below a short synopsis of the procedures employed to assess an applicant for naturalisation.

Upon receipt, each application is examined to determine if the statutory application is completed fully. Incomplete application forms are returned to the applicant for amendment. Valid applications are then examined to determine if the applicant meets the statutory residency criteria set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act. Passports and other documentation are examined in detail and enquiries with the Garda National Immigration Bureau may also be necessary. Since this procedure was introduced on 1 April 2005, over 1,500 applicants who applied since that date have been found to be ineligible. All such applicants are informed of any shortfall in their residency and will be able to reapply when they have the required residency.

The next stage of the process involves assessing an applicant's financial status in respect of their ability to support themselves in the State. Enquiries with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social and Family Affairs may be necessary in this regard. At the same time enquiries are also made with the Garda Síochána to clarify if the applicant can be deemed to be of good character. There may also be circumstances in individual cases which require a greater level of investigation than other cases. Once all enquiries are completed, the file is referred to me for a decision. The Deputy will appreciate that these processes can take a lengthy time to complete.

An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in the Citizenship section of my Department from the person referred to in the Deputy's question on 10 February 2006. Applications received in the first half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are almost 8,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. It is likely that processing of the application of the person concerned will commence in the second half of 2008. Meanwhile, if the person concerned wishes to travel outside of the State prior to his application for naturalisation being finalised, he can travel on his current passport and apply, in advance of his departure from the State, for a re-entry visa to the Visa Office at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.