Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 941: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [20306/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in March 2006. Officials in that Section will be forwarding the application to me for a decision in the near future. I will inform the Deputy and the applicant when I have made a decision on the application.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 942: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the application for naturalisation will be processed in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20307/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the individuals referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in December 2005 and February 2006 respectively. Officials in that section inform me that processing of the application of the first-named person has commenced and the file will be forwarded to me in the near future for a decision.

In relation to the second-named person, the average processing time for applications for naturalisation for adults is approximately 30 months. However, I understand that the person concerned is a refugee. In accordance with the Government's obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, every effort is made to ensure that applications from persons with refugee status are dealt with as quickly as possible. It is likely, therefore, that the application will be finalised by the end of the year. I will inform the Deputy and the individual's concerned when I have made a decision on the applications.