Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way he will secure the rights and facilitate the integration of parents of Irish citizen children who were unable to access employment due to their status as a single parent, particularly in cases where family reunification has been refused on the basis of stated Government policy, leaving the parent without family supports for childcare and other assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27809/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Permission to remain granted under the IBC/05 Scheme for the parents of Irish born children born before 1/1/2005, is granted and renewed subject to the express condition that the granting of permission to remain in the State does not in any way confer any entitlement or legitimate expectation on any other person, whether related to the applicant or not, to enter the State.

Single parents with IBC/05 permission to remain in the State are entitled to access the same mainstream support services as are available to single parents generally, including the services of FAS, CERT, etc and, where appropriate, language training. In addition my Department promoted two programmes totalling €1m to assist those granted permission to remain under the Scheme to become economically independent, with a particular focus on female headed households.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the requirement for a police clearance certificate from country of origin for the processing of applications for long-term residency was put into effect; if all applicants or selected applicants in the system on that date have been required to produce a police clearance certificate; the number of applicants who have been affected by this new regulation; the reason the requirement was made retroactive when these applicants would have already been waiting for over a year for a decision; the steps being taken to handle the further backlog that is being created when the applicants return for continued processing; if their applications will then be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27810/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Long term residency was introduced by way of an administrative scheme in May 2004. The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements.

Time spent in the State on student conditions cannot be counted towards long term residency. While applications for long term residency are under consideration, the person concerned should ensure that their permission to remain in the State is kept up to date.

There are currently 5,915 cases on hand. I understand that applications received in July 2006 are currently being dealt with. Long term residency is currently an administrative scheme which will be established on a statutory basis in accordance with the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill.

The requirement for a police clearance certificate was introduced recently as part of the character clearance aspect of the application process. The request for the police clearance certificate is issued in the final stage of processing and upon receipt a decision is issued on the application.