P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications received in each month in relation to applications for naturalisation in every month since May 1997 to date in 2007; the number rejected as invalid applications at initial application stage each month; the number of applications granted in each month; the number of applications refused in each month; the number of applications waiting to be processed at the end of each month; the month or months that the applications that were processed made their application; the number of staff by grade for each month working in this section processing these applications; if he will reduce the waiting time for these applications; his plans to reduce the waiting time for these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27914/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and could only be obtained through the disproportionate use of resources. The table below shows the number of applications received and approved in the years 2000 to date and the number of applications refused in the years 2004 to date. These figures illustrate a significant upward trend in the number of applications received. This upward trend appears set to continue in 2007.

The following table shows the number of applications which have found to be invalid at the initial application stage.

There are 47 staff presently assigned to the Citizenship Section of whom 31 work full time while the remainder work various work sharing patterns. The Deputy will appreciate that staffing levels fluctuate due to transfers, retirements, promotions, etc. and are also subject to review in the context of the overall workload facing the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at any given time. The Section presently comprises of 1 Principal Officer, 1 Assistant Principal, 3.7 Higher Executive Officers, 9.8 Executive Officers and 25.78 Clerical Officers — all figures represent whole-time equivalents. The Principal Officer is also charged with responsibilities other than for Citizenship Section.

Officials are currently processing applications received in the first quarter of 2005 which means that the existing waiting time is approximately thirty months. I have instructed my officials to undertake a review of the various processes in order that these might be streamlined durther where possible. The Deputy will understand that many of these processes have been developed over a number of years and I am satisfied that they are necessary to maintain the integrity of the naturalisation.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 466 of 31 October 2007, the methods or criteria by which a resident of more than five years residency who has applied for a certificate of naturalisation which will take two and half years to process by his Department and has also applied for the long term residency scheme which will take a year and a half to process by his Department, can be granted a stamp four in order to complete the purchase of a family home for which they have loan approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27915/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for a certificate of naturalisation and applications for long term residency are dealt with in chronological order. Long term residency applications received in July 2006 and applications for a certificate of naturalisation received at the beginning of 2005 are currently being processed.

While applications for a certificate of naturalisation and applications for long term residency are under consideration the person concerned must keep their permission to remain in the State up to date. While mindful of the particular circumstances involved, I regret I cannot be more helpful to the Deputy, on this occasion.