Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of non-EEA citizen children between the ages of 16 and 18 who are registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau; the stamps issued on the minor child's certificate of registration upon registration with the GNIB; the policy considerations for issuing of stamp two, as an international student, to children between the ages of 16 and 18 who are resident in the State for a considerable time and whose parents who have applied for and are probably eligible for long-term residency or citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28589/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of non-EEA national children between the ages of 16 and 18 who are registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau is 1,672. A non-EEA national child on reaching the age of 16 years must register his/her presence in the State. In line with all immigration decisions each case is considered on its own merits. A registration officer upon registration of the child will have regard to the particular circumstances of the child including the immigration status of the child's parents. In the main, non-EEA children who are in the State as dependants of foreign national parents on reaching 16 years of age are given stamp 2 or 2A. The issuance of stamp 2 or 2A is in line with current policy as the children are present in the State as students.

Applications made by the parents of such children for long-term residence or citizenship do not in themselves confer any automatic residence rights to the child while the application process is being carried out. As the Deputy may be aware, it is my intention to provide in the forthcoming Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill for the registration of all foreign nationals including those under 16 years of age. In that context, it is my intention to carry out a review of all current immigration stamps.