Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 1288: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the waiting period for processing of applications for naturalisation; when the application for naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was received in his Department; when, approximately, this application will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2557/08]

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 December 2006. Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in July 2005 and have approximately 9,000 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the person concerned. These are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. The current processing time for applications for certificates of naturalisation generally is approximately 30 months. However, I understand that the person in question is married to an Irish national and I have allocated additional resources to ensure that these cases are dealt with expeditiously. I will inform the Deputy and the applicant when I have reached a decision on the matter.