Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff assigned to assessing applications for naturalisation and long-term residence for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3274/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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There are 47 staff presently assigned to the Citizenship Section of my Department. The Section 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. There are currently 15 staff assigned to the General Immigration Division of whom 14 work full-time. The Section comprises of 1 Principal Officer, who is also charged with responsibility for the Citizenship Section, 1 Assistant Principal, 1 Higher Executive Officer, 0.8 Executive Officer, 1 Staff Officer and 10 Clerical Officers — all figures represent whole-time equivalents. The Deputy will appreciate that staffing levels fluctuate on a regular basis due to transfers, retirements, promotions, etc. They are also subject to review in the context of the overall workload facing the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at any given time. It is not possible therefore to provide a breakdown of the staffing levels for each of the past five years. Apart from long-term residency, the staff in the General Immigration Division also process a wide variety of applications from non-EEA nationals seeking to reside in the State on various grounds. The Principal Officer is also charged with responsibilities other than for Citizenship Section and General Immigration Division. The Assistant Principal Officer in General Immigration also has other responsibilities that come within his remit.