Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason an application for long-term residency by a person (details supplied) was refused; the length of time this person can remain in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10108/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Long term residency is an administrative scheme that was introduced in May 2004 and is focused on persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit / work authorisation / work visa conditions. Such persons 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.

I have been informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person concerned made an application for long term residency in March 2007. His application for long term residency was refused in December 2007 because he had availed of the provisions announced by my Department on the 15th January 2005 regarding the parents of children born to non-EEA nationals who were born before the 1st January 2005. He was granted permission to remain as the parent of an Irish born child for a period of two years up to the 17th June 2007. This permission was granted on the understanding that it would be reviewed at the end of the two years. He did not seek to renew his permission on this basis. His employer obtained a work permit on his behalf and he has permission to remain on work permit conditions until December 2009.

It is open to the person concerned to submit an application for long term residency when he has completed sixty months legal residency in the State on work permit conditions.