Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is expected procedures in respect of naturalisation will be concluded in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Question Numbers 1249 and 183 for answer on 30 January 2008 and 27 February 2008 respectively. The position remains as stated.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when procedures in respect of naturalisation will be concluded in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15882/08]

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 October 2007. Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in July 2005 and have approximately 15,200 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. However, I understand the individual in question is a refugee. In accordance with the Government's obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, every effort is made to ensure that applications from persons with refugee status are dealt with as quickly as possible. It is likely, therefore, that further processing of the application will commence in the first half of 2009. I will inform the Deputy and the individual concerned when I have reached a decision on the application.