Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects applications for persons (details supplied) for citizenship to be decided on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16044/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship section of my Department in May 2007. Officials in the Citizenship section have recently requested further documents in respect of the first two persons mentioned, who are minors. These applications will be further examined on receipt of these documents. Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in August 2005 and have approximately 11,900 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the third person concerned. These are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. It is likely, therefore, that further processing of the application will commence in late 2009. I will inform the Deputy and the persons concerned when I have reached a decision on these applications.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects naturalisation applications for persons (details supplied) to be decided on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16045/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the first two people mentioned in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship section of my Department in August 2006. An application from the third person mentioned was received in August 2007. In June 2007 applications from the fourth and fifth persons (the latter of whom is a minor) were received.

Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in August 2005 and have approximately 6,400 applications on hand to be dealt with before those of the first two persons concerned, 14,200 before that of the third person concerned and 13,600 before that of the fourth person in question.

All applications are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. However, due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. It is likely, therefore that further processing of the applications of the first two persons and the minor will commence in early 2009 and processing of the applications of the third and fourth persons mentioned will commence in early 2010. I will inform the Deputy and the individuals concerned when I have reached a decision on the applications.

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application by a person (details supplied). [16050/08]

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 January 2008. The application has not been examined in detail. Examination of the residency requirement will take place in the near future and the applicant will be contacted at that time informing her when her application will be further examined or of any shortfall in her residency.