Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will approve the application for a long-term residency permit by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [35132/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Long Term Residency is an administrative scheme 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 my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. The dependants of the aforementioned, who have been legally resident in the State for over five years may also apply for long term residency. This particular long term permission does not grant an exemption from employment permit requirements to any such dependants. Time spent in the State on student conditions cannot be counted towards long term residency. While applications for long term residency are under consideration, the person concerned should ensure that their permission to remain in the State is kept up to date. An application for long term residency from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in June 2008. Applications are dealt with in strict chronological order. I understand that applications received in January 2007 are currently being dealt with. As soon as a decision is made on his case, the person concerned will be notified.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns that applications for residency from persons outside of the EU area, and particularly from South African citizens, who are in possession of work permits that have been going astray within his Department; if he is satisfied that adequate procedures are in place to record and process all such applications; the number of such applications that are believed to have gone astray in 2007 and to date in 2008; the average time taken to process an application for residency within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35150/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any mislaid residency permits within my Department. If the Deputy has details of any person who feels their application may have been mislaid he should relay that information to me. I will then arrange for INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) to make direct contact with him in the matter. I understand that applications for long term residency received in January 2007 are currently being processed.