Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 587: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath who have applied for long-term residency or stamp four. [47891/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions 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. 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 first person referred to by the Deputy was received in March 2007. I am informed by my officials that this application is in the latter stages of processing. As soon as a decision is made in his case, the person concerned will be notified. My Department does not have any record of an application for long term residency on behalf of the second person referred to by the Deputy.

Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 588: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the status of persons (details supplied) in County Longford. [47892/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that officials within my Department requested original documentation in respect of the persons concerned, by letter dated 17 December, 2008. A response to this letter was received in my Department on 6 January, 2009, and is being assessed by the relevant officials. The persons in question will be contacted directly and notified of any decisions made regarding their status in the State in due course.