Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to citizenship and family reunification in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10698/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my replies to his previous Parliamentary Questions No 1213 of 30 January 2008, No 131 of 8 October 2008 and 106 of 29 January 2009.

I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that a Family Reunification application was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in May 2002 and that a decision was issued in January 2005. A review of that decision was carried out in 2005 and following the review the person in question was notified that the original decision was upheld.

A new application for Family Reunification was received from the person in question in December 2007. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. The investigation has been completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department.

The report will be considered by my Department and a decision on the application will issue in due course.

At present, Family Reunification applications are taking approximately twenty-four months to process.

I am also informed by the Citizenship Division of my Department that the person concerned made an application for a certificate of naturalisation in February 2009. On examination of the application submitted it was deemed ineligible and the person in question was informed of this in a letter on 13 February, 2009.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to residency and citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10699/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, 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 Division of my Department in June 2006.

On examination of the application submitted it was determined that the person in question did not meet the residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. The applicant was informed of this in a letter issued on 21 October, 2006.

It is open to the person concerned to lodge a new application if and when he is in a position to meet the statutory requirements.

I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question has not made an application for Long Term Residency.