Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the fact that the person (details supplied) in County Kildare, an applicant for citizenship, has been continually legally resident here since September 2001 and that the only period by which their residency is short of that required to make a valid application arises from the delay between the issue of a work permit and the issue of residency status which has been corroborated by reference to passport, these periods will be awarded for residency in order to validate a new application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20204/09]

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 December 2007.

On examination of the application submitted it was determined that the person in question did not meet the statutory residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter issued on 16 May, 2008 and again on 1 September, 2008.

Applicants for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide evidence that they were resident and that they had the permission of the Minister to remain in the State for the prescribed period.

Permission to remain in the State as confirmed by the Gárda National Immigration Bureau is a matter of vital importance to all applicants for Citizenship. Applicants must ensure that their registration with the GNIB is kept up to date during their residency in this country.