Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the application for citizenship in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37182/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A valid 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 July 2007.

All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.The average processing time from application to decision is now at 24 months. More complicated cases can at times take more than the current average, while an element of straight forward cases can be dealt with in less than that timescale. Officials in the Citizenship Division of my Department inform me that further supporting documentation was requested from the person concerned on 13 January, 2009, a 21 day letter issued on 26 August, 2009 and to date the requested documentation has not been received.

I am also informed that neither of the addresses provided by the Deputy correspond to the address that my Department holds on file, please note that it is the responsibility of the applicant to keep the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service informed of any change of address promptly and in writing. The request for further supporting documentation was re-issued to the new address provided by the Deputy on 15 October, 2009. Further processing of the application will continue once the requested supporting documentation is received.

In the absence of more specific information the Citizenship Division of my Department inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the spouse of the person referred to in the Deputy's Question.