Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 262: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41394/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in June 2009. 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.

The length of time taken to process each application should not be classified as a delay, as the length of time taken for any application to be decided is purely a function of the time taken to carry out necessary checks. There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 263: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [41398/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 April 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 inform me that a letter requesting further documentation was sent to the applicant's solicitors on 9th September 2009. To date, no reply has been received. Further processing can resume once the documentation requested has been received.