Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Residency Permits

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 644: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether, in relation to applications for long term residency, it is fair and right that applicants are being charged €500 for the initial grant of this permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1877/10]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 645: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the applications for long term residency that were submitted prior to the fee being increased to €500 will be liable for this charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1878/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 together.

Prior to the introduction of a fee on 7 September 2009, Ireland was virtually alone among E.U. member States in not charging for long term residency status. The current fee of €500 is not considered excessive and compares favourably with that charged by the U.K. immigration authorities, for example, where a fee of approximately €950 is levied for conveying a similar status.

Long term residency is an administrative scheme operated by my Department since 2004. It enables individuals who have been legally resident in the State on the basis of work permit / work authorisation / work visa conditions to apply for the status of long term resident thus allowing them to engage in employment without the need for a work permit / work authorisation and negating the need for them to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau on an annual basis. A long term residency permission is valid for a period of five years and on its expiry, the individual may apply to have same renewed.

The procedures involved in processing applications for long term residency are very similar to those applicable to applications for naturalisation i.e. the individual in question must be legally resident in the State for a specific period, he or she must be financially self-sufficient, be of good character, etc. The processes used to determine eligibility have been developed and refined since the scheme was introduced and, as is the case with naturalisation, are necessary to maintain the integrity of the process. Depending on the complexity of any given case, these processes can necessarily take some time to complete and involve a substantial burden on State resources. It is entirely appropriate that the State should seek to recover some of these costs. It should be noted that the fee involved does not fully meet the cost of processing the application.

The fee of €500 applies to all applicants on the initial grant of a long term residency status on or after 7 September 2009. This status shall be valid for a period of five years after which time, the person concerned will be required to re-apply to have their permission renewed for another five year period. Only the fee payable for the issue of a Certificate of Registration, currently €150, will be payable for the renewal of long term residency.

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