Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average time taken to process application for naturalisation lodged in 2010; the steps he will take to ensure that these applications are dealt with expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18372/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I recently announced a series of measures within my Department to provide for speedier processing of citizenship applications to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescale. The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18397/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for refusal of naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18489/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 471 together.

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled.

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division in May 2007 and my predecessor decided in his absolute discretion to refuse the application on 8 December, 2009. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter issued to him on 15 December, 2009.

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

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent of progress made in the determination of naturalisation or citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18398/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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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 October 2010.

The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

In that context, I can inform the Deputy that I recently announced a series of measures within my Department to provide for speedier processing of citizenship applications to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescale. The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date and outcome anticipation in the application for citizenship or residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18399/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no current record of an application for residency from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. The person concerned was granted a Stamp 2 permission (student) on the 23rd December, 2010 which expires on the 5th December, 2011.

Officials in the Citizenship Division (INIS) of my Department inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to Parliamentary Question No. 163 of 16 June 2011, wherein it was indicated that a letter requesting further documentation had been sent to the applicant on 21 December 2010, to date no reply has been received, in view of the fact that the applicant received no such letter and if it might be possible to have the relevant letter re-issued to the current address of the person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18400/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Further to Parliamentary Question No 163 of 16 June 2011, a letter has been issued to the person concerned at her current address requesting the outstanding documentation and once this material is received the application will be finalised.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 317 of 17 November 2009 and 145 of 20 May 2010, if a determination has been made regarding the entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18403/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I refer to previous replies in respect of the matter raised by the Deputy. The position is as set out in those replies, the most recent of which I have appended below for ease of reference. The requirements for obtaining Irish citizenship are clearly set out in that reply and as the Deputy will appreciate, in the absence of an application for naturalisation to my Department, it would not be possible to determine if the person in question meets the criteria for the granting of citizenship.

Reply to Parliamentary Question 145 of 20 May 2010

Section 6A of the Act, as inserted by section 4 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004 provides that a person born in the island of Ireland shall not be entitled to be an Irish citizen unless a parent of that person has, during the period of 4 years immediately preceding the person's birth, been resident in the island of Ireland for a period of not less than 3 years or periods the aggregate of which is not less than 3 years. The section does not apply to certain persons including those born to parents one of whom is at the time of the persons birth an Irish citizen, British citizen or a person entitled to reside without restriction. For the purpose of calculating reckonable residence under section 6A certain residence is excluded from consideration including unlawful residence, residence covered by a permission granted under Section 4 of the Immigration Act, 2004 for the purpose of study and residence covered by a provisional permission granted pending determination of an asylum application. Upon application for a passport, the Passport Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs assesses the child's entitlement to citizenship based upon the parent's reckonable residency. If the parents do not have sufficient residency the child does not have an entitlement to citizenship. It remains open to the parent of the child to make an application for a certificate of naturalisation on their behalf under section 15 of the 1956 Act, when the child has 5 years reckonable residency in the State.