Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for naturalisation was received prior to the signing of Statutory Instrument No. 569 of 2011 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12458/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that on 17 October, 2011, documentation submitted by the person referred to by the Deputy, including an application form for a certificate of naturalisation and a cheque for €950 was returned to him by registered post as he had used an old version of the application form that was valid prior to 24 June 2011. He was advised that he was required to complete and submit the correct version of the application form (Form 8) and also that a fee of €950, which represents the certification fee payable by approved applicants, was not required at that stage.

In November 2011, I signed into law Statutory Instrument 569/11, which introduced an application fee of €175 for all applications for naturalisation and updated the prescribed forms of application. On 18 January, 2012 documentation submitted by the person referred to was returned to him and he was requested to re-submit the application with the application fee of €175, which applies in respect of all applications lodged since 10 November 2011. The application of 17 October 2011 cannot be taken into consideration as only applications in the form prescribed in legislation at date of application can be accepted. 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.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford, which was applied for nearly five years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12460/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in June, 2008. 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. 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.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.