Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed in a naturalisation case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27280/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that this person arrived in the State on 1 November 2014 and registered as a student on 5 December 2014. Their permission is due to expire on 5 December 2016.

I wish to draw your attention to the document 'Guidelines for non EEA national students registered in Ireland before 1 January, 2011'which is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie.This notice clarifies the position in relation to a non-EEA student registered in Ireland. As well as the above document, a series of guideline notes outlining how the new immigration regime operates are also available on the INIS website, including information on maximum time limits for students who wish to study at Language Non Degree Level and Degree Level. The overall 7 year period offered to students give ample opportunity to achieve the sort of qualifications they need to qualify them for an employment permit, if they wish to remain on in Ireland afterwards.

It is noted that this person has 5 years remaining on the student pathway. As they have not completed the maximum time permitted for student conditions in the State, they are entitled to apply for further permission to remain in the State as a student until they have reached the maximum time allowable. Further information on this is available in the aforementioned Guidelines.

Please be informed that it is illegal under the Immigration Act 2004 to reside in the State without permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality. A person found guilty of such an offence is liable under section 13 of the Act of 2004 to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

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 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 Question 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.