Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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63. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria that must be met in order that a person (details supplied) can live here full time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7876/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the criteria to be met in order to be granted permission to retire in the State as a person of independent means is clearly set out on its website www.inis.gov.ie.USA nationals are not visa required. However, entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. As a visitor they may be granted up to a maximum of 90 days in the State. All non-EEA nationals require residence permission to remain in the State.

Permission to retire in the State may be granted to persons who can demonstrate sufficient funds to ensure that they will never become a burden on the State. The financial threshold at present is considered to be an income of €50,000 per person per annum, plus the person must have access to a lump sum of money to cover any unforeseen major expenses. This should be equivalent to, for example, the price of a dwelling in the State. Applicants are also required to demonstrate that they are in good health and they have a clean police record in their country of origin. Applications for this category are dealt with in the Residence Division in INIS.

I should add that a review of the policy is currently under way following a public consultation process which took place late last year.

Queries in relation to individual 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 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.