Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will facilitate naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11003/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my answer to his Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 2 February 2017. The position remains as stated. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was deemed ineligible for reasons provided to the person concerned in a letter issued on 23 May 2016.

The records show that the person's permission to reside expired on 22 November 2016. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation.

It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the residency requirements are met.

The Deputy may wish to note that 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.