Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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605. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when long term residency will be facilitated in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1975/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that from the limited information provided, it appears that no application for Long Term Residency was received from the persons concerned.

In order to make an application for Long Term Residency in the State the persons concerned must have been legally resident in the State for a minimum of 5 years (i.e. 60 months) on work permit/work authorisation/working visa conditions.

In addition to this, from the limited information provided, the persons concerned may never have had permission to remain in the State, and they should be aware that it is illegal for them, under the Immigration Act 2004, to remain in the State without the permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality.

A person found guilty of such an offence is liable, under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2004, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. In addition, it appears that the persons concerned have failed to meet the requirements of Section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004, which sets out the obligations of non-nationals in respect of registration.

In this respect it is advisable the persons concerned should engage directly with the immigration service as soon as possible.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.