Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process Irish born child pre-2003, family dependents, applications made by non-EEA nationals granted residence under pre 2003 conditions for residence in the State for specified minor family dependents; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28234/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Fajujonu v. Minister for Justice [1990] 2 IR 151, and in view of the state of the law as expressed in that judgment, previous Ministers adopted a policy of generally granting permission to remain in the State to non- national parents of Irish citizen children. Applications were refused in cases where Ministers deemed that the requirements of the common good necessitated a refusal. Approximately 10,500 non- EEA nationals were granted permission to remain on the basis of parentage of an Irish citizen child between 1996 and February 2003. Following the case of L and O v. Minister for Justice [2003] 1 IR 1, judgment in which was delivered by the Supreme Court on 23 January, 2003, the policy referred to was reviewed. It was decided that the separate procedures for the consideration of residency applications based solely on parentage of an Irish citizen child should cease with effect from 19 February, 2003.

Persons whose applications were processed under the pre-2003 arrangements were generally granted permission to remain in the State for an initial period of twelve months. Any subsequent renewals of this permission are dealt with by the Garda National Immigration Bureau without the necessity of recourse to my Department.

The dependent children of such applicants are automatically granted permission to remain in the State in line with that granted to their parent(s). Upon reaching the age of sixteen such children are required to write to my Department in order that they may obtain permission to remain in the State in their own right. Such applications are dealt with immediately on receipt by officials within my Department.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process change of status, non-EEA national granted a particular permission to remain here and seeking an alternative residency status; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28235/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by non-EEA nationals seeking a change of status are outlined in the following table.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the processing time for dealing with such applications can vary depending on the type of application involved and the particular circumstances of the individual concerned. In all instances, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible having regard to overall resources across the full range of services provided by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process non-EEA national in a relationship with an Irish or non-EEA national and seeking permission to remain here on that basis; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28236/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding non-EEA nationals who are in a relationship with an Irish or a non- EEA national and seeking permission to remain on that basis are outlined in the following table.

Applications for de-facto relationships are dealt with once they are received in the General Immigration Division, and a decision is made once the division receives the appropriate documentation supporting the relationship.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process non-EEA national previously granted permission to study seeking extension of student conditions; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28237/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by non-EEA nationals seeking an extension of student conditions are outlined in the following table.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the processing time for dealing with such applications can vary depending on the type of application involved and the particular circumstances of the individual concerned. In all instances, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible having regard to overall resources across the full range of services provided by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process non-EEA national previously granted permission to remain here as a visitor seeking extension of those conditions; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28238/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by non-EEA nationals seeking an extension of visitor conditions are outlined in the following table.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the processing time for dealing with such applications can vary depending on the type of application involved and the particular circumstances of the individual concerned. In all instances, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible having regard to overall resources across the full range of services provided by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process non-EEA national previously granted permission to remain here on work permit conditions seeking extension of those conditions; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28239/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by non-EEA nationals seeking an extension of their permission to remain in order to apply for a work permit or an extension of their work permit are outlined in the following table.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the processing time for dealing with such applications can vary depending on the type of application involved and the particular circumstances of the individual concerned. In all instances, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible having regard to overall resources across the full range of services provided by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process persons admitted here for various reasons and subsequently seeking permission to remain for medical treatment; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28240/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by non-EEA nationals seeking permission to remain for medical treatment are outlined in the following table.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the processing time for dealing with such applications can vary depending on the type of application involved and the particular circumstances of the individual concerned. In all instances, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible having regard to overall resources across the full range of services provided by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process persons admitted here for various reasons and subsequently seeking permission to remain as a temporary registered doctor; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28241/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by non-EEA nationals seeking permission to remain as temporary registered doctors are outlined in the following table.

Applications for temporary registered doctors are dealt with once they are received in the General Immigration Division, and a decision is made once the division receives the appropriate documentation.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process Turkish nationals seeking permission to remain here pursuant to the Turkish association agreement; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28242/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the statistics requested by the Deputy regarding applications made by Turkish nationals seeking permission to remain pursuant to the Turkish Association Agreement are outlined in the following table.

Applications pursuant to the Turkish Association Agreement are processed on receipt by General Immigration Division and a decision is made once the division receives the appropriate documentation.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process non-EEA nationals who have completed 60 months legal residency here on work permit, work visa or work authorisation conditions and seeking permission to remain under the administrative long-term residency scheme; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28243/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 8,180 applications for long-term residency that are still awaiting a decision. This is primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications received in the last number of years. In the past twelve months the Long-Term Residency Section of my Department has received 4,109 applications. In that period, 2,812 applications have been approved, 628 refused and 344 applications deemed abandoned. In the coming weeks increased resources will be made available to this Section in order to reduce backlogs and provide a better quality service to all applicants. This will also have a positive impact on processing times. The average processing time from application to decision for the generality of valid applications for long-term residency is now at approximately twenty-two months. The Section is currently commencing further processing of applications received in October 2007. The length of time taken to process each application should not be classified as a delay, as the length of time taken for any application to be decided is purely a function of the time taken to carry out necessary checks.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average waiting time to process persons granted refugee status here seeking family reunification for other family members; the number of applications awaiting a decision; the number received, approved and rejected in the past 12 months; the steps he is taking to speed up the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28244/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that applications from refugees for Family Reunification take approximately 24 months to complete. The number of applications received, approved, rejected in the last 12 months and the number of applications on hand are contained in the table.

Additional resources have been assigned to the Family Reunification Unit in the last 12 month period. This has made a positive impact in reducing the arrears of applications.