Nearly 18,000 parents of Irish-born children apply for residency status

ALMOST 18,000 applications for residency status from parents of Irish-born children have been received by the Department of Justice, newly released figures show.

The department yesterday said it had already granted more than 3,300 applications, but said it would take a number of months to determine the remaining cases.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell established the one-off scheme in order to deal with the legal position of foreign parents of Irish-born children who were born before January 1. Children of foreign nationals born prior to this date automatically received Irish citizenship. The situation changed with the Citizenship Referendum becoming law on January 1.

A department spokesman said they had accepted a number of applications after last Thursday’s deadline.

The department has also agreed to accept supporting documentation for two months after the deadline.

This followed serious difficulties by Nigerians getting passports from their embassy in Dublin.

The majority of applicants are expected to receive residency status for an initial period of two years, which can be extended.

Mr McDowell said people of “good character who give honest and complete details of their residence in Ireland with their Irish-born children and make the necessary statutory declaration can expect to be granted permission to remain in a matter of weeks”.

In the statutory declaration - in the form of a signed affidavit - applicants must swear:

* They will not engage in criminal activity.

* They will make every effort to become economically viable.

* To accept they have no entitlement to family reunification.

The Coalition Against the Deportation of Irish Children (CADIC) has expressed concern at the last provision.

Aisling Reidy of CADIC said the family is protected under the Constitution and that children in married families had the right to the care and company of their parents.

“We did get legal advice on this. What we’re saying to people is that they can still apply. The declaration doesn’t take away their right to apply and to have the application considered.”