435 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on applications for naturalisation for persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2618/07]

Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 28 March 2003 and I decided to refuse both of them. Upon examination of both files it was found that while the applicants had been granted refugee status in 2002 they did not fulfil the three years reckonable residency requirement at the time of application for naturalisation. A letter to this effect issued to the applicants in March 2005. It is open to the persons in question to submit fresh applications once they satisfy the statutory conditions applicable at the time.