Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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320. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in relation to an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4861/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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321. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in relation to an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4862/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together.

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

Unfortunately, the applications for Naturalisation of the children of this applicant cannot be located. If more information is provided by the Deputy, the Citizenship would be happy to re-examine the request.

It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.

My Department has also recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.