Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I certainly welcome the citizenship ceremonies. However, my question is very specific in relation to the delay caused by the backlog. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could be more specific. I welcome the fact that there are extra staff but I understand that this section lost staff because of the passport crisis. What resources are being used within the Department to handle these applications? The backlog is unacceptable. I have a specific case in mind which is always helpful.

That person has been waiting since March 2021 and is in limbo land - although we have abolished limbo - given the travel restrictions and all the consequences that follow from not having citizenship. I ask the Minister of State to be more specific with me. What staff have been put in place? Are there sufficient staff to handle it? Are we prioritising the latest applications as opposed to the backlog so that the figures look better and we are processing more? What has been set aside specifically to deal with the backlog?

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