Written answers
Wednesday, 23 March 2005
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Citizenship Applications
9:00 pm
Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of successful citizenship applications made by refugees or persons with leave to remain status that were processed to completion between 2000 and 2004; the number which were unsuccessful during this period; and the main reasons given by his Department for this. [9655/05]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The following table outlines, in so far as figures are available, the number of certificates of naturalisation issued and applications refused, including those for persons with refugee status, for the period 2000 to 2004. Save in very exceptional circumstances all applicants for naturalisation must have leave to remain — since one of the conditions for naturalisation is lawful residence in the State.
| Year | Total number of certificates issued* | No. of certificates issued to refugees* | Total number of applications refused* | No. of applications from refugees refused* |
| 2004 | 1,335 | 547 | 759 | 302 |
| 2003 | 1,664 | 742 | 179 | 31 |
| 2002 | 1,332 | 526 | 109 | ** |
| 2001 | 1,012 | 385 | 8 | ** |
| 2000 | 125 | 47 | 15 | ** |
| *Certificates issued or applications refused do not necessarily refer to applications received in the same year. | ||||
| **Prior to 2003, records were not maintained in such a way to distinguish refugees who had been refused naturalisation from other applicants. |
Records are not maintained in such a way that would permit the reasons for decisions to either grant or refuse applications to be quantified objectively. However, I can say that the main reasons for refusal of naturalisation applications by persons with refugee status are failure to meet abridged residency and good character requirements.
In so far as post-nuptial citizenship is concerned, records are not maintained in a way which would distinguish persons with refugee status from other applicants.
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