Written answers

Tuesday, 4 October 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Citizenship Applications

9:00 pm

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons on the waiting list for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26580/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The following table shows details of applications for naturalisation received and certificates of naturalisation issued in the period from 2001 to the end of August 2005.

Year Number of Naturalisation Applications received Number of Certificates of Naturalisation issued
2005 (end of August) 2,808966
2004 4,074 1,335
2003 3,580 1,664
2002 3,574 1,332
2001 1,431 1,012

The average processing time for an application for naturalisation is 24 months at present. There are 7,617 naturalisation applications awaiting processing in the citizenship section of my department.

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons employed in the naturalisation department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26581/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to the citizenship section of my Department. There are 40 staff assigned to the citizenship section. Some 33 staff are employed in processing naturalisation applications, with the other seven members of staff in the section assigned to the processing of applications for post-nuptial citizenship.

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for public representatives and the general public to contact the naturalisation section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26582/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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A citizenship helpline operates in the citizenship section of my Department that is open to both public representatives and members of the public. The helpline can be accessed by way of telephone, e-mail or correspondence. This helpline operates each Tuesday and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. In 2004, a total of 10,127 calls were processed by the helpline.

Additional resources have been assigned to the citizenship section in recent months as part of an overall expansion of structures in the section.

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