Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the fee for a certificate of naturalisation has increased in the past two years; the reason such a necessary and standard document is so costly to citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42301/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A Certificate of Naturalisation is an exceptional and important document that facilitates a non-national becoming a citizen of Ireland. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations, 1993, as amended, provides that the prescribed fees are payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The making of an application for a certificate of naturalisation is an individual's choice. The granting of Irish Citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour and not an entitlement. Applications must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria. Certification fees for Citizenship were last changed in 1993; the increase implemented on 1 August, 2008 merely brings the amounts in line with inflation for this period.