Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants for naturalisation in each of the past five years; the average length of time for processing each application; the cost to the applicant for processing the application; the number of applicants who were successful each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39323/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that In the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, there were approximately 7,500, 11,000, 28,000, 26,000, and 23,000 (to end Oct) applications received and 1,500, 3,000, 4,500, 6,500 and 11,000 (to end Oct) certificates of naturalisation issued respectively.

The nature of the naturalisation process is such that for a broad range of reasons some cases will take longer than others to process. Accordingly, the use of averages in such a situation can be very misleading. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the measures I introduced earlier this year have resulted in a significant increase in the number of cases decided. Nearly 15,000 valid applications have been decided so far this year (compared to 7,785 for the full year in 2010) and some 7,500 invalid applications were dealt with. It is my objective that by the spring of next year, save in exceptional circumstances, persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months. In the circumstances as outlined above and in such a rapidly changing environment where the focus is on processing as many applications as quickly as possible, the value of allocating resources to calculating average processing times which in any event are changing constantly, is greatly diminished.

Regarding the costs to the applicant, the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011, prescribes the fees to be paid by the applicant as follows:

- on the making of an application for a certificate of naturalisation, a fee of €175;

- on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation:

(i) where the application is made on behalf of a minor, a fee of €200;

(ii) where the application is made by a widow or widower whose spouse was, immediately before death, an Irish citizen, and who has not, subsequent to the spouse's death, remarried or entered into a civil partnership or become a naturalised citizen of a state other than the State, a fee of €200

(iii) where the application is made by a person who is the surviving civil partner of a person who was, immediately before death, an Irish citizen, and who has not, subsequent to the civil partner's death, entered into a new civil partnership or married or become a naturalised citizen of a state other than the State, a fee of €200;

(iv) in the case of all other applications, a fee of €950.

The certification fee payable is nil where the applicant is a refugee or Stateless person.