Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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603. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 478 and 479 of 14 July 2015, which indicated that in respect of approximately 7,300 of the 76,600 naturalisations from 2012 to mid-2015, 9.53% were by persons who were nationals of other European Union states, and in view of the census 2011 figures showing approximately 69.75% of non-Irish citizens are nationals of European Union states, if she will revise her view that the fee for the nationalisation certificate is a barrier to persons becoming citizens; if she will reduce the naturalisation certificate fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30684/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 set out the prescribed fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation. An application fee of €175 is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a fee is payable by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard certification fee is €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of refugees and stateless persons the certification fee is nil.

The standard fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for a certificate of naturalisation. Every application must be assessed to establish if the statutory requirements are met. All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 are kept under ongoing review by my Department.

While EEA Nationals are entitled under the Free Movement Directive to come to Ireland for work and other purposes, this does not mean that they all wish to become Irish citizens. Clearly many do not.

I do not accept that the fees related to naturalisation are a barrier to migrants in the State becoming Irish citizens, as evidenced by the significant increase in application volumes since 2011, neither can I accept the suggestion that EU Nationals are less able to afford the naturalisation certification fee than nationals of other countries.