Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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164. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the processing times for applications to the foreign births register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1360/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process often involving certificates covering three generations and several jurisdictions. Applications requiring clarification or further documents can take longer to process.

The volume of applications for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration is particularly high at present.

Along with an increase in applications received in 2018 there has also been an increase in the number of incomplete applications. Up to 50% of applications received are not complete.

At present it takes approximately six months to process a complete Foreign Birth Registration application. However, due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration, it may take up to twelve months to process an application.

Expectant parents who are applying to be entered on the Foreign Birth Register and who wish to ensure that their child is eligible to become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration should mark this clearly on their application.

In 2018 88% of complete applications for Foreign Birth Registration were processed within six months.