Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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574. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for naturalisation received by month in 2018 and to date in 2019. [35061/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

The INIS Service Improvement Plan 2018-2020 commits the Immigration Service of my Department to significant investment in technological developments including the roll-out of online forms and payments for citizenship applications.  Such developments are expected to deliver significant improvements to customer experiences and processing timescales. 

I am advised that the number of applications for naturalisation received by month in 2018 and to date in 2019 is as follows:

The Immigration Service devotes considerable resources to the processing of these applications. It also operates a dedicated phone helpline and email helpdesk available for all applicants interested in the progress of their application, details of which are available on their website at www.inis.gov.ie