Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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710. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will waive a fee (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45198/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation.

The standard certification fee is set at €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 recognised refugees and stateless persons, there is no certification fee.

There is no provision in the Regulations for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities or classes of applicant. All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended are kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are no current plans to amend the fees.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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711. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has considered fast-tracking citizenship applications of those applicants who worked on the front lines during the Covid-19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1024/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Due to the restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic, I have provided six extensions of immigration permission to 20 April 2021 to ensure that those requiring an immigration permission to work in the state could continue to do so including those providing frontline services.

I am conscious that a significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in person ceremonies during Covid-19. Unfortunately, the pandemic has prevented the holding of such ceremonies, which are usually attended by hundreds of people and which have become a welcome addition to our public and civic life.

I will this month re-start the process of granting citizenship, without the need to hold in person ceremonies, and I will outline the details of this shortly. It is anticipated that, as the backlog is cleared, frontline workers who are awaiting naturalisation will be among those granted citizenship under the new approach.