Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

375. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3885/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Passport Service has paused the processing of Foreign Births Registration applications as Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Normal service will resume once Level 3 restrictions are in place. Any developments in this regard will be notified on the Department’s website.

The delivery of the FBR service has been delayed by up to eighteen months. This is due to significant Brexit-related increases in the number of applications received in recent years as well as the current and previous Covid-related pauses in the FBR service.

With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was registered on 21 October 2019 and is waiting to be checked for registration entitlement. Once normal service is resumed at Level 3, it is expected that this application will be processed in a matter of weeks thereafter.