Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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257. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications to the Immigrant Investor Programme historically; the number of visas issued under the programme historically; and the number of visas declined. [29004/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of citizenships by naturalisations that have lodged on foot of the Immigrant Investor Programme historically; and the number of those approved and refused, respectively. [29005/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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259. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a schedule of the overall applications by country of origin under to the Immigrant Investor Programme historically. [29008/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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260. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a schedule of engagements she and or her predecessor has had with the Central Bank, the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners in respect the Immigrant Investor Programme; if she plans to reform the programme in respect of the investments made in the provision of social housing. [29009/21]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257, 258, 259 and 260 together.

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest.

Since its inception, more than 2,000 IIP applications have been received. A breakdown of applications by country of origin is set out in the table below.

Not all successful IIP applicants are visa required nationals. Applicants that are visa required can apply for a 'D' visa to register their permission. Visa statistics are not maintained by the Immigration Services of my Department in a manner to enable me to provide details of 'D' visa applications submitted by successful applicants under the IIP.

Successful applicants under the IIP and their nominated family members may be granted a residence permission in Ireland under Stamp 4 conditions. Stamp 4 conditions permit non-EEA nationals to work, study or start their own businesses in Ireland.

An investment under the IIP does not confer any preferential entitlement to citizenship. A successful IIP applicant wishing to attain citizenship by naturalisation would have to submit an application that meets the criteria as provided for in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with legislation and application statistics are not maintained in a manner as to identify the qualifying immigration permission held by applicants for naturalisation. However, all applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence and standard checks are carried out as part of the overall process to maintain its integrity.

Neither I, Minister McEntee nor any Minister for Justice have had any engagements with the Central Bank, the Minister for Finance or the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the IIP. However, the Department of Finance is represented on the Evaluation Committee that assesses IIP applications and there is ongoing engagement at official level with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the Common Reporting Standards approved by the OECD for information sharing on such programmes.

The IIP has been subject to a number of reviews, both internal and external, in recent years. Following a tender process, a contract to carry out an external review was signed in June 2019. This review was to be carried out in two phases. The Terms of Reference for the review are published on the Immigration Service website at: www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/New%20Programmes%20for%20Investors%20and%20Entrepreneurs.

The second phase of the review has recently been completed and is being considered by my Department. In the meantime, applications for investment in social housing under the IIP continue to be assessed by the independent Evaluation Committee and, where assessed positively, are accepted and processed.