Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1095. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a naturalisation application for a person (details supplied); if she will arrange for them to receive a citizenship application reference number; if she will expedite the return of his or her passport; if she will prioritise the application given its exceptional nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30521/21]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed in chronological order in the interests of fairness to applicants and are assessed individually in accordance with the legislation. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment or the nationality of the applicant. 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.

Currently, there are just over 24,600 applications on hand at various stages within the system, ranging from those just received to those where a decision has been made.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

The identity of every applicant must be confirmed to the greatest extent possible and a passport is a primary identifier. Therefore, it is a requirement of the naturalisation process that a current passport must accompany every application. Under normal circumstances, passports are returned approximately 10 days after their receipt. However, the current limits on staff attendance in the office due to COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in delays in the return of some passports.

Applicants are advised not to send in their application during the pandemic if they anticipate that they may have to travel at short notice. However, I fully appreciate that people may have to travel at short notice for emergency reasons and the citizenship website advises that in these circumstances, applicants should email the citizenship helpdesk at: citizenshipinfo@justice.ie, with the relevant details. Any request must be accompanied by appropriate scanned supporting material detailing the reasons for travel, such as medical information. Any request of this nature is dealt with promptly.

The pandemic has meant that citizenship ceremonies, the final stage of the process, cannot be held at this time. However, a temporary system that enables citizenship applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty to the State was opened in January 2021.

Approximately 2,894 people have received their Irish citizenship since then. A further 1,853 people have returned their signed statutory declarations and will receive their certificates of naturalisation in the coming weeks. By the end of this month, the Citizenship Division of my Department will have communicated with 6,500 applicants, offering them the opportunity to complete their citizenship journey through the statutory declaration process. Healthcare and other frontline workers are benefitting from these new arrangements.

Officials from the Citizenship Division of my Department have also met with doctors’ representatives in recent months, including Train us for Ireland, and that positive engagement will continue.