Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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475. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time it is currently taking for initial assessments of applications to the INIS; and the measures being taken to address the backlog created by level 5 restrictions. [56154/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Statistics are not maintained by my Department in a manner to enable the identification of those applications that are at ‘initial assessment’ stage.

Current processing times have been extended due to the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health and safety related restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 disruption. We have also been unable to hold in person ceremonies during this time.

However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.

This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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476. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application to the INIS in respect of a person (details supplied); and when the person can expect to receive a reference number. [56155/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Applications for naturalisation received by my Department are dealt with in chronological order. The application for the person referred to by the Deputy will be registered in the coming weeks. Following initial assessment of the application, an application reference number will be issued by my Department.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions and public health limits on staff attendance in the office, significant delays are regrettably being experienced in the issuing of acknowledgment receipts and the processing and return of documentation. Citizenship applications have continued to be accepted and processed at all times during the pandemic.

However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times. As I announced earlier this week, from 1 January 2022, applicants will no longer be required to submit their original passport with their initial application.

This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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477. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application to the INIS in respect of a person (details supplied); and when the person can expect to receive a reference number. [56157/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Applications for naturalisation received by my Department are dealt with in chronological order. The application for the person referred to by the Deputy will be registered in the coming weeks. Following initial assessment of the application, an application reference number will be issued by my Department.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions and public health limits on staff attendance in the office, significant delays are regrettably being experienced in the issuing of acknowledgment receipts and the processing and return of documentation. Citizenship applications have continued to be accepted and processed at all times during the pandemic.

However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times. As I announced earlier this week, from 1 January 2022, applicants will no longer be required to submit their original passport with their initial application.

This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if additional staff can be provided to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service on a temporary basis to facilitate the processing of a backlog of appointments to obtain and renew visas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56158/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department consistently works in partnership with the Public Appointments Service to ensure optimum staffing levels across the Immigration Service Delivery function and continuously reviews staffing levels to ensure that each area is adequately and efficiently resourced. Regarding the Registration Office in particular, a number of additional measures have been put in place to help clear the backlog, and to process appointments efficiently.

Staff in the Registration Office have been working extra hours, including at weekends, to meet the demand for first-time registrations, renewal of permissions, and re-entry visas for minors. The public office in Burgh Quay is now open from 08:00 to 20:30 to provide assistance to customers wishing to register.

Public health guidance currently determines the number of appointments that can be facilitated each day, while maintaining safe levels in the public office. Currently, almost 1,000 customers are being registered every week. Our staff continue to engage with stakeholders to understand how their needs can best be met. Since the introduction of a new online system for the renewal of permissions for Dublin-based customers in July 2020, over 98,000 applications have been processed.

This week, I announced a number of customer focused immigration changes to simplify and streamline the processing of citizenship applications and to facilitate immigration requirements for our customers over the Christmas period, as follows:

- From 1 January, new applicants for citizenship will not be required to submit their original passport with the initial application.

- Re-entry visas for minors are suspended over Christmas to facilitate families making travel plans.

- Customers in the State benefitting from the extension of immigration permissions to 15 January 2022 will see their Irish Residence Permits extended to the same date

The Deputy can be assured that I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it. My Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions, and is on track to make 11,000 citizenship decisions this year.

I and my officials continue to explore new ways of processing citizenship applications in a timely and efficient manner, improving service to our customers and reducing waiting times.