James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

479. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) in relation to an application for citizenship. [56162/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

My officials and I continue to explore new ways of processing citizenship applications.

On 15 November 2021, I announced that from 1 January 2022, new applicants for citizenship will no longer have to submit their original passport with their application. Instead, they can provide a full colour copy of their entire passport, including the front and back covers. The colour copy must be witnessed by a solicitor and submitted with the application form. Details and further information available on on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/new-immigration-changes-announced/.