Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

600. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for citizenship received by Irish Naturalisation and Immigration service monthly in each of the years from 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; the applications processed by the service monthly in tabular form; the length of time it took to process these applications per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24414/22]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

601. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current target of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service to process citizenship applications; if additional resources will be allocated to reduce processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24415/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.

I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions.

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.

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.

My Department has also been unable to hold in-person citizenship ceremonies during this time. However, I'm pleased to say that, subject to public health guidelines, my Department intends to host in-person citizenship ceremonies in June and December of this year in Killarney.

The citizenship application process is reviewed on an ongoing basis to continually improve customer service quality. Feedback from applicants is taken on board and, as a result, a much more simplified, customer-focused and streamlined mechanism for applicants to provide their proofs of residence has recently been introduced.

To further speed up the processing of applications, 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. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team.

Since the beginning of this year, new applicants for citizenship no longer have to submit their original passport with their application. Instead, they can provide a full certified colour copy of their entire passport, including the front and back covers. This change in practice is welcomed by our customers and is also freeing up valuable staff time that up to now has been engaged in returning passports to applicants.

The average processing time will vary depending on the number of applications being received and the individual complexities of each case. The average processing time in 2022 is 19 months and it is hoped that with the continued introduction of enhanced digital processing measures and the ongoing improvements to service delivery that the trend in the average processing time should fall.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following three tables.

Applications by Year and month of application received:

Applications by Year and month of application decided: