Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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602. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if applications for naturalisation will be progressed in cases in which the status is essential in order to take up employment as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24417/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 4 immigration permission, which has been extended until 31 May 2022, under the automatic extension of immigration permissions I announced on 17 December 2021. All permissions are extended on the same terms and conditions to the permission already held.

It is open to the person concerned to contact their local Immigration Office before 31 May 2022 to apply for a further renewal of their immigration permission. I strongly recommend that they make any efforts to renew their permission as early as possible.

A Stamp 4 permission provides that the holder can reside and work in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions. Any period spent on a Stamp 4 permission is considered as reckonable residence when applying for citizenship by way of naturalisation.

The person does not need to be granted naturalisation in order to work in the State while they hold a stamp 4 immigration permission. The conditions attaching to any employment such as relevant qualifications or professional accreditation or membership is a matter for the employer and the employee and is not a condition of a Stamp 4 permission.

As the person referred to is also a Ukrainian national, if they chose not to renew their current permission at their local immigration office and their permission expires, they may be eligible to seek Temporary Protection in accordance with the EU Directive. They should visit a Ukraine Support Centre (in Cork Street in Dublin or in Limerick City) to apply for a Temporary Protection permission letter. More information is available at www.gov.ie/ukraine.

More broadly, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Irish Naturalisation and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received. Applications are processed in strict chronological order by date received.

Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.