Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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341. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status and potential for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25642/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Based on the information provided by the Deputy, I understand that the person concerned is an EU citizen.

As a Member State of the European Union (EU), Ireland offers freedom of movement to nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and certain family members. The relevant EU legislation in this regard is the ‘Directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States’ (Directive 2004/38/EC), which was published in 2004.

When an EU citizen comes to Ireland, they do not need to register with their local immigration office and they do not need a residence card to live here.

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 Act.

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.

Applicants are required to have five years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to six weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.

Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: .