Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to indicate the eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) who has made a previous application; the reason that the previous application was not successful and who now appears to have been requested to submit a certificate of neutrality which they do not have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36679/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Officials in the Citizenship Division of my Department wrote to the person referred to by the Deputy on 31 May 2021, requesting documentation in order to progress their application. The documents requested related to the passport of person concerned; a letter of authority regarding the person's solicitor; proof of residency; and a receipt of payments from the Department of Social Protection. There was no request for a certificate of neutrality.

Further reminders issued to the person concerned on 26 January 2022 and 28 February 2022, to which no response was received. The Citizenship Division then deemed the application to be abandoned by the applicant.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications 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.

When submitting an application the onus is on the applicant to determine if they satisfy all of the eligibility criteria. 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: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.