Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to by the Deputy has applied to the scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants.

Their application was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 1 March 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue.

In order to be fair to all applicants, applications are processed in order of the date on which they are received. Processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is a single or family application, the supporting documentation and the vetting process with An Garda Síochána. Applications where there is an existing deportation order in place will also require additional processing.

Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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751. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an Indian citizen who is resident in Ireland on a stamp 3 visa must remain in Ireland for the full 365 days before applying for Irish citizenship; if not, if the continuous reckonable period of 365 days prior to application for Irish citizenship allows for reasonable periods of absence from the State for holidays or for exceptional family circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37946/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Applicants for naturalisation 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.

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.

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/.