Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 17 February 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: .

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.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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431. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications that her Department annually receives for citizenship based on Irish descent or associations; the average processing time; if applications are received from persons who are resident outside the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44503/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to identify applicants for a certificate of naturalisation by Irish association as required by the Deputy, however, I am informed by my officials that there are currently 311 Irish association cases under active consideration.

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 and 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.

Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted.

Section 16 of the Act gives the Minister the absolute discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (defined as related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen). Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation supporting the claim, documentation that in the view of the Minister renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.

There is no right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined. This discretion is used very rarely and only under the most exceptional and compelling circumstances