Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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380. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to difficulties regarding the payment of fees for citizenship applications from spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland and who are intending to reside on the island of Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46701/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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At this time my Department can only accept payments made in Euro currency for naturalisation applications.

The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation.

The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of recognised refugees and stateless persons, there is no certification fee.

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 and the appropriate fees paid.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.