Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

612. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1305/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.

Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022.

During 2022, my Department implemented a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications on hand, with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these applications. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, have had a positive impact on the waiting time for applicants. The current waiting time for FBR applications is 11 months from receipt of supporting documents, down from over 2 years in mid 2022. 

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents for this application were received on 4 April 2022, and are being stored in a secure environment pending entitlement checking.