Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1065. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how many decisions to grant citizenship were made in 2017 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16369/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For the period in question, 01 January 2017 – 31 March 2023, there were 63,936 decisions recorded of which 56,329 were approvals. The table below sets out the details requested.

To help improve the service, significant reforms have been introduced for customers to streamline the number of proofs required to establish their identity and residency as part of the application process. A new scorecard was introduced to help applicants to complete their applications. Since this initiative went live, a preliminary review of applications received indicates that the quality of the applications has markedly improved. 

This builds on other innovative measures introduced in the application process, including the deployment of “Tara” the e-chat bot, as well as e-payments, e-tax clearance and Gardaí e-vetting, and the removal of the requirement to provide the original passport when making an application, all of which have positively enhanced the applicant's experience.