Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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422. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reduce the costs for persons who have been long-term residents in Ireland to become Irish citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32163/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 437 together.

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 is €175.

A certification fee of €950 is then required following a positive decision being reached on the naturalisation application.

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.

There is no provision in the Regulations for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities or classes of applicant. All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are no current plans to amend the fees.