Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

210. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if urgent steps might be taken to examine the case of a person (details supplied); if urgent steps might be taken with a view to facilitating their request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38441/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, only at this point that can a determination be made on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation.

The Citizenship Division of my Department have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the Naturalisation process for applicants, including introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are significantly reducing processing times. I expect that going forward, the vast majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year.

In just over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year, to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023. Already in the first half of 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made.

Last year, in 2023, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants, with 15 held over the course of the year. This was a significant increase on the 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. It is envisioned that this number will be significantly surpassed in 2024, with 17 ceremonies already taking place this year.

Further detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.