Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for processing of Irish citizenship applications via Irish association, in particular those who submitted additional requested documentation as per the new guidelines published by his Department in April 2025, taking into account that no timeframe has been given and many applicants have been waiting over five years for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36382/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

My Department has recently published guidelines for applications on the basis of Irish Associations under Section 16(1)(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. The guidelines provide clarity to both applicants and decision-makers. They set out the factors that may be considered when deciding whether to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations.

The guidelines have been developed in the interests of fair and transparent procedures and comprehensive decision making. Details of the guidelines are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/

Citizenship Division have written to over 1,500 people with ongoing Section 16 applications advising them of the recently published guidelines and have provided an opportunity to them to provide additional documentation, should they wish.

A significant number of responses have been received and these are being reviewed. Decisions have begun to issue but my Department cannot, at this time, offer a specific time frame for the processing of all on-hand applications.

I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible; however, given the nature of these applications, Section 16 applications can take longer to process than applications based upon residency.

My expectation is that once an appreciable number of decisions have been reached, my Department will be in a better position to provided indicative timeframes for processing.

Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation that renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.