Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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923. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of adult Irish association applications his Department has made a final decision on since the guidelines were issued in May 2025; the number of those adult applicants that have been notified of the final decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48756/25]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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924. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the specific protocol for Irish association applicants for citizenship who do not meet the new guidelines; if applications will still be sent to him for review; the timelines for the 1,500 backlogged applications from over three years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48758/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 924 together.

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.

Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted. Section 16 of the Act gives discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen).

Earlier this year my Department 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.

Details of the guidelines are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.

My Department has written to over 1,500 people with ongoing Section 16 applications advising them of the recently published guidelines and have afforded them an opportunity to them to provide additional documentation, should they wish. I can advise the Deputy that a significant number of submissions relating to Section 16 'Irish Association' applications have been received.

Since May 2025, 140 decisions on Irish Association applications have been made.

Once an application has been approved and the appropriate certificate fee has been paid, the person will receive an invitation to attend a Citizenship Ceremony.

I can assure the Deputy that 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.

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

I can inform the Deputy that if an application is refused, it is open to any applicant to make a further application. Applicants are advised that in making any new application, they should bear in mind the reasons for the previous refusal. Each application is examined individually and assessed on their own merits in accordance with the Act.