Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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438. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for Irish citizenship on grounds of "Irish Associations" under Section 16 (1) (a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 approved to date in 2025, and separately in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53599/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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As previously advised to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question 822 of 17 September 2025, it is not possible to provide statistics on the number of applications and decisions based on Section 16 'Irish Association' for 2024. This would require the manual examination of thousands of cases. Such an examination would require a disproportionate amount of time to compile.

Following the recent introduction of the new Section 16 'Irish Association' guidelines, arrangements to separately record such applications have now been put in place and will allow for the provision of better statistical data in the near future.

The guidelines provide clarity to both applicants and decision-makers on what factors may be considered when deciding whether to waive such naturalisation conditions under Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. These new guidelines have been developed in the interests of fair and transparent procedures and comprehensive decision making.

The new guidelines are available on my Department’s Immigration Service 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. As the new arrangements for recording such applications are embedded, data in relation to application outcomes will become more readily available.

I have asked that the specific information sought by the Deputy be conveyed once it is available.