Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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686. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address the impact of issuing certificates of naturalisation, after naturalisation ceremonies for persons who have acquired citizenship, but will miss the voter registration deadline; and his plans to ensure that future such cohorts are not deprived of the opportunity to vote. [54747/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that all certificates of naturalisation for attendees of a citizenship ceremony are issued via registered post. Applicants can expect to receive their certificate within around a month of the date of the ceremony.

By not issuing certificates on the day of the ceremonies, my Department has been able to simplify the administrative steps required to be completed on the day. This in turn has made it possible to significantly increase the number of attendees who can attend any one day of ceremonies, and to reduce the time it takes for people to complete the naturalisation process.

These steps are part of an overall programme of work to speed up the naturalisation process for applicants. This includes introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.

My Department held 24 citizenship ceremonies last year, an increase from 15 held in 2023, and 6 in 2022. My Department has already held 19 ceremonies this year and will continue to hold more ceremonies on a regular basis.

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 and more than 31,000 decisions in 2024.

My Department is doing everything possible to ensure that new citizens receive their certificates as soon as possible.