Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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139. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on an application for a foreign births registration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56065/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.

FBR, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate. Applications are processed in the order in which they are submitted.

Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, it takes approximately nine months to process a fully competed FBR application that requires no further submissions. Processing time begins when all supporting documents are received by the Passport Service, and applications that require further supporting documentation will take longer to process. When the application’s position in the queue is reached, an Entitlement Officer will be in contact with the applicant should any further clarification be required.

With regard to the application to which the Deputy is referring, the physical application form and supporting documents were received in the FBR Unit on 25/03/2025. Therefore, this application is still within the nine month turnaround time for processing.