Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

798. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the process for naturalisation for a person (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63602/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I understand that the Deputy has been in contact with my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service regarding the applicants cited and a status update was recently provided. These applications continue to be processed by my Department.

Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside of the control of my Department.

I am aware that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted, that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.

My Department has taken a significant number of steps to speed the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are reducing processing times.

The length of time taken to process an application has dropped from 15 months in 2023, to 8 months in 2024.

I expect that going forward, the majority of applicants will continue to receive a decision within one year, however, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process.

Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.

As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.