Bernard Durkan
Question:406. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the options available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46628/23]
View answerTuesday, 24 October 2023
Questions (406)
Written answers
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation will be made.
A previous examination by my Department of the naturalisation application process indicated that incorrectly submitted applications were diverting considerable resources from general processing, resulting in the slowing down of all applications and adversely impacting on customer service.
As a result, significant effort has gone into clarifying the application guidelines published on my Department's immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie) and on making the application process itself more customer friendly, including the introduction of the new scorecard structure for proof of identity and residence.
Notwithstanding this, I am aware that for some applicants the scorecard may not have adequately addressed their individual circumstances. In such cases and where the applicant has justifiable reasons for not reaching the 150 points target required, the Citizenship Division of my Department may accept a sworn affidavit, which could help the applicant make up the deficit in points to enable them to meet the necessary threshold. However, the affidavit will not be accepted in lieu of all appropriate proofs and supplementary documentation which will still need to be provided to support the affidavit.
Last week, my Department moved from paper based applications to online forms for all new adult applications going forward. Online applications will make the process easier for customers, allowing them to easily fill in the relevant forms, upload the required documents, make payments and submit. The forms will provide a seamless application process and will help guide applicants through what is required for an application.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.