asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for citizenship received in each of the last five years and the number granted; and if he will also say in respect of the same five years the number of applications and those granted for each of the following categories: (1) acquisition of citizenship on marriage; (2) certificates on naturalisation under section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956; and (3) certificates of naturalisation under section 16 of the 1956 Act.
Written Answers. - Applications for Citizenship.
102.
The number of persons who were granted certificates of naturalisation or who accepted post nuptial Irish citizenship in each of the last five years was as follows:
|
Year |
Applied* |
Granted |
|
1981 |
599 |
449 |
|
1982 |
522 |
490 |
|
1983 |
449 |
411 |
|
1984 |
595 |
520 |
|
1985 |
759 |
766 |
* These figures include post-nuptial declarations although strictly speaking no applications as such are involved.
The numbers of women who acquired Irish citizenship by way of a post nuptial declaration under section 8 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, for the same years were: 1981, 312; 1982, 271; 1983, 221; 1984, 367; 185, 513.
Statistics are not maintained in such a way as would enable a distinction to be drawn between certificates granted under section 15 and section 16 of the Act but the difference between the figures in the last column of the two tables above represent the cases granted certificates of naturalisation under those provisions taken together. To provide information based on the distinction in question would require an examination of all the papers concerned which would not be warranted. I can say, however, that the bulk of cases granted certificates under section 16 consist of husbands of Irish citizens (81 in 1985).