Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 1

Written Answers. - Naturalisation Applications.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

150 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will complete and determine an application for citizenship for persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow in view of the fact that this application is with his Department for over two and a half years. [21791/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): Due to the various procedures involved in processing an application for a certificate of naturalisation in respect of a person of full age, together with the high number of applications being received, the average processing time is approximately two and a half years. In this instance, each applicant's case is well advanced, and it is likely that they will be completed in the near future.

Extra resources are currently being allocated to the immigration and citizenship division of my Department with a view to,inter alia, reducing the time involved in processing naturalisation applications. These resources will impact considerably on present delays.

As soon as full consideration has been given to each of the applications, I will advise both the applicants and the Deputy of my decision.