Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons awaiting a decision on their application for Irish citizenship when he took office; the average waiting time for a decision on their application; the number of people currently awaiting a decision and the current waiting time for a decision. [42972/12]
View answer471. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality since he took office, the number of people applying for Irish citizenship that have had their application approved or refused. [42973/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 471 together.
When I came into office in March, 2011, I was determined to tackle the backlog that had built up in the processing of applications for citizenship. At that time there was approximately 22,000 citizenship applications awaiting decision, approximately 17,000 of which had been awaiting decision for in excess of 6 months with an average waiting time of 26 months.
The series of measures I introduced have resulted in a major improvement in the position with decisions having being made on some 33,000 applications since coming into office. Over a comparable period, between March 2009 and October 2010 a total of 18,500 cases were decided representing an almost 80% increase in throughput. Moreover, approximately 4,000 of the 2009 case-load related to ineligible minors that involved minimal processing.
Almost 30,000 of these applications were approved after due process, while around 3,000 were deemed ineligible or were refused because they did not comply with the statutory criteria such as being of good character, lawful residence and so forth. It is important to note that the grant of citizenship is not a right; indeed it is a privilege and is given in accordance with the law.
In considering the volume of cases currently in hand a number of factors have to be taken into account including, as detailed above, the volume of cases processed as well as new cases coming on hand. Also to be taken into account is the peaks and troughs of decision making which is linked to the timing of our citizen ceremonies. Accordingly, there are wide variations in the statistics of cases on hand from one week to the next. For example, next week will see the 56th, 57th and 58th citizenship ceremonies being held with a further series of ceremonies planned for early December.
As the Deputy will appreciate there has been a major improvement on what hitherto had been unacceptable delays in the system. We are still on course to meet the very ambitious target of processing 70% of all standard non-complex cases within six months of receipt of applications. I am determined that we achieve that target and go on to build on the excellent progress to date. Considerable resources continue to be deployed to process applications and huge credit is due to the staff in the area for taking on the challenge.
The Deputy will also be aware that alongside the improvements in processing, in June 2011, I introduced formal citizenship ceremonies for the first time since the foundation of the State. The ceremonies, which are being met with universal approval, allow candidates for citizenship make their declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State and receive their certificate of naturalisation in a meaningful and dignified manner which befits the importance and solemnity of the occasion. I was pleased to note that the Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service was this summer awarded one of the Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence awards of 2012 for their work over the past year and for their enthusiastic embracing of the reforms that have taken place.
