Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 January 2014
150. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time to process a naturalisation application; the measures being taken to reduce the waiting time; the average cost of each naturalisation process; and the cost to the State for each month an applicant has to wait. [4536/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, as well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is also a major step for the State as it confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State, but also at European Union level. It is therefore vital that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. All applications are processed with a view to establishing whether the applicants meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and are submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. In some instances that can be established relatively quickly and in other cases completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
When I came into office in March 2011 one of my immediate priorities was to address the unconscionably large backlog of applications for naturalisation awaiting decision that had built up over several years. At that time there were approximately 22,000 applications awaiting decision, many of which had been waiting for three years or longer.
Since then I have decided on some 68,000 applications, notwithstanding a significant increase of almost 60% in the volume of valid applications received - from 12,500 in 2010 to nearly 20,000 in 2013. In the past year I have decided over 30,000 applications and issued certificates of naturalisation to some 28,000 applicants. Quite clearly, this has also resulted in a huge reduction in processing times, with over 70% of standard applications now being decided within six months. I think the Deputy will agree that this represents a major turnaround, especially given the 115% increase in valid application levels since 2008, when processing times were more than four times longer. It is my intention that we will continue to build on this success in 2014 and to further reduce the time taken to reach a decision for most applications.
The new arrangements I have put in place since my appointment include improved application forms that are currently available on-line together with streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application. I have also requested that my officials ensure that all the procedures involved in processing an application are reviewed regularly to ensure that they are conducted as efficiently as possible.
The costs paid by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation were last increased by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations 2008, which came into effect on 1st August 2008. The standard certification fee is €950 while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain circumstances when the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of refugees and stateless persons no certification fee is charged. A new application fee of €175 was introduced in November 2011. This fee contributes towards the costs of processing those applications that do not attract any certification fee and helps to reduce the proportion of invalid and ineligible applications being lodged. The fees are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for a certificate of naturalisation and there are no additional costs to the State relating to the length of time taken to process each application.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have introduced formal citizenship ceremonies at no extra cost to applicants. These have been universally well received by participants as the ceremonies provide a sense of occasion that serves to underscore the importance to both the State and the applicant of the granting of Irish citizenship.
