Sorca Clarke
Question:210. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for Irish Citizenship that were received 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [29208/20]
View answerWednesday, 7 October 2020
Questions (210)
Written answers
The number of applications for citizenship received in each of the past three years is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Applications Received |
|
2018 |
12,867 |
|
2019 |
12,275 |
|
2020 - to date |
7,179 |
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union as well as international level. It is therefore important that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure that the integrity of the regime for granting Irish citizenship through the naturalisation process is held in high regard both at home and internationally. Our procedures are continually evolving including through service improvements due to the introduction of new technology and updated work practices.
The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. Completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time, however all applications are dealt with as expeditiously as possible.