Neale Richmond
Question:376. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the number of citizenship applications granted in 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29579/20]
View answerTuesday, 13 October 2020
Questions (376, 377, 378)
Neale Richmond
Question:377. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if there has been a delay in the processing of citizenship applications due to the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, the size of the application backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29580/20]
View answerNeale Richmond
Question:378. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered moving citizenship ceremonies online due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29581/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 to 378, inclusive, together.
The number of citizenship applications granted in 2019 and to date in 2020 is set out in the table. Certificates issued in 2019 and 2020 relate to applications received in 2019, 2020 or earlier years.
|
Year |
Certificates Issued |
|
2019 |
5,792 |
|
2020 |
5,473 |
The processing of citizenship applications has had a number of challenges over the past 12 months. A legal challenge was taken in the High Court last year by an applicant who was refused a certificate of naturalisation due to his absences from the State during the last year continuous prior to the date of his application. The outcome of this ruling – which was subsequently successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal – resulted in significant delays to the processing of citizenship applications last year. This has been compounded by COVID-19 restrictions which has resulted in significant challenges to the delivery of normal services to date this year.
Currently, there are approximately 21,000 citizenship applications on hand, at various stages of processing within the system, ranging from those just received by my Department to those where a decision has been made but it is not possible to issue an invitation to a ceremony.
A series of measures have been approved to address this caseload over the coming period. As part of these measures I expect to bring clarity to the situation of those applicants awaiting an invitation to a citizenship ceremony very shortly.