Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
461. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the current turnaround time on applications for Irish citizenship via naturalisation through marriage to an Irish citizen from the time of application to citizenship being granted or denied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22691/21]
View answer462. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the current turnaround time on applications for Irish citizenship via naturalisation generally from the time of application to citizenship being granted or denied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22692/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 462 together.
The current target is that it should take around 12 months for a standard application for a certificate of naturalisation to be processed from the date it is received to the date a decision is made. However, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process.
The average processing time for applications in recent years, as requested by the Deputy, is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Spouse/Civil Partner of an Irish Citizen |
All Applications |
|
2016 |
7.8 |
5.8 |
|
2017 |
6.9 |
7.4 |
|
2018 |
10.7 |
10.4 |
|
2019 |
12.4 |
11.6 |
|
2020 |
12.4 |
13.5 |
|
2021 |
23.6 |
24.3 |
A number of issues have impacted on the processing of citizenship applications over the past two years. A High Court case, which was subsequently successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal, resulted in significant delays. As well as this, a significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in-person ceremonies during Covid-19. The combined impact of the Jones judgment and the Covid-19 disruption has resulted in the loss of over six months’ processing time. However, it is important to note that my Department’s Immigration Service did not suspend the receipt or processing of applications at any stage during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Processing timescales can be impacted by incomplete applications having to be returned; further documentation being required from the applicant; where the payment of the required certificate fee is awaited; or if the applicant has not been engaging with the Immigration Service. In some instances, the input of several public agencies, both within and outside the jurisdiction is needed and the request and receipt of information from these sources can result in delays in processing some applications. Issues can also arise at the final stage of the naturalisation process, for example, where additional information comes to light which is required to be considered before a final decision is taken.
A significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in person ceremonies during Covid-19. On 18 January 2021, a temporary system was opened that enables applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty.
My Department achieved the target of communicating with 4,000 people by the end of March 2021, most of whom have been in the system over 30 months. Around 1,708 people have received their Irish citizenship since then. A further 1,057 people have returned their signed statutory declarations and the Immigration Service will be sending them their certificates of naturalisation in the coming weeks.
It has also been decided to extend the statutory declaration process to a further 2,500 people by the end of June. At that point, my Department will have communicated with all those that were recorded, as at 30 December 2020, as having been in the system 24 months or more and 6,500 people will have been given the opportunity to complete their Irish citizenship.
In-person ceremonies have been provisionally scheduled to resume in December 2021, subject to the safety of all involved being assured.
Plans for the digitalisation of the naturalisation process are also well advanced, in line with the plan to significantly modernise the justice sector through increased digital and ICT investment. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up additional resources to focus on enhanced customer service delivery, ensuring the integrity of the process is protected and processing applications in a timely and efficient manner.
