Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
475. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the length of time it is currently taking for initial assessments of applications to the INIS; and the measures being taken to address the backlog created by level 5 restrictions. [56154/21]
View answerAll applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Statistics are not maintained by my Department in a manner to enable the identification of those applications that are at ‘initial assessment’ stage.
Current processing times have been extended due to the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health and safety related restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 disruption. We have also been unable to hold in person ceremonies during this time.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.
