Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to indicate the most appropriate procedure to be followed to regularise their position and apply for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); if they are being considered under the international protection regularisation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43043/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I introduced a separate strand under the Regularisation Scheme for international protection applicants who had been in the protection process for a minimum of two years; implementing a key recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group. Applications were accepted for six months to 7 August 2022.
Every application received is being assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria. Applications are processed in chronological order based on the date received and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the individual application.
As of 26 August 2022, 3,001 applications from individuals have been received and 1,392 permissions, or an equivalent permission by the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department, have been granted to successful applicants.
Applications are being assessed independently of the application that has been made for international protection. There is no requirement for an applicant to withdraw their international protection application, although some may choose to do so, if successful under this scheme.
Where a person is granted a permission under the international protection strand of the scheme or an equivalent status under the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015, it is open to them to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria set down in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Each citizenship application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received. Applicants are required to have five years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to six weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
