Written Answers Nos. 1127-1146
1127. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a list of justice youth diversion programmes in County Roscommon, including the location, funding amount and number of young persons engaged in each programme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1534/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, and to support wider preventative work in the community and with families at risk. There are currently 106 YDPs in place throughout the State, supporting up to 4,000 young people.
Under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-27, the intention is to further develop this service so that it is available to every child in the State who could benefit from it, through an ongoing expansion of existing services and the foundation of new projects where necessary.
The Strategy commits to the broadening and deepening of services provided by YDPs and acknowledges the importance of Early Intervention and Family Support programmes for children at risk, as well as access to appropriate Education, Training and Youth Services.
Last November, a call for expressions of interest from community groups for establishment of a number of new YDPs in areas that currently are not covered was issued. This will meet a key commitment of the Youth Justice Strategy – that the service will be available to every child/young person who requires it regardless of where they reside in the State.
The Deputy will be interested to know that there is one YDP based in Roscommon, RAD, managed by Foróige. Details of the funding provided and the number of participants are outlined in the table below.
|
Youth Diversion Project |
Community Based Organisation |
Location |
2021 Allocation |
2022* Allocation |
2023 Allocation |
2021 Participants** |
|
RAD |
Foróige |
Time Court, Abbey Street, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon |
€134,827 |
€207,320 |
€150,749 |
26 |
* Allocation includes once off Capital Grant of €63,750.
** Participant numbers taken from RAD 2021 Annual Report.
1128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1535/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Applications are processed in chronological order by date received. Due to the high volume of applications currently on hand, regrettably, the median time for processing applications is 19 months.
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.
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.
1129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress that has been made to date in respect of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); when it is expected that this case will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1541/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Applications are processed in chronological order by date received. Due to the high volume of applications currently on hand, regrettably, the median time for processing applications is 19 months.
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.
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.
1130. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if he will meet with a person (details supplied) who has suffered significantly while working for the State due to a number of serious incidents that have happened in Portlaoise Prison. [1542/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, certain matters related to the case referred to are now the subject of legal proceedings. As this case is currently before the courts it would not be appropriate for me to meet with the individual involved or make any public comment at this time.
1131. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the way alcohol was smuggled into Portlaoise Prison on New Year's Eve. [1543/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the IPS has a range of measures in place to prevent contraband being smuggled into prisons and investigates any alleged breach of prison rules but as the Deputy will appreciate neither I nor the Irish Prison Service can comment on individual cases or security matters in this regard.
1132. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a breakdown of the distribution of the additional €7 million to be provided to organisations funded by Tusla to address acute demands in existing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services, and for investment in new services as outlined in the third national strategy implementation plan in tabular form. [1565/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for the allocation of funding for DSGBV services continues to be channelled through Tusla. I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.
1133. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if he will review the case of a child (details supplied); if any updated information in relation to this case will be made available to them; if the process will be expedited given the circumstances [1629/23]
View answerI can inform you that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application you refer to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on the 18 February 2021 outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeal was lodged in respect of this application, to the relevant Visa Office, on the 19 April 2021, where it is currently awaiting examination.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order.
The waiting time for Join Family applications reflects the detailed assessment we must do for every application. The time it takes to process these application may increase if we need more documents from the applicant, or if a detailed assessment of family rights under the Irish Constitution or the European Convention on Human Rights is required.
A decision will be issued to the applicant as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.
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 (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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1134. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Justice if the European Union is centrally co-ordinating destination selection for those seeking safe haven in the context of the effective and efficient accommodation of refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine. [1707/23]
View answer1135. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Justice the methodology that is being used to select the destination, arrange travel and accommodate those seeking safe haven from the war in the Ukraine, assuming there is European Union co-ordination at some level (details supplied). [1708/23]
View answer1136. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the apparent inferior figures among some European Union member states compared with Ireland’s commitments in relation to an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1134 to 1136, inclusive, together.
Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and my Department continues to work closely with colleagues across Government to ensure a coordinated national response.
As the Deputy will be aware, the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) was activated by the EU Council in March 2022 in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Directive establishes the minimum standards of protection to be provided by Member States in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who are unable to return to their country of origin. Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 gives effect to the Directive in national law.
The Council Decision to activate the Directive, places specific obligations on Ireland and on all EU Member States, including the duration of the temporary protection to be awarded and the State supports and services that the beneficiary should be entitled to. Those eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially for one year, but renewable) will have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports as necessary.
At the end of 2022 more than 70,000 people displaced by the war in Ukraine have been granted Temporary Protection in Ireland.
Since the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive, the EU Commission has played an integral role in coordinating the overall response at an EU level with a number of operational networks designed to support information sharing and the effective implementation of the Directive. However, this approach to coordination does not extend to destination selection, which is a matter for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. In accordance with the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382, individuals move to any of the Member States, each of which must accord them protection.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, it is difficult to predict with any degree of certainty the number of people that may arrive over the coming weeks. However, the immediate and overriding priority is to assist those who have arrived and continue to arrive in Ireland to find safety with access to state supports as needed, as part of a whole of Government response.
I can assure the Deputy that my Government colleagues and I remain committed to supporting the people and Government of Ukraine for as long as it takes and will continue to work with our EU counterparts on any further EU-wide measures that might be needed to assist those fleeing Ukraine.
1137. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of times members of An Garda Síochána seized knives in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [1729/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Garda Authorities for the information requested and I have been advised that for the years in question, the number of knives seized by An Garda Síochána are as follows:
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Knives Seized |
1341 |
1341 |
1357 |
1210 |
1617 |
1934 |
2146 |
2257 |
1832 |
2132 |
A search of the PULSE database was conducted on 10 January 2023 to identify any object of sub-type ‘knife’ linked as ‘seized’ with any incident reported nationwide since 1 January 2013. Figures are based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 10 January 2023 and are liable to change.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the 2016-2018 increase in recorded seizures is due in large part to the introduction of the Property and Exhibit Management System (PEMS) in 2016, which improved the level of recording of all objects seized, including knives. The increase may also be partly attributed to the increase in frontline resources due to additional recruitment and redeployment of members following the reopening of the Garda College in 2015.
Additionally, increases in seizures in recent years are also due to proactive policing operations, particularly during 2020, with the increased Garda presence in support of the COVID-19 public health measures. There was a 5.3% increase in the number of knives seized between 2019 and 2020 (2,146 in 2019 and 2,257 in 2020).
There was also a substantial year-on-year increase in the number of searches conducted in 2020, many of which were associated with An Garda Síochána’s high visibility operations supporting the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated Garda operations (such as Operation Fanacht).
1138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been registered by my Department, and is now being examined with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Applications are processed in chronological order by date received. Due to the high volume of applications currently on hand, regrettably, the median time for processing applications is 19 months.
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.
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.
1139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and-or expected position in respect of an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1738/23]
View answerMy Department has no record of having received an application for Family Reunification from the person referred to by the Deputy.
As you are aware Family reunification under Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 gives certain family members an immigration permission allowing them to live in Ireland with the holder of an international protection declaration. Applications for family reunification must be made within 12 months of the being declared as a Refugee or as a Beneficiary of Subsidiary Protection, subject to the provisions of the Act.
Non-EEA nationals legally resident in Ireland, and considering family reunification, should also be aware of my Department’s “Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification in Ireland”, available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf. This policy document sets out the criteria and specific requirements for any person considering making an application to be joined by family members in the State.
Information on how to apply is available on my Department's website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/.
It is open to anyone with questions in relation to family reunification to contact the unit at FRU_IPA@justice.ie ensuring to include their Person ID and clearly state that their question is for the Family Reunification Unit.
1140. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full-year cost in each of the next three years if 1,200 new gardaí were recruited per year, in tabular form. [1799/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation, including all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the estimated payroll and fixed subsistence cost of recruiting 1,200 Garda in each of the years 2023 to 2025.
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
2023 intake (1,200 trainees) |
30,447,929 |
63,078,315 |
66,868,507 |
|
2024 intake (1,200 trainees) |
30,578,765 |
63,078,315 |
|
|
2025 intake (1,200 trainees) |
30,578,765 |
||
|
Estimated payroll and fixed subsistence costs |
30,447,929 |
93,657,079 |
160,525,587 |
The calculation is based on €8.23 million for the first 33 weeks where new recruits undergo training during which time they receive basic allowances (including employer’s PRSI).
The remaining costs occur on completion of the 33 weeks training. At this time, upon attestation, Garda members move to the first point of the pay scale. The payroll costs include an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours allowances and briefing time payments that the members may qualify for depending on their assignments and employer’s PRSI, is also included.
Fixed costs including the cost of equipment and accommodation are not included in the estimated figures.
I am informed that the calculations are an estimate only as it must take account of several unknowns, including the actual date of recruitment and locations of any new Garda. The calculations are based on the assumption that recruits commence training on 1 January 2023. The estimate includes the period of training and subsequent weeks of employment to the end of 2025.
It is worth noting the annual payroll costs of these additional recruits would continue to increase as the members move up the Garda pay scale each year. Pay increases scheduled for 1 March and 1 October 2023 are also taken into consideration.
1141. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Justice if his officials have considered an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied) who was born in the United Kingdom but is married to an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1893/23]
View answerMy Department has no record of having received an application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy.
When applications for a certificate of naturalisation are received by the Citizenship Division of my Department, they are subject to an initial check/examination. Citizenship Division is currently completing these initial checks on applications received in August 2022. On completion of the initial checks, my Department will then contact the applicant to assign an application number and issue an acknowledgment to the address given at the time of making the application.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each 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.
There are no provisions for the spouse or partner of an Irish citizen to acquire Irish citizenship solely by virtue of a marriage or civil partnership with an Irish citizen. The legal provision that provided for post nuptial citizenship was repealed with effect from 30 November 2005.
Section 15A of the 1956 Act sets out the conditions that apply where the application is based on being the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen. The requirements are: that the couple are married or civil partners to each other for a period of at least three years and are living together, and that immediately before the date of application, they have a period of one year’s continuous residence in the island of Ireland and, during the preceding four years, have a further period amounting to two years (i.e. three years in total) legal residence.
It is not clear if the person, details supplied, is currently residing in the State or in the United Kingdom. However, it is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended and pay the appropriate fees.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
1142. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) against the refusal of a family reunion visa in respect of their spouse who wishes to join them through their period of study for the completion of a PhD in the South East Technological University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2002/23]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 11 November 2021. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 12 December 2021.
Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, in order to be fair to all applicants. While every effort is made to process these applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, their complexity, the possible need for the visa office to seek further information in relation to certain appeals and the resources available to process them.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the Immigration Service website. When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh.
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 (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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1143. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made in relation to a family reunion visa in respect of the spouse and child of a person (details supplied); if he will give favourable consideration to allowing this person's spouse and child to join them for the duration of their PhD research work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2005/23]
View answerThe persons referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family 'D' visa applications on 24 June 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were received on 25 July 2022 in the Abuja visa office.
I am pleased to inform you that these applications were granted on 16 January 2023.
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 (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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1144. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice if he will discuss with the Garda Commissioner the challenges being faced by gardaí in Tallaght, Dublin 24 in respect of constant antisocial behaviour and attacks on Dublin Bus services in Tallaght west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2075/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing matters. The Commissioner is also responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister I have no role in these independent functions.
While the Commissioner is operationally responsible, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources needed to keep communities safe.
Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, which included a €5m increase in the overtime budget for An Garda Síochána to over €100m, supporting high visibility policing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
I condemn, in the strongest possible way any incidents that not only injure the victims but communities as a whole. We are all immensely grateful to public transport staff up and down the country, all of whom should be able to go to work without being exposed to threats to their safety or any other form of unacceptable behaviour from any passenger.
There are a number of tools at the disposal of the Garda Commissioner to respond to criminal behaviour on public transport and I am advised that Garda management engages extensively with transport operators to provide a high visibility presence through a coordinated approach.
I understand that since October 2022 to date, additional Garda patrols have been undertaken in the West Tallaght area in particular as part of ‘Operation Saul’. Operation Saul is implemented across the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) with the aim of keeping people safe on public transport services.
I also understand that the Assistant Commissioner, DMR met with the CEO of Dublin Bus and senior management to provide reassurance that the Garda Síochána will continue to provide a proactive response in support of Dublin Bus and other transport operators in the West Tallaght area.
I want to make it very clear that criminality on public transport will not be tolerated. People must be able to travel throughout Dublin, and indeed all of our communities across the country, and to commute to and from work in comfort and safety.
1145. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice the current processing times for citizenship applications to include the categories for EU nationals, international applicants and applications based on marriage to an Irish citizen; the additional resources that are being allocated to this section of his Department to reduce these processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2103/23]
View answerAll naturalisation applications, whether they are made by EEA or Non-EEA applicants, spouses of Irish Nationals or declared refugees, are processed in chronological order on date received and in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the nationality or the individual circumstances of the applicant. All applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence and standard checks are carried out as part of the overall process to maintain its integrity.
The Citizenship Division receives approximately 1,000 applications per month and utilises the resources available to maximise processing and reduce waiting times. For a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. The current median processing time for naturalisation applications is 19 months.
I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. In order to reduce processing times there are ongoing developments and improvements being made to the Citizenship application process. Significant changes have been introduced for customers regarding the number of proofs required to establish their identity and residency as part of the application process. A new scorecard was introduced to help applicants to complete their applications with greater certainty than before. Since the go-live of the scorecards, a preliminary review of applications received indicates that the quality of the applications has markedly improved.
This is a welcome development and builds on other innovative measures introduced in the citizenship application process, including the deployment of “Tara” the e-chat bot, e-payments, e-tax clearance and Gardaí e-vetting, and the removal of the requirement to provide the original passport when making an application, all of which have positively enhanced the applicant's experience.
In 2022 there were 13,613 Certificates of Naturalisation issued including 1,719 in respect of minor applicants. This represents a 39% increase on the number of certificates issued for 2021 (9,780) and demonstrates the Departments commitment to processing applications in a timely manner.
1146. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice when it is expected that the new County Registrar for County Louth, based in Dundalk Courthouse, will be appointed. [2109/23]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that any County Registrar vacancy which has arisen in recent years has been replaced. The Courts Service Act 1998 sets out the nature of the relationship between the Courts Service and the County Registrar. The post of County Registrar is a statutory officer appointed by the Government, with a number of different roles, including under-sheriff and returning officer functions. When such posts become vacant, arrangements are made with the Courts Service and the Public Appointments Service to run an open recruitment competition to identify suitable persons for recommendation to Government for appointment. Having enquired into the matter, I can confirm that a competition has been run through the Public Appointments Service to fill this vacancy. This competition is now complete and the usual clearance procedures are ongoing with a view to making an appointment as soon as possible.
