Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Citizenship Applications.

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

108 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for Irish citizenship pending; the numbers outstanding for between 12 months and two years; the numbers outstanding for in excess of two years; the number of applications for Irish citizenship granted in each of the past four years; the numbers refused in each of the past four years; and if he regards the position as satisfactory. [22289/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

In the period 1997 to date, a total of 3,910 applications for certificates of naturalisation were received. In the same period, a total of 1,766 persons received certificates of naturalisation. In addition, there are 159 applications which I have approved and which are awaiting finalisation of some formalities by the applicants – payment of the statutory fee, etc. A further 147 applications were refused in the same period. Consequently, the total number of applications for Irish citizenship by way of naturalisation currently pending is 1,838.

Of this figure, 749 applications are pending for between 12 months and two years and 225 applications are pending in excess of two years. The remainder are less than 12 months old. It must be borne in mind that part of the delay in such cases frequently arises because of a failure on the part of the applicant to furnish in a timely manner sufficient information, or further information, to enable the application to be processed to finality.

The number of persons granted and refused naturalisation in each of the last four years is as follows: in 1997, 294 persons were naturalised and 33 were refused. In 1998, 352 persons were naturalised and 32 were refused. In 1999, 416 persons were naturalised and 30 were refused while in 2000, 125 persons were naturalised and 18 were refused. To the end of September 2001, 579 persons were naturalised and 34 were refused.

The number of applications for Irish citizenship by way of post nuptial declaration currently pending is 1380. This figure can be broken down as follows: 198 applications are pending for between 12 months and two years and 136 applications are pending in excess of two years. The number of persons granted and refused post nuptial citizenship in each of the past four years is as follows. In 1997, 984 persons were granted citizenship and ten were refused while in 1998, 1,122 persons were granted citizenship and five were refused. In 1999, 1,017 persons were granted citizenship and four were refused. In 2000, 1,018 persons were granted citizenship and four were refused. Up to the end of September 2001, 917 persons were granted citizenship and two were refused.

At present, the processing time for an application for a certificate of naturalisation is approximately 18 months. The approximate processing time for an application by way of post nuptial declaration in respect of persons residing in the State is currently seven months. Applications from persons residing outside the State are lodged in an Irish Embassy or Consulate where they undergo initial processing. Their processing is finalised by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. The applications are then forwarded to my Department for receipt of the statutory fee and the issuing of the certificate which takes, on average, two months.

In reply to a parliamentary question dated 5 October 2000, I outlined the measures that I proposed to implement in order to appreciably reduce the processing times in the citizenship area. These included the allocation of significant additional staff and a streamlining of the procedures employed. I am pleased to say that these measures have been effective as evidenced by the reduction in processing time in respect of applications for naturalisation from 30 to 18 months and in the case of post nuptial declarations, from 13 to seven months. I hope to be in a position to reduce this further before the year's end.