Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
768. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a decision has been made on a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The applicant in the case to which the Deputy has referred would be advised to submit a formal letter from their representative body detailing their circumstances, along with any other supporting evidence to Foreign Births Registration, PO Box 13003, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, Ireland. All such requests are considered on their own merits, on a case-by-case basis.
