Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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202. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if attendees at naturalisation ceremonies to become Irish citizens can be provided with immediate proof that they are now Irish citizens in order for them to update their new status with their employers, and so on (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27685/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, over 10,000 people were naturalised at the Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024.

I can advise the Deputy that all Certificates of Naturalisation for the attendees of these ceremonies are currently in the process of being printed and will be issued via registered post.

I am aware that following some previous ceremonies there were delays in certificates being received and this is very much regretted. My Department has recently implemented new procedures which will reduce the waiting time for our new citizens to receive their certificates and I understand that all Certificates will be issued within the next few weeks. I want to assure anyone who is waiting for their Certificate of Naturalisation that they do not need to renew their immigration permission whilst they await a Certificate. I am advised that introducing a parallel temporary certification document at this stage would divert resources from the process of issuing the main Certificates.

These steps are part of an overall programme of work to speed up the Naturalisation process for applicants. This includes introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. In just over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023, and making more than 16,000 decisions to date in 2024.