Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current progress in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30825/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The naturalisation application of the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved and they will be invited to attend a future Citizenship Ceremony to complete the naturalisation process.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.

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. Already in 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made in the first half of the year. Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. It is envisioned that this number will be significantly surpassed this year, with 15 ceremonies already taking place by the end of June.

As the Deputy will appreciate, these events require considerable planning and Citizenship Division issues invitations to successful applicants at the earliest possible opportunity. As plans for further ceremonies are confirmed this information will be put into the public domain.

Further information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available on my Department’s website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/