Dáil Éireann - Volume 678 - 12 March, 2009

Written Answers. - Citizenship Applications.

Deputy Billy Timmins Deputy Billy Timmins

Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if this will be dealt with as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10563/09]

Deputy Dermot Ahern Deputy Dermot Ahern

  Deputy Dermot Ahern: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in October 2008.

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The average processing time from application to decision is now at 23 months. The Citizenship Division is currently commencing further processing of applications received in mid 2007. More complicated cases can at times take more than the current average while an element of [141] straight forward cases are now being dealt with in less than that time scale. Applications for certificates of naturalisation are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.

There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that the status of citizenship is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.

Dáil Éireann 678 Written Answers. Citizenship Applications.

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