I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 61 together.
As part of my Department’s continued commitment to improving its services, an online citizenship application portal was made available in October 2023. This portal is a separate system to the Customer Service Portal and has made the application process easier for applicants, allowing them to easily fill in relevant forms and submit their application online.
These improvements, along with the introduction of online payments and eVetting, are having a positive impact on naturalisation processing times. The length of time taken to process an application dropped from 15 months in 2023 to 8 months in 2024.
I can inform the Deputy that there are no technical issues with the online citizenship application portal.
In cases where an incomplete naturalisation application has been submitted, my Department offers applicants an opportunity to provide the remaining required documentation within 28 days, with a reminder notification issued after 18 days.
It should be noted that Citizenship Division are not requesting further information on such applications, but instead are requesting the required documentation to make an initial naturalisation application.
If the required documentation is not received within this timeframe, the application will be closed. Citizenship Division are aware that in some instances, applicants are uploading the documentation but failing to resubmit the application. It is essential that applicants complete the process to resubmit their application.
My Department has produced a guidance document for all potential applicants which outlines the documentation required to submit an application. This is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Citizenship-Guidance-Document-April-2024.pdf.
If an applicant has any queries relating to their application, they can contact Citizenship division using my Departments Customer Service Portal. This can be accessed at the following link: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
My Department continues to monitor customer experience and is committed to its continuous improvement. The functionality of all our online platforms is under constant review.
If the Deputy is aware of any particular issues with the service or an application, he can contact my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service, IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, who can assist to resolve the matter.
