Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
956. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons granted Irish citizenship by association under Section 16(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act 1956, for each year for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12928/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
I can inform the Deputy that it is not possible to provide statistics on the number of applications and decisions based on Section 16 'Irish Association' received each year, for the past ten years. This would require the manual examination of thousands of cases. Such an examination would require a disproportionate amount of time to compile.
Following the introduction of the new Section 16 guidelines, arrangements to separately record such applications have now been put in place and will allow for the provision of better statistical data in the near future.
The guidelines provide clarity to both applicants and decision-makers on what factors may be considered when deciding whether to waive such naturalisation conditions under Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. These new guidelines have been developed in the interests of fair and transparent procedures and comprehensive decision making.
The new guidelines are available on my Department’s Immigration Service website at the following link: [www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/]
