Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
535. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons granted permission to remain under the 2022 scheme for the regularisation of long-term undocumented migrants; and the number of applications refused. [52975/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra536. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons granted permission under the 2022 regularisation scheme who have subsequently obtained Irish citizenship through naturalisation, by year. [52976/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.
The Regularisation of Long-Term Undocumented Migrants scheme opened on 31 January 2022 and closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship. The scheme was only open to those who did not have a current permission to reside in the State.
My Department recorded 6,548 applications in respect of 8,311 individuals under the time limited scheme, including 1,126 minors, which were submitted as a part of family applications.
8,188 decisions have issued under the scheme, of which 6,540 were positive decisions, 1,648 were negative decisions; 120 applications were withdrawn by the applicants for various reasons.
In relation to the number of people that have subsequently obtained naturalisation, I can advise the Deputy that whilst an individual application will record the residency and immigration permission being relied on, statistics are not maintained by my Department to provide for a breakdown of the type of immigration permission held prior to naturalisation.
All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually based on the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years (under section 15 of the Act). In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.
