Written Answers Nos. 95-114
95. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to ensure that the new fund being created through the auto-enrolment pensions scheme will not invest in fossil fuel companies; if she intends to enshrine this in law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31392/23]
View answer103. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if, regarding the proposed auto-enrolment scheme for pensions and the potential allocation of funds to investments in fossil fuel exploration or extraction, she will take into consideration the recommendation put forth by the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community Development and the Islands to ensure that these funds are not invested in fossil fuels (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31557/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 103 together.
The introduction of a pensions auto-enrolment system is a Programme for Government commitment, and a key priority for me as Minister for Social Protection.
Last year, I published 'The Design Principles for Ireland’s Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System', which set out the new system in detail.
A dedicated project team in the Department of Social Protection is solely focused on implementing the agreed design, including by drafting the necessary legislation that will underpin it, designing the organisational structures and the technical system to operate it, and communicating this landmark reform to stakeholders and the public.
Several workstreams are being progressed in parallel, among which is the drafting of the AE Bill in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which I expect to publish later this year.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection recently published its report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Heads of Bill to establish the AE system, setting out 21 observations and recommendations. I am considering these recommendations in the drafting of the Bill, but would note that several of them are already incorporated in the design agreed by Government for implementation in a later phase once the system is bedded in. Other recommendations cannot be accommodated as they would require considerable change to the design already agreed by Government. The completion of the Committee’s scrutiny of the AE Heads of Bill nevertheless represents an important step in the legislative process.
Among the recommendations of the JOC are some relating to environmental concerns. In that context, it is important to state that the primary aim of investing AE participants’ funds is to provide a good financial return for them, so that they may have an adequate supplementary income that is over and above the level of the State Pension when they retire.
To manage and administer the AE system, a Central Processing Authority (CPA) will be established. It will procure, through the open financial services market, investment management services on behalf of AE participants. I want to make it clear to the Deputies that the CPA will not be administering a new State fund, but rather will be administering hundreds of thousand of individual savings accounts that are, and will remain, the personal property of the AE participants. The AE project is, in that sense, a State-incentivised personal savings scheme for individuals rather than a new national fund. In that context, the CPA and investment managers will have a duty to, first and foremost, get a good financial return for participants.
In designing high level investment strategies and in contracting for investment services, the Board of the CPA will be guided by both the prudent person principle as well as the need to ensure investments take account of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Such principles would include taking into consideration pollution caused by fossil fuels as part of the overarching, long-term strategy.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) to change their daughter's name on her birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31407/23]
View answerThe requirements for birth registration are contained in Part 3 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 (the Act), as amended.
Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Act sets out that the child’s surname shall be that of either, or both, parents. Where the surname chosen by the parent(s) is not their own, an application must first be made to the superintendent registrar who must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant registration of the surname chosen by the parents. Once the birth has been so registered, no provision is made for the surname to be changed at a later date.
A birth may be re-registered to include the father’s details or following the marriage of the natural parents. Only in the course of re-registering a birth can a different surname be chosen for the child, subject to the requirements set out in Part 1 of the First Schedule. In this particular case, re-registration of the birth does not appear to apply as the father’s details were recorded and the parents were married to one another at the time the birth was registered.
However, in certain circumstances the details recorded on a birth certificate can be corrected where it is shown that the birth certificate contains an error of fact. In such circumstances an application to correct an error of fact may be submitted, together with supporting documentary evidence, to the superintendent registrar in whose registration area the birth was registered.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
97. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the number of supplementary welfare allowance applications received for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 for an area (details supplied), broken down by the number of applications received and how many applications were awarded and were unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31419/23]
View answer98. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the number of exceptional needs payment applications received in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 for an area (details supplied), broken down by the number of applications received and how many applications were awarded and were unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31420/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single additional needs payments.
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The reporting of this schemes was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information in relation to registrations and refusals, and to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payment.
In relation to Basic SWA, statistics are not available on applications received awarded and disallowed for 2021. There were 412 Basic SWA recipients awarded at end of 2021 in Co Wicklow. Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA claims registered, awarded and disallowed for 2022 and 2023 (to end of May) in Co Wicklow. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information.
In relation to Additional Needs Payments, figures prior to 2022 are collated differently and exclude recurring supplements. Statistics are now prepared and published on a quarterly basis for Additional Needs Payments. Table 2 shows the number of Additional Needs Payments awarded in 2021 and the number of Additional Needs Payments registered, awarded and disallowed for 2022 and 2023 (to end of March) in Co Wicklow. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information.
Table 3 shows the number of rent supplement recipients awarded at year end for 2021 and 2022, and for end of May 2023 in Co. Wicklow. Statistics are not available at present for rent supplement claims registered and disallowed during the period.
The figures presented represent a snapshot of claim activity and are subject to change.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1: The number of Basic SWA claims registered, awarded and disallowed for 2022 and 2023 (to end of May) in Co Wicklow.
|
Year |
Registered |
of which Awarded |
of which Disallowed |
|
2022 |
2,085 |
1,392 |
177 |
|
2023 (end of May) |
687 |
370 |
58 |
Table 2: The number Additional Needs Payments awarded in 2021 and the number of Additional Needs Payments registered, awarded and disallowed for 2022 and 2023 (to end of March) in Co Wicklow.
|
Year |
Registered |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
|
2021 |
N/A |
2,133* |
N/A |
|
2022 |
4,358 |
2,817 |
487 |
|
2023 (end of March) |
900 |
561 |
127 |
* excludes supplements
Table 3: The number of rent supplement recipients awarded at year end for 2021 and 2022, and for end of May 2023 in Co. Wicklow.
|
Year |
Recipients |
|
End Dec 2021 |
512 |
|
End Dec 2022 |
392 |
|
End May 2023 |
349 |
99. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the current timeframes on processing exceptional needs payment applications, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31421/23]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANP) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. An ANP is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain other Supplements available to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
Work on hand is within the scheme's normal processing levels and fully completed applications are processed within two weeks. Applications for ANPs are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where an application cannot be finalised promptly, the delay is normally due to the need for additional information or documentation and the time it takes for the customer to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application is then processed quickly.
It is important to note that where it is clear that a person has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the claim is processed on the same day. Community Welfare Officers are very experienced and can generally assess when a case is so urgent that it requires an immediate response.
The Community Welfare Service is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made quickly.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
100. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the current timeframes on processing new claims for jobseeker’s allowance applications, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31422/23]
View answerFor May 2023, the average processing time or time to award for Jobseeker's Allowance applications was one week. Over 96% of claims are processed within six weeks.
My Department calculates the average processing time on a national level only. As such, a breakdown of processing times by county is not available.
101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an urgent review of an eligibility for disability allowance can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied) whose case is supported by their GP given their ongoing medical challenges, and who is unable to secure employment as a result of their ongoing medical challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31529/23]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from this person on 14 February 2023. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, his application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 March 2023. All applicants to DA have the right to have a decision reviewed and can present additional supporting medical evidence to the DA section to assist their claim.
The person concerned informed the DA section on 11 April 2023 that they wished to appeal the decision and informed the Department that they will submit further documentation to support their appeal as soon as possible.
Further medical evidence was received on 24 May 2023 and a review of this decision was carried out. The original decision was upheld, and the person concerned was notified in writing on 9 June 2023. The person concerned can forward further additional supporting medical evidence if they wish to have their claim reviewed further.
Additionally, the DA section sent the Appeal request to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO) on 11 April 2023. The person will be notified directly regarding the outcome of the appeal by the SWAO.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
102. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the last time that the carer’s allowance means test was reviewed; if the means limits were increased under this review; if she will outline the basis as to the appropriate level of savings, in particular in cases where carers try and save a small amount each week for their future needs, but find that such savings are then assessed as means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31548/23]
View answerThe system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
A maximum rate is payable where a person has limited or no means, and tapering applies to the rate payable to those with modest or more substantial means. This is because there is an expectation that those with resources can at least partly contribute towards supporting themselves.
Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes.
How capital is assessed can vary depending on the nature and purpose of the payment, and various disregards apply across the schemes, reducing the amount of means assessed.
For most social assistance schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is fully disregarded, the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
For Disability Allowance and Carer’s Allowance, the first €50,000 of capital is fully disregarded (€100,000 for a couple). The Disability Allowance capital disregard was increased to €50,000 in 2007 in recognition of the fact that a person who is in receipt of Disability Allowance may not have had the opportunity to accumulate savings and that, in some circumstances, families may wish to make future financial provision for a child or sibling but are concerned that such provision would adversely affect their entitlement to Disability Allowance.
I increased the Carer’s Allowance capital disregard in Budget 2022 for similar reasons; family carers may decide to provide for the future care of children or adults with disabilities. Increasing the disregard in line with Disability Allowance allows for the planning of future care needs.
I also increased the general weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance in Budget 2022, from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple.
Further to this, as part of Budget 2023 I made additional targeted changes, in relation to disregarding income from Disablement Benefit and Half Rate Carer's allowance, in the means test for Fuel Allowance.
Carer's Allowance disregards are now the highest income disregards in the entire social welfare system.
Means tests are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. Further changes to the Carer's Allowance means test would have cost implications - any decisions would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context. I also have to have regard to the needs of other welfare recipients and to how best we can allocate our resources given competing demands.
104. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31564/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office and registered on 11th March 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were returned to the Appeals Office and referred to an Appeals Officer on the 9th May 2023, who will examine the appeal in the coming weeks. The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
105. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a payment for a person (details supplied). [31565/23]
View answerThe person concerned applied for One Parent Family Payment on the 13th of March but the Department was unable to process this application as additional information was required and the Department was unable to make contact with the applicant.
A new application for a One-parent Family Payment which was registered on 20th of June 2023. On the 22nd of June 2023, the person concerned was issued a HRC1 (Habitual Residence Condition) form to complete in full and was requested to provide letters from the schools her children are attending and proof of address to support the application. Once this information is received, the Deciding Officer will be in position to finalise their decision on this application.
106. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a contribution history record on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31583/23]
View answerAccording to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a yearly average of 16 reckonable contributions and credits from their date of entry into insurable employment in 1968 to 2012. This gives entitlement to a reduced State Pension (contributory) at the current weekly rate of €199.00. To qualify for the maximum rate, a yearly average of 48 contributions is required.
If the person concerned considers that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384 and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.
It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the means-tested state pension (non-contributory). The maximum rate equates to 95% of the maximum rate of state pension (contributory).
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
107. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will set out the data sets she receives from the National Transport Agency’s ITS number; the number of official complaints she has received in respect of the collection of data from the NTA regarding the free travel scheme her Department provides; and the amount in reimbursements made to the NTA and or transport providers in the past two years to date. [31649/23]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by, for example, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, Luas, Local Link and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.
At the end of May 2023, there are nearly 1.07 million Free Travel primary recipients. When spouse and companion passes are taken into account, a total of 1.75 million people benefit from the Free Travel scheme.
Since May 2020, my Department receives monthly, summary-only data from the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to Free Travel usage. The data contains only information on the number of journeys undertaken by Free Travel cardholders by card type (single or spouse or companion card). The data does not include any Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) numbers and cannot be used to identify individual Free Travel cardholders or journeys any individual has undertaken.
The four categories of summary data received from the NTA are:
|
Category |
Category Description |
|
Operator |
Name of the transport operator (on which the FT card was used) |
|
Event-Type |
e.g. Tag-On or Tag-Off |
|
Description |
Type of Free Travel card journey – Single, Spouse or Companion Card |
|
Usage-Vol |
Number of free travel journeys |
According to my Department’s records, one official complaint was received regarding the collection of data from the NTA in relation to the Free Travel scheme.
The table below outlines payments made to the NTA and other transport operators for the years 2021 and 2022.
Payments to NTA and other transport operators
|
|
2022 |
2021 |
|
NTA |
€4,081,494.08 |
€5,225,449.08 |
|
Other transport operators |
€85,487,168.72 |
€86,036,987.30 |
|
Total |
€89,568,662.80 |
€91,262,436.38 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if this Parliamentary Question will be taken as notice of appeal of the decision to refuse a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31667/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th May 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were returned to the Appeals Office on 12th June 2023 and referred to an Appeals Officer on 22nd June 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
109. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the total number of bed spaces available and/or occupied in Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges on 26 May 2022. [31396/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for domestic violence services continues to be managed by Tusla.
As this will continue to be the case until services formally transfer to the new DSGBV agency, I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.
110. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the total number of adults and children in Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges on 26 May 2022. [31397/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for domestic violence services continues to be managed by Tusla.
As this will continue to be the case until services formally transfer to the new DSGBV agency, I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.
111. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1107 of 21 March 2023 (details supplied), if she will provide an update on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31401/23]
View answerThe criminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men in Ireland came into effect prior to the foundation of the State and remained in place until its eventual decriminalisation in 1993.
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group examining the feasibility of a scheme to disregard certain historic convictions related to consensual sexual activity between men.
The report contains 95 recommendations regarding the introduction of a statutory scheme to enable the disregard of relevant criminal records. The report also makes a number of recommendations on eligibility standards, the application process that should be followed and the offences to include in the scheme.
The publication of the Working Group’s report marks an important moment in efforts to exonerate those impacted by these outdated laws and address some of the lingering harms of the past. I look forward to considering the report’s recommendations with a view to progressing the introduction of a statutory scheme.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department's records relating to High Court, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights in relation to the reform of laws criminalising homosexuality have been located and retrieved from storage.
Officials in my Department are in the process of cataloguing these records in preparation for transfer to the National Archives. When this process has been completed the records will be made available to the public.
112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice in the context of processing applications for citizenship, if she will detail the stages and processes involved in Section 16 (Irish Associations) applications between registration and submitting the applications for final decision; the stage in this process in which delays are occurring the most; the actions being taken to rectify any recurring delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31418/23]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted.
Section 16 of the Act gives the Minister discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen). Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation that in the Minister’s view renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.
The Deputy should be aware that there is no automatic right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived, even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined.
Given the complexity of the matter, Citizenship Division of my Department are in the process of preparing comprehensive guidelines, which will be made available to applicants for naturalisation on the basis of "Irish associations" and these are nearing completion.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
At present "Irish association" cases are taking in excess of 30 months to process.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
Additionally, any person born outside of Ireland who have an Irish national grandparent born in Ireland may obtain Irish citizenship through registration in the Foreign Births Register which is maintained by Department of Foreign Affairs, for more information please see: www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the progressing of the application for residency pursuant to the undocumented scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision is expected to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31423/23]
View answerThe application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 10 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue.
The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is a single or family application, the supporting documentation and the vetting process with An Garda Síochána (AGS). Applications where there is an existing deportation order will require additional processing.
Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice how often citizenship ceremonies are held in a year; where these ceremonies are held; when the next ceremony will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31457/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is committed to reducing how long applicants have to wait for a decision while improving the service provided to applicants.
To help achieve this my Department is holding additional Citizenship Ceremonies this year and next to ensure it has the ability to naturalise as many applicants as possible.
So far this year there have been 6 Citizenship Ceremonies. These have taken place in the RDS, Dublin in March and in the INEC, Killarney just last week. To date in 2023, more than ten thousand people have been approved for naturalisation.
The Ceremonies held in the RDS were used to trial a new processing format and to test the best means of increasing the number of ceremonies annually.
I can confirm that the Division is in the process of planning additional Ceremonies in both the autumn and winter of 2023. As the Deputy will appreciate, these events require considerable planning.
The Citizenship Division issues invitations to successful applicants at the earliest possible opportunity. Further information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available on my Department’s website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/
