More than 30,000 decisions on Irish citizenship were made in 2024, based on the figures provided by the Department of Justice.
2024’s statistics account for a new record since the figures began to be collected, Schengen.News reports.
This year’s figures represent a notable increase compared to 2023’s figures, during which 20,000 decisions on applications for Irish citizenship were made.
According to a report from INL, more than 6,000 new Irish citizens from 140 countries worldwide will be granted citizenship in seven ceremonies scheduled to be held on December 2 and December 3.
The presiding officers at the ceremonies of December 2 and 3, Justice Paddy McMahon and retired President of the High Court Mary Irvine, will grant the attendees Irish citizenship.
In this regard, the Minister of Justice of Ireland, Helen McEntee, congratulated all the new Irish citizens as well as their families.
She encouraged the new citizens to continue to contribute to building inclusive communities.
Our new citizens play an essential role in fuelling growth in our economy. They also contribute immensely to industries where there are labour shortages in construction, agriculture, and healthcare. They also make our workforce more diverse and inclusive.
the Minister of Justice of Ireland, Helen McEntee
New Changes to Accelerate Citizenship Acquirement Process
In a bid to speed up the application process, authorities in Ireland introduced several changes, including the introduction of an online digital application, online payments and eVetting.
Last year, the Irish Department of Justice launched a platform enabling candidates to submit their citizenship applications online as part of efforts to facilitate the process.
The new changes allow applicants to finish the process online. However, the paper-based application process will remain available for those who cannot access an online service.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that the new system for online citizenship applications would improve public service and increase the efficiency of the application process.
One of my strategic priorities as minister for justice is to deliver a fair and balanced immigration system which is fit for the digital age. Accelerating innovation and digital transformation across the justice sector to ensure our systems are modern, efficient and accessible is key to this.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee
Authorities in Ireland announced that from November 4, 2024, the application process to renew the residence permits would move online for all internationals