Page 76 of the programme for Government recognises a range of needs of the new Irish, yet at the same time there are ongoing difficulties and delays in processing naturalisation applications. Some of the applications that we have been dealing with are extending into their third year at this stage. Through that time, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, is holding original documentation. It becomes very difficult for applicants to do ordinary things when they need that documentation, such as opening a bank account, applying for loans, getting a Covid vaccination or a driver's licence. It is possible to get the originals back but it was more restrictive with the Covid restrictions. People do not want to do anything that could impede their application. Students who are in secondary school want to have their applications processed before they start-----

I thank the Deputy. His time is up.

People want to be able to finalise their applications and have their documentation to move on with their lives. What target or plan is there to have more timely processing of naturalisation applications?

I thank Deputy Moynihan. It is a very fair point. The Department of Justice has continued to accept and process applications throughout the pandemic at all levels of public health restrictions. Unfortunately, processing rates have been impacted by the health and safety restrictions imposed and it has not been possible to hold in-person citizenship ceremonies. Following a High Court case in 2019, there was a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal, which resulted in significant delays. There are approximately 24,500 applications which are at various stages in the system, ranging from those just received to those where a decision has been made. Between 12,000 and 13,000 applications are received each year. On 18 January, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, opened a temporary system that enables applicants to complete the naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. Approximately 2,900 people have received their Irish citizenship since then.

I thank the Taoiseach. His time is up.

A further 3,000 applications have been fully processed by the Department but the applicants need to return their signed statutory declarations. Approximately 6,500 will have been offered and we take the Deputy's point.