Press release
Minister Flanagan announces that over 10,000 people were granted Irish citizenship in 2018
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has announced that 10,158 people – including 3,136 children – were granted Irish citizenship in 2018. The figures bring the number of new Irish citizens to have received their certificate of naturalisation since the introduction of Citizenship Ceremonies in 2011 to over 120,000.
Since their introduction in June 2011, Citizenship Ceremonies have been a highlight of the naturalisation process for successful applicants. These ceremonies allow candidates for citizenship to make their declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State and receive their certificate of naturalisation in a meaningful and dignified manner. During 2018, seven Citizenship Ceremonies were held. This brings the total number of ceremonies held since 2011 to 138.
Minister Flanagan said:
“The citizenship ceremony is a powerfully symbolic event, which befits the importance and solemnity of the occasion. Each of our new citizens has an important contribution to make to all areas of our society. They have chosen to take this step in recognition of the new lives that they have built here in Ireland. Receiving their Irish citizenship does not lessen the diversity of their backgrounds or the importance of their heritage. We look forward to all that they can add to the richness of our culture as part of their continued integration into our communities, right across the country.”
The profile of applicants has changed significantly over recent years, with an increase in the number of applications on hand from UK Nationals. The number of UK nationals obtaining Irish citizenship has increased from 41 in 2015 to 665 in 2018. Of the top 20 nationalities receiving citizenship in 2018, the youngest attendees by nationality are from Bangladesh with an average age of 32.5 while the oldest are from the UK with an average age of 56.
Just over two thirds (67%) of naturalised citizens in 2018 are between the ages of 25 and 45 as against 40% of the general Population on Census Night 2016. The proportion of naturalised citizens in 2018 who are between the ages of 18 and 35 is 28%, slightly less that the general Irish population where the proportion between 18 and 35 is 29.5%. Just under a third of the Irish population over 18 is age 55 and over but naturalised citizens over the age of 55 make up just 11% of the new citizens in 2018.
ENDS
Details of future Citizenship Ceremonies and the process for applying for citizenship are placed on www.inis.gov.ie .