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Irish Cabinet proposes reforming citizenship applications to increase residency from five to eight years and add self-sufficiency criteria, potentially barring those receiving certain social welfare payments such as unemployment benefits and housing supports. Language proficiency in Irish or English will also become required. The changes aim to enhance integration while addressing rising citizenship applications.
But those getting unemployment payments or certain housing supports could be blocked under reformsRecipients of maternity benefit and children’s allowance are unlikely to be barred from applying for Irish citizenship under proposed reforms that will take certain welfare payments into account.is due to brief Cabinet on proposals to reforms the system for approving new citizenships.
This is part of a broader overhaul of immigration. They will include increasing the residency duration requirement before application from five years to eight as well as introducing self-sufficiency criteria such as an income requirement and barring those who have been in receipt of some social welfare payments.
However, two Coalition sources said it was likely that measure would apply to unemployment benefits and some housing supports rather than the likes of maternity benefit or children’s allowance. Gardaí investigating possibility that teenager deliberately knocked off e-bike in Co Clare‘It makes them more resilient’: Life in Ireland’s only Irish-language primary boarding school Reforms will also introduce language requirements with applicants required to have proficiency in Irish or English.
The Irish language and its use in society will also form part of a new obligation to show an understanding of civic life here.told The Irish Times the Coalition believed the changes were reflective of what most people felt should be in place for someone seeking citizenship.
“It gives people an opportunity to fully integrate,” he said, also saying the reforms put in place “things that help with integration”. Jim O'Callaghan says he wants to see more citizens, but is 'trying to restrain the level of growth in that number'. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA“I do need to take into account the very significant increase in the numbers of people who have applied for citizenship,” he said.
“But I do also need to reflect on what the rules are in other countries, because it’s only going to go in one direction. I want to see more citizens but I’m trying to restrain the level of growth in that number. ” He also confirmed that time spent in Ireland by Ukrainian refugees would not qualify as part of the required eight years.
A joint statement from seven groups working with migrants and refugees called on the Coalition to scrap the proposals, saying these were “simply aimed at making Ireland a hostile place for migrants who contribute so much to our society”.
“Citizenship supports integration, belonging and participation. These proposals, if implemented, do the opposite,” the statement said. The groups said it was likely that refugees and migrant labourers would remain in Ireland and contribute to communities for many years.
“Keeping people in an extended and uncertain status does not help integration – it delays it,” they saidHe called on O’Callaghan to “explain what problem an eight-year residency requirement is actually designed to solve”, saying people who had lived in Ireland for years and paid taxes while raising families and contributing to their communities should have a “reasonable pathway” to citizenship.
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