Revenues from the Government's naturalisation and citizenship fees between January 2009 and December 2012 stood at around €36m, Metro Éireann has learned.
The figure was obtained from the Department of Justice following our report last issue highlighting that the State will make some €14m from naturalisation and long term residency fees in 2013, bringing the total for the last five years to around €50m.
According to Justice, nationality and citizenship fees include charges of €175 for the naturalisation application and €950 for the certificate of naturalisation (or €200 payable by minors or widows/widowers of Irish citizens).
A breakdown of income under the nationality and citizenship fees shows that about €3.5m was made in 2009, compared to around €6m in 2010, €9.5m in 2011 and €17m last year. The Government projects a net income of nearly €14m in 2013.
The figures also include fees paid by some 4,000 applicants from a particular section of the migrant community whose applications were based on “inaccurate and misleading information” about qualifications for immigrant parents of Irish-born children. These applicants must pay the €175 fee again when reapplying, Justice confirmed.
Reacting to the latest figures, an immigrant solicitor who handles many immigration cases has welcomed the immigrants’ contributions to State revenues.
But Waheed Mudah also called on the Government to invest some of this money in educating Irish people about the diversity issues, as well easing the integration of immigrants.
The Nigerian-born lawyer with Kevin Tunney Solicitors also wants the Government to look at the possibility of reducing the €950 cost for the naturalisation certificate, in line with the national reduction in the cost of living.
