A total of 4,000 people will complete their citizenship process by the end of March, but this still leaves 20,000 people waiting for their applications to be processed - and many of them are frontline workers.
Labour Galway City West councillor, Niall McNelis, has called on the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, to fast-track Irish citizenship for the many frontline workers - many of them non-EU citizens - who have been "the backbone of the health system throughout the pandemic".
.
According to research by Train Us for Ireland, which represents c200 non-European healthcare workers in the State, found that nearly 64 per cent of foreign healthcare workers surveyed had been waiting at least 12 months for a response on their citizenship applications, while over a third were waiting more than a year.
Cllr McNelis said Minister McEntee's announcement will remove delays in the system to the benefit of "some healthcare and other frontline workers", but that 20,000 people remain awaiting citizenship, and that this requires a scheme to fast-track citizenship applications, and a review of any legal change that may be required to process outstanding applications.
'Vital work throughout pandemic'
.
"Healthcare workers and their family members who meet all citizenship requirements, and have lived in Ireland the requisite time, should have their applications expedited in recognition of their vital work throughout the pandemic," he said. "Similar schemes have been introduced in other countries, including France and Canada, in recognition of the immense personal sacrifices made by so many who have put themselves at risk every day to provide vital health and social care services throughout this pandemic."
