2010 sees increase in numbers gaining Irish citizenship

IRELAND may be mired in recession and thousands of people have emigrated but the number of other people obtaining Irish citizenship has actually increased, according to new figures.

Statistics provided by the Department of Justice show that up to December 7, 2010,approximately 6,300 people had obtained Irish citizenship through naturalisation — higher than levels in 2009.

A spokesperson for the department said that the numbers of people withdrawing from the naturalisation process this year was “negligible”.