News of closure led to surge in applications to ‘cash for citizenship’ programme

Addressing the PAC, secretary general of the department Oonagh McPhillips acknowledged that applications for the programme had gone “through the roof” once it became clear that it was to be phased out. File photo: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

The State received nearly 1,400 applications for a ‘cash for citizenship’ programme in just six weeks at the start of the year after it was announced that the process was to be shut down.

The Department of Justice received 1,350 applications for the controversial Immigrant Investment Programme (IIP) prior to its closure on February 15, the Public Accounts Committee heard on Thursday.