The number represents a significant increase on the 20,000 decisions made in 2023 and is nearly double the number of decisions made in 2022.

Over 6,000 new Irish citizens, hailing from 140 countries around the world, will be granted citizenship in seven ceremonies being held on Monday and Tuesday.

Justice minister Helen McEntee said: “I would like to congratulate all of our newest Irish citizens, as well as their family and friends joining them on this special day.

“I encourage our new citizens to continue to contribute to building inclusive communities. In forging connections between our cultures, we can enrich our social fabric.

“Our new citizens play an essential role fuelling growth in our economy. They also contribute immensely to industries where we have labour shortages like construction, agriculture and healthcare. They also make our workforce more diverse and inclusive.”

The government has made a number of changes to speed up the application process for citizenship applicants, including the introduction of an online digital application, online payments and eVetting.

The Department of Justice said it envisages that the majority of applications based on residency will soon be able to expect a decision within 12 months.