Passport return from Irish citizenship office!

Hi Everyone!
I have applied for my Son's irish citizenship on the 6th of March 2020 before the first lockdown in the country. I enclosed my passport with the application! First time i sent them email in September what about the application and they replied that there is a delay with the processing time and they can't give me a time frame! I asked them what about my passport when will I get back? And thats when all my headache started!!! I got an automatic reply that i should request my passport for emergency reasons such as medical!
I replied them that ( at that time in September) its been 6 months i dont have my passport and i need it for verification purposes and for travel. My mum had a surgery back home and my granny's health has changed as well and im not able to visit them. Also we have to travel to my husband's country for official things and he is due to travel next week but i dont even have ticket booked for myself because of my passport!
So since September im emailing them every week once or twice and always getting the same reply!
I called them million times but never got through on the phone! I have sent a registerd post letter as well. I have contacted the local TD and even the Minister of Justice but unfortunately no one got nothing back from them!
This is ridiculous its been 9 months npw and i dont have passport. Not only i dont have passport but i cant even get an answer.
I 100% understand the circumstances specially now because of the covid 19. I know there is a delays thats not an issue. im patiently waiting for my Son's application to be processed, i just need my passport. i would understand if is my own application and thats why they are holding it back. But i am asking if the process takes years then untill i wont have my passport???
Is there anyone in similar situation?
please if anyone has some answer or advice would be helpful!
Thanks for reading!

It's very unusual to keep the passport for so long.
One possible reason could be that they have sent it for verification to your country's embassy for example. They have mentioned somewhere on the form that documents can be sent for verification.

This is rare though. Better call them again and explain your situation.

Thanks for your reply!
I have thought all the possibilities why they would keep my passport for this long but thats the thing at least if they can give me some understandable answer apart from the general automatic emails.
I never got chance to talk on the phone with them. i called the number many times but no answer and i saw on the website they are not even taking calls until further notice!
The only way i got to explain everything by email email and email! But sometimes i think they are not even reading the emails, when they see the subject passport request they are sending straight away the automatic email about the passport return!
When i submitted the application there wasn't any note like now that they are asking the applicants to do not send passport! Who knew that time that Covid will change everything.
Also i haven't recieved any acknowledgement letter nothing that they recieved my application!
Really don't know what to do....

The letter acknowledging receipt of the application is normally sent together with passport.
Certainly something is not right. Do you have a receipt of the postage? Have you checked the tracking information showing that document were actually delivered to them?

Yes i have the tracking number and it was delivered couple of days after i posted. and in the first email what i sent to them early September i just asked about the application update and gave them the tracking number. That was the only time they replied that they have received the application but unfortunately they can't give me a time frame when it will be processed! after this email i asked them about my passport when they will return it to me and all i got, that i should request my passport for emergency reasons such as medical. since what ever im explaining what ever im asking about my passport thats the only and same answer again and again... that i should request my passport for emergency reasons such as medical.....

Ok, If they're ignoring the emails then send them a letter via registered post and request your passport back.

Alternatively contact your embassy and ask for an emergency passport or a return certificate. Such document will allow you to travel home one way only. You will have to get a replacement passport when you get there in order to return.

If it's a real emergency, as a last resort, cancel the application. Entire package will be returned but the fee will not be refunded.

Yesterday I sent a letter to them by register post and it was delivered today morning. Today I received a usual email from them and that was the point when I said it’s enough and I asked them I want to withdraw the my application.....
so will see what will be the answer.
This was the last option but I have no other choice