Máire Devine
Question:169. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3690/25]
View answerVisa Applications
Questions (169)
Written answers
I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 30 September 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 22 December 2023 where it awaits examination and processing.
My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be finalised. In order to be fair to all individuals applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications.
The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The date published on the above page is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may prevent the published processing date from advancing.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at:
https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
Visa Applications
Questions (170)
John Lahart
Question:170. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice the alternative arrangements available for Cuban nationals applying for an Irish visa, given that the current process requires online payment, reliable postal services, and the ability to travel to Mexico for an interview, none of which is feasible for most applicants in Cuba; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3630/25]
View answerWritten answers
As there is no Irish Embassy in Cuba, the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico liaises with visa applicants from Cuba to provide the best possible service.
Cuban nationals are subject to the same requirements that apply to all visa required nationals. I can advise that an interview is not a standard requirement of the Irish authorities for the visa application process. If an interview is required, in most cases, it will be undertaken remotely.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application can do so online at:
https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
Stardust Fire
Questions (171)
John Lahart
Question:171. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice for an update in respect of the Stardust redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3643/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, following engagement with the legal representatives for the families of the victims of the Stardust fire, the Government approved last August a two-phased approach to redress arrangements.
The first phase focused on the families of the 48 victims who tragically died in the fire and was developed in consultation and agreement with the legal representatives for the families of the deceased victims. It provided for a single, non-scaled ex gratia payment of €0.5m for each of the 48 people killed, totalling €24 million. I am glad to inform the Deputy that this phase is at an advanced stage of implementation, with most applications under this scheme now completed and payments concluded.
A second phase which is to be examined in respect of survivors will take into account that compensation awards were made previously by the Stardust Victims’ Compensation Tribunal established in 1985. Officials from my Department have commenced work to develop proposals for this phase.
Citizenship Ceremonies
Questions (172)
Robert Troy
Question:172. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) will be called for a naturalisation ceremony. [3644/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to informed the Deputy that the person concerned was issued an invitation to the upcoming Citizenship ceremonies.
The next Citizenship Ceremonies will take place on 13 and 14 February 2025 at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD).
My Department held 24 citizenship ceremonies last year, an increase from the 15 ceremonies held in 2023, and the 6 that were held in 2022. Citizenship ceremonies will continue to be held on a regular basis during 2025.
Further information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available on my Department’s website here: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/
Visa Applications
Questions (173)
Marie Sherlock
Question:173. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice to address the significant delay in providing the appropriate paperwork to a person (details supplied) in respect to an approved spousal visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3680/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise that the application from the person referred to by the Deputy was processed in October 2024 and they currently hold a Stamp 4 immigration permission valid until 15 October 2025.
The person’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card was printed on 25 October 2024 and is recorded as having been delivered to the address provided on their application on 01 November 2024.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre (DCC). They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
Immigration Support Services
Questions (174, 175, 176)
Máire Devine
Question:174. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the poor reported systems availability of the new Immigration Service Delivery's Digital Contact Centre; the targeted systems availability for the Digital Contact Centre; the system's actual availability percentage of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3691/25]
View answerMáire Devine
Question:175. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that the Immigration Service has apparently deactivated phone lines and emails forcing users to attempt contact only via the Immigration Service Delivery's Digital Contact Centre channel, which some users are reporting has poor systems availability; whether other contact methods can be reinstated until the Digital Contact Centre systems availability becomes more reliable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3692/25]
View answerMáire Devine
Question:176. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Justice if he will grant an amnesty period for those users who have been attempting to make appointments via the Immigration Service Delivery's Digital Contact Centre but due to poor system availability have been unable to do so, therefore their immigration statuses are now overdue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3693/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 176, inclusive, together.
In keeping with the Government commitment to significantly enhance the delivery of public services digitally, phase one of my Department's Immigration Digital Contact Centre (DCC) went live in October 2024. The DCC is a self-service portal that enables applicants to check their immigration application status, book first-time registration appointments, and submit queries.
My Department is committed to providing the best possible service to applicants and a centralised applicant support team is in place comprising of over 20 staff to support this. Since the DCC went live more than 55,000 people have registered with the system, 15,000 appointments have been booked successfully and 47,000 customer queries have been resolved.
Work is ongoing to continuously improve the services offered by the DCC and my Department remains committed to providing the best possible service to applicants and service users.
I can inform the Deputy that due to these very high volumes of people accessing the online services in January some applicants experienced very slow speeds and sessions disconnecting, this included people wishing to make registration appointments. I am informed these technical issues are in the process of being resolved. My Department is also aware of some customers finding it difficult to register for a digital account; this issue relates mainly to the validation of identity documentation. A detailed user guide to help applicants through the process will be released in the coming days.
I appreciate this may have caused frustration from some of our applicants and my Department will work with any applicants that have been affected to ensure they can access an appointment in a timely manner without impacting adversely on their immigration status.
Queries in relation to the status of any individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility (IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or taking too long.
Question No. 175 answered with Question No. 174.
Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 174.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (177)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:177. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programmes or Department operations are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3712/25]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I would like to inform the Deputy that my Department complies with the “Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform last February and also with guidance issued to all Government Departments in June 2023 by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in relation to the cyber security aspects.
To further support our modernisation of immigration services, my department has recently deployed an AI assistant and smart chatbot using Microsoft Copilot, which provides assistance to both applicants and staff. The smart assistant is accessed through an authenticated portal on the immigration website. In implementing this solution, my department has leveraged Generative AI in a low-risk, fully compliant, way to offer enhanced digital services including appointment booking and status inquiries to applicants via the portal and to staff by means of an internal customer service resource.
The costs associated with this Microsoft technology were €19,923 in 2024. This covers the costs from implementation in October 2024 up to 31st May 2025 when the current agreement ends. Further costs will be incurred from 1st June 2025; these are subject to the pricing received in a new procurement exercise but, based on current usage, would be expected to be in the region of €25k per annum.
My Department will continue to assess the opportunities presented by all digital tools, including AI, to improve the delivery, efficiency and accessibility of services to our customers. It is not possible at this time to predict what these will cost however they will be procured in line with the guidance of the Office of Government Procurement and in compliance with the guidelines set out above.
Crime Prevention
Questions (178)
Mark Ward
Question:178. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the status of the rollout of local community safety partnerships; their status as statutory bodies; if they have referral pathways from local community safety forums and community transport safety forums as did the joint policing committees they replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3729/25]
View answerWritten answers
A key principle of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together the relevant departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to promote community safety.
The objective is to bring the relevant bodies, including the Gardaí, together with communities in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified and prioritised by local people.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 provides for the establishment of this national infrastructure, central to which are Local Community Safety Partnerships which will operate at each local authority level. The Partnerships are building upon the good work undertaken through Joint Policing Committees and supplementing this by bringing together a broader range of relevant stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, local residents, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of statutory agencies including the HSE, Tusla and each local authority.
Local elected representatives have an important role to play in the Partnerships, each of which will have seven elected council members as part of its mandated membership. In addition, all local elected representatives will have further opportunity to attend meetings of their local Partnership.
Issues that are considered relevant to the community can be discussed at the Partnerships and the Act also provides for area-based neighbourhood community safety fora to facilitate a tailored, targeted and time-limited approach where issues of concern are arising in a more localised area.
Legislative Measures
Questions (179)
Ivana Bacik
Question:179. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice his views on the need to create a standalone offence to prevent sex-for-rent exploitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3730/25]
View answerWritten answers
Combatting the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence will be a key focus for me as Minister.
I know the Deputy will agree that any behaviour from accommodation providers seeking to use their position to prey on vulnerable people is completely unacceptable. The Government is seeking to address this exploitative behaviour by making the offering or advertising of accommodation for sex in lieu of rent a specific criminal offence.
Work is ongoing between my Department and the office of the Attorney General on a suitable provision to address this.
However, it should be noted that, while a specific offence criminalising ‘sex for rent’ is under consideration, section 9 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 already provides for the offence of coercion, to compel a person to commit an act through violence or intimidation. In addition, the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 extended the scope of the existing harassment offence under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to cover persistent conduct that causes alarm, distress or harm. Section 10(3) of the 1997 Act as amended now sets out a non-exhaustive list of the types of conduct which can constitute harassment.
Prison Service
Questions (180, 190, 195)
Barry Ward
Question:180. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the number of people currently serving custodial sentences in the State, by prison location, the capacity currently occupied in each prison, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3736/25]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:190. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice the capacity of each of the Irish prison centres, by location, in tabular form; how many are over capacity; how many people are detained in each facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3796/25]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:195. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number people currently detained in female prisons within the Irish prison system, by location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3802/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180. 190 and 195 together.
The number of people in custody as of 6 February 2025 is outlined in the table below. The Deputy may wish to note these statistics are published on a daily basis and are available on the Irish Prison Service website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be located in the Information Centre – under Statistics & Information – Daily Prisoner Population.
|
Prison |
Number in Custody |
Bed Capacity |
% of Bed Capacity |
|
Mountjoy (male) |
943 |
807 |
117% |
|
Mountjoy (female) |
172 |
146 |
118% |
|
Training Unit |
97 |
96 |
101% |
|
Cloverhill |
468 |
433 |
108% |
|
Wheatfield |
629 |
622 |
101% |
|
Midlands |
974 |
875 |
111% |
|
Portlaoise |
247 |
226 |
109% |
|
Cork |
368 |
296 |
124% |
|
Limerick (male) |
346 |
286 |
121% |
|
Limerick (female) |
85 |
56 |
152% |
|
Castlerea |
416 |
356 |
117% |
|
Arbour Hill |
135 |
137 |
99% |
|
Loughan House |
128 |
153 |
89% |
|
Shelton Abbey |
93 |
111 |
94% |
As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time
Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, officials in the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release. The legislative basis for temporary release is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. I can assure the Deputy that decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.
The Irish Prison Service is working closely with officials in my Department to take steps to ensure a safe working environment for staff, and the safety and security of people in custody. A Prison Overcrowding Response Group was established in 2023 to develop proposed actions to address the problem of Irish prisons operating above capacity. The Group comprised of representatives from the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Probation Service, and the Courts Service. On foot of a report of this Group, in June 2024, 12 actions were approved and work to implement these actions is ongoing.
Further, a Working Group was established in the second half of 2024 to further consider future prison capacity needs and to make recommendations on the numbers and types of prison capacity needed out to 2035. The work of this Group will support and inform future developments regarding prison capacity.
The Deputy will be aware there has been much work done to date to enhance the prison infrastructure, provide additional capacity, and explore alternatives to prison. The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future – commits to continued action in this area.
The Government will continue to invest in the prison estate, to ensure that it is modern, fit-for-purpose and has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison. In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by more than 200 spaces through the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.
The Irish Prison Service had a number of capital projects underway in 2024 to deliver over 150 new spaces. By end-2024, the majority of these had finished construction and are starting to come into full operational use. Further spaces will be delivered in 2025 as part of an overall plan out to 2030 to deliver over 1,100 spaces.
The Irish Prison Service has been allocated €525m for 2025, an increase in funding of €79m (18%) compared to 2024. The Irish Prison Service capital budget stands at €53m in 2025, which is an increase of €22.5m on the original allocation for 2024.
The Irish Prison Service aims to recruit 300 recruit prison officers in 2025, in addition to the 271 Prison Officers recruited in 2024, while an additional €6.2 million has been provided to fund 130,000 additional staff hours in our prisons.
Visa Applications
Questions (181)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:181. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice the expected timeline for a decision to be made on a visa application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3738/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 3 March 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Hanoi office on 19 March 2024. This application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 2 April 2024 where it awaits examination and processing.
My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be finalised. In order to be fair to all individuals applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications.
While I acknowledge the personal difficulties an applicant might be experiencing, including a strong desire to meet up with family or friends in Ireland, expediting an application is usually confined to time-sensitive instances e.g. where a family member has been hospitalised, in a life-threatening situation or in the unfortunate event of a bereavement.
The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The date published on the above page is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may prevent the published processing date from advancing.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
Legislative Measures
Questions (182)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to progress the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024; what measures he plans to take to tackle catfishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3746/25]
View answerWritten answers
I share the concerns expressed by Deputy regarding the real life dangers and real life harms that can be caused by online communications. It is important to note that several important criminal justice measures have already been introduced to address issues regarding online impersonation. For example, impersonation causing alarm, and distress or harm is already a crime.
The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 extended the scope of the existing harassment offence under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to cover any and all persistent conduct that causes alarm, distress or harm. Section 10(3) of the 1997 Act as amended now sets out a non-exhaustive list of the types of conduct which can constitute harassment, and this explicitly includes impersonation. Where the purpose of the impersonation is fraud or theft, that is an offence under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Those who are affected by these offences can and should report them to Gardaí. Gardaí investigating these offences have recourse to their full powers. Those who think that they can use anonymity to hurt others with impunity are wrong. They are committing a criminal offence and they can be punished severely. Harassment under section 10 of the 1997 Act carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. It is a serious offence.
The Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024 was a Private Member's Bill, originating in the Seanad. The Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil.
Prison Service
Questions (183, 193)
Barry Ward
Question:183. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the criteria for transferring prisoners to open prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3752/25]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:193. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice the capacity of open prisons in the Irish prison system, by location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 193 together.
I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners are considered for transfer under the Irish Prison Service Open Centre Policy. This policy document is available on the Irish Prison Service website (www.irishprisons.ie). I can further advise the Deputy that all prisoners being considered for a transfer from a closed prison to an open prison are risk assessed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service, who take into consideration a number of factors including:
• the safety of the public (specifically flight risk in the case of open prisons)
• nature and gravity of the offence
• length of sentence served to date
• length of sentence left to serve
• any prior record on temporary release
• behaviour in custody
• previous criminal history
• family support
• addiction issues/history
• compassionate and humane considerations (including facilitating family visits)
• prisoner's home address
• any report or recommendation made by the Governor, the Garda Síochána or the Probation Service.
The official total bed capacity in Open Centres, as of 6 February 2025, is 264, comprised of 153 at Loughan House and 111 at Shelton Abbey.
The number of people in custody and bed capacity across the prison estate is published on a daily basis and is available on the Irish Prison Service website. This information can be located in the Information Centre – under Statistics & Information – Daily Prisoner Population.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (184)
Alan Kelly
Question:184. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of airport-style walk through detectors, beach metal detectors used for searching lands and underwater metal detectors owned by An Garda Síochána as of 30 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3756/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the allocation of resources, and all operational policing decisions. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
I am advised that the items of equipment referenced by the Deputy are not stored centrally. Many of these items are hired or leased for operations that may arise, or may have been purchased locally by sections/units. This would ultimately require that the information requested be sought from all sections across the organisation seeking a return to allow for the creation of a central register of items of equipment that may fall under the description of “metal detectors”.
I am further advised that considering the complexities outlined above, the Garda authorities are not in a position to provide the information as a significant and disproportionate amount of Garda resources would be required to fulfil the request.