Written Answers Nos. 276-296
276. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection to address concerns regarding the nutritional value of the meals provided under the hot school meals programme; if he is aware that certain dietary requirements are not catered for under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17150/25]
View answerThere is a nutritional standard in place for the School Meals Programme since it’s inception. A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. A technical Nutrition Sub Group comprised of Dietitians from the following organisations was involved in developing these standards:
• The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE,
• Safefood, and
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on gov.ie.
Nutritional standards are a priority for me and for the Government. I have asked for a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards, and this will be conducted by a dietician who will be supervised by the Department of Health and in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards be submitted to me by the end of the year.
In the meantime, food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt will be removed from the school menus by September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.
The primary relationship is between the school and supplier. All schools who wish to avail of funding under the programme are responsible for choosing their schools meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenderer’s responsibilities and obligations, including in relation to compliance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals.
Under the Hot School Meals Scheme, parents can choose food for their child every week from an approved menu which contains a range of options that are offered by the school’s supplier in accordance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. The menu must accommodate those with food intolerances and allergies, including lactose-free, vegetarian and gluten-free options. In addition, the supplier is required to check these details with the school upon award of the contract, in order to accommodate those children. The supplier must also provide clearly visible menu boards with an allergens list.
Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction food waste and the use recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
277. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial measures the Government is taking to support parents who wish to stay home with their children in light of a poll (details supplied) that showed 69% of mothers with children under 18 would prefer to stay home with their children if their financial situation allowed it. [17167/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to supporting families in caring for their children and a wide range of supports are available across Departments to ease the financial pressure on families. My Department provides a number of such key supports.
Child Benefit is a monthly payment to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 19th birthday where they are in full-time education or have a disability. It is paid in respect of almost 1.3 million children. Expenditure on the scheme is estimated at over €2.2 billion in 2025.
Several family leaves and benefits are available in the first crucial period of a child’s life. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has responsibility for the policies on family leaves. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for the associated benefits.
Maternity Leave and Benefit are available for 26 weeks, Adoptive Leave and Benefit for 24 weeks, and Paternity Leave and Benefit for two weeks. Furthermore, both parents can avail of nine weeks of Parent’s Leave and Benefit in the first two years following the birth or placement of a child.
When the current durations of Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Leave are combined this adds to 46 weeks of paid leave for a two-parent family. As part of Budget 2025 the standard rate of Maternity, Adoptive, Paternity, and Parent's Benefit increased by €12 to €289 per week from January 2025.
In addition, 16 weeks of unpaid Maternity Leave is available, and each parent can take up to 26 weeks unpaid parental leave before their child’s twelfth birthday.
Where a person qualifies for a social welfare payment they get an amount for themselves called the 'personal rate of payment'. Depending on their circumstances and that of their spouse, partner or cohabitant, they may also get an additional amount known as an Increase for a Qualified Adult. A person with a child or children may also receive a child support payment of €50 per week in respect of a child aged under 12 and €62 per week in respect of a child aged 12 or over.
The Working Family Payment is a tax-free payment which provides an income top-up for employees with children and with low earnings. It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. To be eligible for the Working Family Payment the applicant must work a minimum of 38 hours a fortnight. The payment made is 60% of the difference between overall weekly household income and the income threshold for their family size.
Other supports from my Department include the Newborn Baby Grant, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and the School Meals Scheme.
In addition to the supports provided by my Department, a range of cross-Government measures also help to reduce the cost of raising children. These include the Early Childhood Care Scheme; the National Childcare Scheme and the Free School Books Scheme which is being extended to students in Senior Cycle, including Transition Year, from the start of the 2025/26 school year.
The Programme for Government sets out a range of ambitious commitments to assist families with children. These include:
• progressively increasing the Child Support Payment;
• continuing to support families with the cost of raising their family through the Child Benefit payment,
• exploring a targeted Child Benefit Payment; and
• completing the roll-out of Hot School Meals to primary schools and commencing the rollout to secondary schools.
I trust this clarifies the position
278. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the date of the Social Welfare Appeals Office decision that a postmaster was an employee and not self-employed, which has been appealed to the High Court by An Post (details supplied). [21819/25]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
As the Deputy is aware, there are currently legal proceedings before the Courts in relation to this subject. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further or provide the information requested on this matter.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
279. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection the PRSI pension contributions recorded for women who are absent from the workforce while caring for children; his proposals to alleviate the undue financial hardship incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/25]
View answerThe State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. Eligibility for the SPC is based on a number of criteria:
• Being aged 66 or over.
• Having entered the Social Insurance system at least 10 years before you intend to drawdown your SPC.
• Having a minimum of 520 paid social insurance contributions (i.e., 10 years of reckonable PRSI contributions).
As the actuarial value of the State Pension is currently estimated at approximately €385,000, I believe it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the term a 40-50 year working life, before qualifying for a payment.
The State Pension system already acknowledges the important role that family carers, who are predominantly women, play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, carers are not excluded from access to the State Pension (Contributory). Once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the State Pension system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. This is done through:
• PRSI credits (which include Credits for Carers Benefit and Carers Allowance).
• Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
The Homemakers Disregard Scheme was introduced in April 1994 for use in the Yearly Average (YA) calculation. This allowed an applicant to apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years since April 1994 spent caring for children under age 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation under the Yearly Average calculation method.
In January 2018, a new method of calculation was introduced for those born on or after 1st September 1946, the Total Contributions Approach (TCA), which removed the time spent in the Social Insurance system as a factor and simply added paid and credited contributions together. This fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It, for the first time, acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994. TCA provides for up to 20 years of home caring periods to be considered. Those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits / Homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme.
Since January 2024, long-term carers contributions (LTCCs) can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person/s for a period of 20 years (1040 weeks) or more and these contributions can be used towards the calculation of their SPC entitlement. This is done by attributing the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents to cover gaps in their contribution record. These long-term carers contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for SPC entitlement only and can, where there are gaps in paid contributions, be used to satisfy the minimum 520 qualifying contributions condition. Once a person has 20 years or more caring for an incapacitated dependent, there is no limit on the number of years of LTCC's they can have awarded for their caring role.
The long-term carers' contributions can be used in conjunction with other paid or credited contributions to increase a person’s rate of payment.
To apply for the Homemakers Disregard Scheme, Homecaring periods or LTCC's a person should fill in the Pension Caring Supports application form, and send it to the Pension Caring Support Section of the Department of Social Protection. If they qualify for the relevant support then the credits will be added to their contribution record.
The Pension Caring Supports application form is available online on MyWelfare.ie. You will need a verified MyGovID account to apply online.
Finally, the situation remains unchanged where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for State Pension (Contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State Pension (Contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory) where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC for the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
280. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received under the humanitarian assistance scheme; the number of appeals received; the number of appeals as of yet undecided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21858/25]
View answerThe Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Services (CWS) was activated on Thursday 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) is operated in 3 stages.
Stage 1 of the scheme is to address hardship in the immediate aftermath of a severe weather event and provides emergency support payments to cover food and other essential costs. This stage of humanitarian assistance is to help people with the essentials of life – food, water, shelter and warmth.
Just under 89,000 applications for the HAS have been registered to date. Every individual application is assessed, and payments are made based on the information provided by the applicant and the eligibility of the request under HAS.
The majority of payments made to people to date as a result of Storm Éowyn have been Stage 1, to meet the additional cost of feeding their families in the immediate aftermath of the storm where people remained without power and/or water. The scheme does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event.
A person may request a review of a decision and review requests are undertaken by a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Review Officer. The review process may lead to a fresh examination of the initial decision made or include further contact/engagement with the customer and/or a requirement for additional supporting information or evidence to be provided, in order to assist the Review Officer with their consideration of the review request reasons.
5,060 review requests have been received to date and over half of the requests have been finalised. In the majority of finalised review cases, the person has provided additional information/clarification on review which results in a payment being awarded. Where a review has yet to be finalised, this is generally because further information or clarification is awaited from the applicant.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
281. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of social welfare applications, that are first refused and are subsequently granted on appeal; the average time it takes to process appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21874/25]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
Detailed information on the number of claims awarded, rejected and withdrawn across the Department is currently being finalised and will be available in the Annual Report of Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services which is scheduled for release in June of this year.
In 2024, the average time taken to process an appeal was 23.5 weeks. The average processing time at the end of March 2025 is 20.9 weeks. The Annual Report of the Chief Appeals Officer is published each year and shows processing times for each scheme to a detailed level. The reports for years 2020 to 2023 are available on the Social Welfare Appeals Office website (News and Publications from the Social Welfare Appeals Office (www.gov.ie) and sets out the information requested by the Deputy. The report for 2024 is currently being prepared and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly.
The time taken to process appeals reflects the need to consider each decision in detail and, in many cases, to examine additional information submitted at appeal stage and, in some cases to seek further information by way of correspondence or oral hearing. The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.
The Chief Appeals Officer has put in place measures to deal with the increase in appeals received during 2024. 20 additional staff were assigned and attended training during December 2024 and January 2025. They have now been appointed as Appeals Officers and are making decisions on appeals. In addition new Appeals Regulations have been signed to come into effect from April this year which provide, among other things, for simpler processes and specified response times. These should further help to reduce processing times.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
282. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to support and expedite a carer’s benefit appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21881/25]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
283. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has evaluated the true at-risk-of-poverty rate for people with disabilities when accounting for the extra cost of disability; whether his Department will adjust poverty measurement tools or set new targets in light of this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21963/25]
View answer284. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will reform the State’s equivalence scales or poverty metrics to formally include a “disability weight” reflecting the higher living costs associated with disability; and if he will outline any plans to adopt such adjustments. [21964/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together.
This Government recognises the additional costs associated with having a disability and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. That is why we have priortised the development of a new National Disability Strategy; a cross-governmental strategy that will have a focus on improving access to services and bringing down these extra costs. In the Programme for Government, we have committed to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment.
My Department are currently examining the best way of delivering an annual cost-of-disability payment, as committed to in the Programme for Government, within the overall budgetary context.
Work has also commenced on the new Roadmap for Social Inclusion and the successor strategy to Pathways to Work for the period 2026-2030. This work will be informed by a public consultation process, engagement with the community and voluntary sectors, and an analysis of labour market research, trends, and international best practice. This approach will allow Government to identify areas of change and to develop goals that meet the needs of all groups in society.
Relevant research, including the recent ESRI report – ‘Adjusting estimates of poverty for the cost of disability’ will be given due consideration by my Department when conducting this work.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
285. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their jobseeker’s allowance application, given the application was submitted 12 weeks ago; if serious consideration will be given to granting this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21991/25]
View answerI wish to advise that the Jobseekers application for the person concerned has been received and has been referred to the Social Welfare Inspector for examination.
The Social Welfare Inspector has advised that they are progressing the examination of this matter and as soon as a completed report is received the Deciding Office will progress the application.
If the Person concerned is struggling financially they should make contact with their local Community Welfare Officer for possible assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
286. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that consideration will be given to amending the rules surrounding pension entitlements so that women who had to leave work due to marriage could qualify for a pension in their own right regardless of their husband’s means (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21995/25]
View answerThe marriage bar was a legal requirement for women in the Irish civil service and some areas of the public service to retire from employment after marriage. While the legislation applied only to the civil and public sector, a similar policy was adopted by other sectors, such as the banking sector. The marriage bar for civil servants was removed from legislation in 1973.
Civil and public servants, including those who worked in our public health service, recruited prior to April 1995, typically paid a modified rate of PRSI returned as Class B or Class D. These classes of social insurance do not provide entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory). Accordingly, had those people continued working as a civil or public servant, regardless of gender and marital status, they would not have been entitled to the State Pension (Contributory). There are no plans to allow social insurance contributions paid at the modified Class B or D rates be reckonable for the State Pension (Contributory).
Provisions exist for the award of a mixed insurance pro-rata State pension, where a person has substantial periods of PRSI coverage that are not reckonable for State Pension (Contributory) purposes (i.e. modified contributions). In order to qualify for a pro rata pension, a person must have a minimum of 260 full-rate paid contributions since their entry into insurance.
Matters relating to the pension entitlements for civil and public servants recruited prior to April 1995 are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
Finally, the situation remains unchanged where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for State Pension (Contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State Pension (Contributory). This is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State. As with all other social assistance schemes, payments are based on an income need. The means test used plays a critical role in ensuring that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.; or
• An increase for a qualified adult (IQA) (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory) where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC for the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over.This combination of both the Contributory, Non-Contributory (social assistance) State pensions and IQA means that no person with a viable income need falls outside these schemes.Any future changes to State Pension system would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context and also in the context of the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
287. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the application of a person (details supplied) for the humanitarian assistance scheme for Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22012/25]
View answer288. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for Irish citizenship from those holding United States citizenship during each of the years 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21774/25]
View answerThe number of naturalisation applications received by my Department from US nationals in 2023 was 613, and in 2024 it was 783; statistics for 2025 are not yet available.
All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals and people granted International Protection where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.
It is open to any individual to submit an application for a certificate of naturalisation if they satisfy the relevant criteria.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available on my Department’s Immigration website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
289. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice the precise date when the owners of units 64 and 65 on the Palmerstown/SDCC side of Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate were notified that the buildings were ‘no longer under consideration’ as an international protection centre as per a circular sent out to elected representatives recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21973/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
290. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice the number of offers to accommodate people seeking international protection that have been made by property owners in the Dublin mid-west constituency, or directly sought by his Department; the general locations of such offers; the number of letters of approval that have been issued since 2024; the number that are under active consideration, again listing the name of the geographic area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21974/25]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and other basic supports to people applying for international protection in Ireland. This is part of EU and Irish law.
IPAS currently provides accommodation for over 33,000 people, and 9,000 of these are children with their families. IPAS has 325 accommodation centres across the country, based in every county.
As part of our work to source and develop international protection accommodation, the Department receives multiple offers of accommodation from property owners and providers around the country.
The contracting of properties as emergency centres is partly dependent on the receipt of offers from external providers, and the Department cannot predetermine their geographical location.
The Department has a dedicated team within the International Protection and Integration Division who manage and appraise offers received of emergency commercial international protection accommodation.
The detail of offers of potential accommodation and their appraisal is subject to confidentiality and is commercially sensitive, so the Department is not in a position to publish details of offers received in the format requested.
However, from 2024 to date, the Department’s Community Engagement Team (CET) has issued a total of 90 briefing notes about new IPAS accommodation centres. These are shared with local representatives and community groups in an area where a new properties is being contracted to provide emergency international protection accommodation.
In meeting our obligation to provide material reception conditions to people seeking international protection, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements, planning, building and fire regulations, and minimum standards.
Once an offer is received with respect to accommodation for international protection applicants, it is assessed for suitability. This includes a range of factors such as previous use of the property, accommodation suitability, rates, room sizes, capacity and amenities, information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, and various other criteria such as Wi-Fi, security provision and staffing. Not all properties progress through the appraisal process.
In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, all statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of accommodation are met by the service provider, including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements.
Should a decision be made to accommodate people at a new centre, the Community Engagement Team will then provide detailed information to local stakeholders including elected representatives, in advance. The briefing note will give the full details of the property including the contracted capacity, resident profile and details about how the centre will be managed.
Information about the numbers of people seeking international protection and their nationality is published here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/48a28-international-protection-in-numbers/
Statistics about accommodation for people seeking international protection is published on a weekly basis and is available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/90641-statistics/
291. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to review the process whereby international protection centres are located in communities, in terms of being more proactive in consulting with said communities and providing concrete guarantees as to additional medical and other support resources, education and training and general recreational amenities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21975/25]
View answerThe IPAS Community Engagement Team (CET) was established in late 2023 to engage directly with elected representatives, local authorities, NGOs, Community Fora, local services, An Garda Síochána and other, in advance of opening accommodation centres for people seeking international protection.
The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information about new and existing accommodation centres into communities, to assist with integration for the people joining our communities. Extra resources have been added to the CET during 2024 to extend our reach and impact.
When a decision is made to accommodate people at a new centre, the team then works to engage with and provide detailed information to the local community, in advance of the centre opening. They will give the full details of the property including the contracted capacity, resident profile and details about how the centre will be managed.
The team can also attend meetings for dialogue with local representatives and groups, providing background information, answering questions and listening to people's views, and helping to activate or support location partnerships where relevant to support accommodation openings.
The team also supports information sharing through a dedicated email service for queries from local groups about new and existing centres.
Between October 2023 to date, the CET has worked through the openings of over 130 IPAS and Ukraine accommodation centres. Some of these have involved a simple sharing of information through the relevant channels, while others have involved more detailed meetings with local community groups, local officials, public representatives and other key stakeholders.
There have been many consistent examples of meaningful and productive engagement, and service providers and elected representatives around the country demonstrate ongoing support for our work and for our residents.
Making the this work better understood, providing information when needed, and being available to meet or speak with local representatives has assisted with the successful initiation of many centres.
In relation to larger State-owned sites, the model of engagement has been developed to plan for more meaningful dialogue to support these larger centres, particularly those on state-owned lands being developed under Government policy to move away from dependence on commercial providers.
Overall, it's important to note that we have over 320 accommodation centres in Ireland. Our centres operate with the support of the community, with dialogue and engagement, and thanks to the co-operation of the people in the area, IPAS and centre management, local public services of all sectors, and residents and advocates.
As part of the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, there is a commitment to provide for detailed discussions with communities and to plan more effectively for delivery of increased public services.
This work will be progressed as part of the development of a new Migration and Integration Strategy.
292. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice regarding residents of IPAS accommodation employed in roles with companies who have some work outside of the area in which the accommodation is based, if there is a mechanism for such residents to access alternative accommodation while working in an alternative area in order to avoid losing their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21977/25]
View answerThe State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, and about 9,000 of residents are children with their families.
With pressure on accommodation availability, it is not possible for IPAS to facilitate residents in term of preference or flexibility on accommodation location.
While we aim to provide accommodation and meet people’s needs in relation to accommodation and other basic supports, it isn’t possible to offer people flexible accommodation arrangements such as outlined in the question.
IPAS has an agreed policy for residents and centres to cover requests for absence and other day-to-day arrangements, called “House Rules & Procedures for Reception and Accommodation Centres”, which outline the procedures followed by IPAS.
In line with Regulation 4 of the of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), material reception conditions (including suitable accommodation) is offered by IPAS with the requirement that IP applicants reside at an assigned property on a continuous basis or, where absent – such absence is in compliance with accommodation house rules.
The House Rules policy, including information on the absence policy, is issued to all residents on arrival and is available online on gov.ie -www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/information-for-residents/.
The IPAS customer service team and resident welfare team both work with residents to resolve requests or complaints about their accommodation, including support for specific needs, for example access to essential health care appointments and other essential services.
293. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the procurement processes are in place to ensure that Government contracts are not entered into with regard to properties that are not compliant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22004/25]
View answerMy Department is working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation for people applying for international protection. Over the last two years, emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country.
Providing reception conditions to international protection applicants is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.
The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 international protection accommodation centres around the country.
In meeting our obligation to provide material reception conditions to people seeking international protection, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards.
The Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including checks via the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to ensure compliance with CRO requirements and tax compliance checks by way of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.
Offers of accommodation can be made by a property owner, or another person who has authority do so, such as a leaseholder. As part of our appraisal process, we confirm if an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority.
In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities at the property are within legal limits, including health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance.
Part of the appraisal process for a new contract includes review of the property’s services and compliance, in conjunction with the Local Authority where relevant.
Any ongoing matters relating to fire, building or planning regulations are between the Local Authority and a provider.
The Department will liaise with the Local Authority and comply with any relevant enforcement matters that may arise at an accommodation centre.
Our Department is working hard toward developing a more stable and sustainable accommodation system in this sector. Huge efforts are underway to source and bring into use suitable longer-term international protection accommodation facilities, in line with the Government’s Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy.
These include the use of State-owned land for emergency tented, prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties.
They also include the design and building of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This capacity will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.
The degree of control given to the State by the creation of core supply of State-owned accommodation, of both emergency and permanent options, will increase as supply is delivered, re-establishing strategic direction over the accommodation type, location and dispersal pattern.
This work will be progressed as part of the development of a new Migration and Integration Strategy.
294. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of deportation orders issued to non-EEA nationals under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 for 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the number of those orders that were challenged by way of litigation to the High Court to prevent the removal of non-EEA nationals from the state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21831/25]
View answerIn the time available it has not been possible to compile up-to-date information in the format requested by the Deputy. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
295. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of deportation orders issued in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; the number of those orders were challenged by way of litigation to the High Court to prevent the removal of non-EEA nationals from the state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21832/25]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
296. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who are undocumented were issued with a letter confirming his intention to issue a deportation order against them, also referred to as a Section 3 letter for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21833/25]
View answerIt is a central priority for me that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area.
If a person does not have permission to be in the State a notification of intention to deport may be issued to them under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended. The notification advises such people about the options available to them at that time, including the option to be assisted to leave under my Department’s voluntary return programme; the option to voluntary return is not offered to persons who have criminal convictions. The table below details the number of notifications of intention to deport made under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, issued in 2022, 2023, 2024 and in 2025, up to and including 30 April 2025.
|
Year |
Notifications issued |
|
2022 |
604 |
|
2023 |
679 |
|
2024 |
1244 |
|
2025(To 30/04/2025) |
544 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing. Please note that a letter may be withdrawn and this can impact on figures.
**Please note that International Protection applicants refused refugee status, subsidiary protection and leave to remain are issued Deportation Orders under the International Protection Act 2015 and are therefore not included in these statistics.
Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). This year 647 people have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 30 April 2025. So far this year, two charter flight operations have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State. Further operations will be conducted as the year progresses.
