Tuesday, 17 Jun 2025

Written Answers Nos. 623-642

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Courts Service

Questions (626)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

626. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has plans to hold an inquest into the murder of a person (details supplied) as planned; the position regarding whether the holding of such an inquest will of itself be sufficient to discharge the State's obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights; if he has sought and obtained the co-operation of the UK and Northern Ireland authorities in relation to a Garda investigation and the inquest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32392/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The Deputy refers to the brutal murder of Mr Denis Donaldson in April 2006 in Glenties, County Donegal. It is regrettable that to date it has not been possible to bring those responsible to court to answer for their actions and my sympathies are with his family.

The Deputy references Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Article 2 concerns the right to life and has both a substantive and a procedural component, which includes an obligation to carry out an effective investigation.

A number of inquiries and investigations related to the death of Mr. Donaldson have been undertaken both in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland.

Garda authorities are conducting an ongoing investigation into the killing of Mr. Donaldson and extensive enquiries have been carried out in this regard. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the investigation remains open and active and that a Family Liaison Officer is assigned.

There is a long established relationship between An Garda Síochána and their counterparts in Northern Ireland. It has always been the case that, where relevant, An Garda Síochána work closely with the PSNI to advance investigations and from the outset liaison with the PSNI was established. Cooperation via mutual assistance, extradition or other means is an operational Garda matter and, as the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on live investigations.

The Deputy has asked about plans to hold an inquest into the killing. I am informed that the Inquest into the death currently stands adjourned to a date later this year in light of the ongoing criminal investigation. I can understand fully that the adjournments of the Coroners’ Inquest are a cause of concern for the family and that is to be regretted. However, these adjournments are in circumstances where the criminal investigation into the death is ongoing in order to ensure that the criminal proceedings are not compromised by the conduct of an Inquest.

The Deputy has asked about cooperation sought for the purposes of the Inquest; this would be a matter for the presiding Coroner, who is independent in the operation of their function.

As Minister for Justice I will, of course, ensure that I am kept apprised of developments with regard to the Garda investigation and the inquest.

Prison Service

Questions (627)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

627. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeline for the re-appointment of a Prison Visiting Committee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32467/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The work undertaken by Prison Visiting Committees provides an invaluable perspective on our prisons and the experiences of those in their care, and ensures important issues are highlighted.

There are currently Prison Visiting Committee in place in all prisons, including Cloverhill.

Following a review of the Prison Visiting Committees, the report on a Review of Prison Visiting Committees, completed in 2023, makes a series of recommendations, including that a public competition to select members is the appropriate approach to take in appointing members of committees in the future.

I have now approved a new process for appointments to Committees through Expressions of Interest, which will be advertised by the Public Appointment Service in the near future.

Asylum Applications

Questions (628)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

628. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applicants that were successful for asylum or protection that submitted no identification from their country of origin in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. [32484/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced.

The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process in general. When it comes to international protection applicants, each person is requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection Office at the time of application, to attest to their identity, nationality and date and place of birth. Many applicants are in a position to provide documents but some are not.

Information provided by applicants concerning their identity are recorded on the applicant’s file but are not stored in a manner which allows detailed data to be extracted along the lines sought by the Deputy.

All applicants that enter the international protection process are fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against EURODAC, an EU database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have been found to cross borders illegally.

In addition to checks specifically on those applying for international protection, each and every person arriving at a port of entry in the state is subject to Schengen Information System (SIS) check. Under this system Ireland sends and receives SIS II information (termed ‘Alerts’) on persons and objects; for example persons wanted for criminal purposes, missing persons and objects which have been stolen or are wanted as evidence for a judicial purpose.

Finally, any person being considered for a grant of status (refugee status, subsidiary protection or permission to remain) will have a character and conduct check carried out in respect of them before any such status is conferred on them.

Asylum Applications

Questions (629)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

629. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applicants currently waiting for their application to be processed for asylum or protection to date. [32487/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.

The number of International Protection applications had been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. This year, we are beginning to see application numbers noticeably reduce. There were 45% less applications in the first five months of 2025 compared to the first five months of 2024.

I can assure the Deputy that it is a priority to have recommendations made on all international protection applications as soon as possible. This gives status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria.

There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.

In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in 2023.

There are currently 33,853 pending International Protection applications at various points of the International Protection process.

Pending Totals	May 2025
IPO First Instance cases pending	19,552
IPAT cases pending	13,396
PTRR cases pending	807
MDU cases pending	98

*Data correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.

IPO - International Protection Office.

IPAT - International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

PTRR - Permission to Remain Review.

MDU - Ministerial Decision Unit.

In 2024 99.5% of cases decided were processed in 3 years or less and 91.2% were processed in 2 years or less.

It should be noted that in the very small number of cases with unusually long processing times, these are typically attributable to circumstances outside of the control of the Department. The reasons for such extended delays in processing can include an applicant who may have an ongoing Judicial Review, certain applicants may be uncontactable or missing, or may be a child with a separate application where a parent has already received a decision but contact has not been maintained with the Department. In some cases applicants may not be co-operating with the application process.

Arrangements have been put in place to appropriately resolve such cases without further delay wherever feasible.

I intend to further invest in the immigration system to support 25,000 first-instance decisions made in the IPO this year. The IPAT also aims to increase the number of appeals completed over the course of 2025 with recruitment of Tribunal Members to increase its decision-making capacity currently taking place.

Additionally, accelerated processing was introduced in November 2022, and it now applies to those from designated safe countries of origin, applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe and those from a country with a particularly high number of applications. I note that, since its introduction, the number of applicants from these groups has dropped.

Ireland has also opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact. The Pact will significantly reform the approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a fairer, more streamlined and, crucially, faster international protection system.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (630)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

630. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applicants that were successfully given naturalisation having submitted a sworn affidavit as identity instead of identification from their country of origin. [32489/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

People considering applying for naturalisation in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are required to provide a range of supporting documentation which demonstrates their identity and residency in the State.

Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks take place on each application. Documents provided by applicants must be true copies, certified by an appropriate witness such as a practising solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, Peace Commissioner or Notary Public.

Guidelines on applying for naturalisation are available to applicants on my Departments Immigration Service website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Citizenship-Guidance-Document-April-2024.pdf. These guidelines outline in detail the necessary documents to be submitted in support of a naturalisation application.

I can advise the Deputy that when passports and other documents are submitted, they undergo anti-fraud checks, and instances of suspected fraud are referred to An Garda Síochána.

Applicants that are unable to provide identity documentation may make a sworn affidavit setting out in detail the reasons that they are unable to provide the required identity documentation.

This affidavit, along with all the other documentation submitted, are then assessed to determine if an applicant should be granted citizenship in accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

It is not possible to provide statistics to the Deputy on the number of successful applications that submitted a sworn affidavit as this information is not stored in manner that is readily accessible. Obtaining this information would require the manual examination of thousands of cases; such an examination would require a disproportionate amount of time to compile, diverting staff from the processing of applications.

Departmental Websites

Questions (631)

Albert Dolan

Question:

631. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department’s website employs analytics tools (details supplied) that track website traffic using UTM parameters (for example, utm_source); if so, whether any visits have been recorded with a specific parameter or similar identifiers indicating traffic from ChatGPT; and to provide the monthly number of such visits, if recorded, for each of the past 12 months, in tabular form. [32504/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

My Department's website is part of the gov.ie platform, which is the portal for government services and information. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), a division of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, hosts and manages the gov.ie platform. All information provided on Gov.ie is intended for public consumption.

My Department does not directly employ website analytics tool, but is able to access those set up by the OGCIO, to track the performance of the Department's website on gov.ie. In late 2024, the government analytics provider changed for operational reasons.

The table below provides details of visits to my Department's website where identifiers indicating traffic from ChatGPT were recorded.

Month	Visits
June 2024*	0
July 2024	2
August 2024	22
September 2024	69
October 2024	146
November 2024	71
December 2024	171
January 2025	219
February 2025	368
March 2025	525
April 2025	288
May 2025	393
June 2025**	62

* 11- 30 June 2024 only.

**1-11 June 2025 only.

Departmental Inquiries

Questions (632)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

632. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 677 and 679 of 20 May 2025, the reason both questions have not been sufficiently answered; and when a full response will be made to both. [32519/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I can advise the Deputy, that concerning Parliamentary Question no. 677 of 20 May 2025, which requested:

“…. the number of persons, and of what nationality, have been deported in the past six years as a result of an alert on Sharing Information System SIS II, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”

My Department sought and received clarification from the Deputy regarding this Parliamentary Question that the question was referring to the number of persons who had been refused leave to land at the border as the result of an alert on the Schengen Information System (SIS II).

As outlined in the response to the Deputy, the SIS II system facilitates the exchange of information between national border control authorities, customs and police authorities on persons who may have been involved in a serious crime. It also contains alerts on missing persons, in particular children, as well as information on certain property, such as banknotes, cars, vans, firearms and identity documents that may have been stolen, misappropriated or lost. Therefore, the fact of a person being subject to an alert on SIS II alert does not as a matter of course in each instance result in that person being refused leave to land. Where a person has been identified as being the subject of an alert at the border this fact is immediately transmitted to An Garda Síochána who will have operational responsibility for determining the appropriate next steps.

When a non-EEA national presents at a border control, an Immigration Officer must determine whether that person should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State or be refused leave to land. Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act 2004 sets out the full range of grounds on which a person may be refused. In performing their duties, an Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances of the individual at the time of entry; this will include if the person has an alert on the SIS II and any relevant information contained on this alert. However, a person being subject to an alert on the SIS II is not in itself a ground for refusal under Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004. It is not possible to identify the number of refusals where an alert on SIS II would inform an immigration officers decision to refuse a person entry into the State.

The Deputy also references Parliamentary Question no. 679 of 20 May 2025, which requested:

“…. the number of times the Government has been consulted by other national authorities before granting or extending a residence permit or long-stay visa for a non-EU national refused the right of entry into or stay in another Member State, or before or after entering an alert for refusal of entry and stay on a non-EU national who is the holder of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa granted by another Member State, broken down by number and nationality, in the past six years.”

My Department also sought clarification from the Deputy on whether he was referring to the Eurodac system. The clarification received from the Deputy stated that the question was also related to SIS II. As outlined in the response to the Deputy, the information requested regarding the number of times that a SIS II alert has led to a person being refused an immigration permission in another country is not available to my Department.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (633)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

633. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí working in the bureau full-time; the number of applications to the bureau in each of the past five years; the number of cases taken on and dealt with by the bureau; and the rate of convictions by the bureau in the same years. [32545/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Visa Agreements

Questions (634)

Duncan Smith

Question:

634. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is a limit on the number of Palestinian citizens that are minors allowed to enter the State on a short stay visa in a calendar year; the regulations underpinning the limitation of Palestinian minors entering the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32557/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I can confirm to the Deputy that there is no limit on the number of Irish visas issued to any nationality, regardless of the age of the applicant.

Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Each visa application, regardless of the person's nationality, is decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.

Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete. The documents normally required in support of an application for a Short Stay Visa are set out on my Department website at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/.It is important to note that when minors are seeking to travel to Ireland, the key consideration for officials is the welfare of the child concerned. My Department is committed to the highest standards in child safeguarding. Visa Officers may seek additional information to ensure that children are travelling in the company of their parents or an appropriate guardian. My Department publishes advice on travelling with children and the documents which may be requested by immigration officer at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/at-the-border/travelling-with-children/.

If a Palestinian national wishes to enter Ireland for up to 90 days they must apply for a Type C Short Stay Visa. Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.

Departmental Data

Questions (635)

Gary Gannon

Question:

635. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he expects the State purchase of a hotel (details supplied) in Dublin for the purpose of IPAS accommodation; the extent or proportion of the property being purchased; the plans for further expansion of IPAS accommodation on the site; the expected capacity of the facility once this expansion work has been completed; if the leisure centre will be closed or whether it will be open to the public; the plans proposed to provide sufficient social and economic infrastructure to the local community in light of these developments; the plans proposed to foster integration of international protection applicants into the local community; if further tranches will be made available from the community recognition fund to the local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32573/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The Cabinet has today provided approval for the State purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for international protection accommodation.

The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection by moving away from commercial properties to State-owned centres.

State-owned centres are part of the Government’s long-term plan to reduce the reliance on private accommodation providers in communities resulting in better value for money of public funds and a more efficient international protection system.

The purchase of Citywest makes prudent financial sense for the State, compared to the current costs of leasing the site. The purchase represents a payback period to the State of approximately 4 years, and over 25 years, the purchase and operating cost model offer savings of more than €1billion, while delivering a permanent State asset.

The State has been leasing the site since 2020, first as part of the COVID-19 response and subsequently since 2022 as a transit hub and accommodation centre for Ukrainian citizens and people seeking international protection.

There are no immediate plans to increase capacity at the site as part of the purchase. The Department is also in ongoing discussions to ensure the leisure centre on the site remains open to the public following the purchase. The leisure centre has approximately 3,000 members and is a valuable amenity for the local community.

Following the purchase, the Department will initiate a transition plan with the current service provider for a period of 12 months to ensure there is no disruption to the accommodation services at the site.

The service provider will continue to oversee the management and provision of services including catering, cleaning, maintenance and security, resident check in, operational support, finance and other services.

The purchase of this site comes with a strong commitment to engagement with the local community and the Department's Community Engagement team will now begin working closely with local community leaders, community groups and stakeholders.

Anti-Racism Measures

Questions (636, 637, 646)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

636. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration with respect to his responsibility for anti-racism policy, if Ireland will implement policy similar to that which exists in Germany, where legitimate and peaceful civil society groups have been placed under police observation on the grounds that under the IHRA definition of antisemitism their political opinions are considered antisemitic (details supplied); and how he will protect the rights of individuals and groups that call for a boycott of Israel or who hold anti-Zionist views. [32577/25]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

637. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to disallowed Parliamentary Question Ref. No. 1170 of 10 June 2025, if he will be providing or commissioning any advice to staff and agencies under his remit concerning any legal risks involved in applying a non-statutory definition of discrimination in decision-making processes for the purposes of distinguishing between candidates for jobs or determining funding for research, cultural or other projects. [32578/25]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

646. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason responsibility for anti-racist policy transferred to his remit alongside migration when anti-racism concerns ethnic minority citizens as much as it does migrants. [32770/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 636, 637 and 646 together.

The Anti-racism Policy and Funds Administration Unit formed part of the International Protection and Integration Division within the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) which transferred to my Department with effect from May 1 last in line with the Programme for Government 2025.

A primary focus is monitoring the implementation of Ireland’s National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR). This is a cross-Government programme as the Deputy will appreciate that racism is an issue that necessitates action by Government, public bodies, private bodies, communities and individuals.

The Government’s endorsement of the Global Guidelines for Countering Anti-semitism and the IHRA working definition of anti-semitism supports our wider commitment to addressing discrimination in all its forms, through implementation of the plan. That implementation will progress during 2025 and beyond.

In relation to the Deputy's questions on protection of people across a range of potential circumstances, the rights of individuals and groups in Ireland are protected under the Constitution, and by extensive sectoral legislation and regulation, including equality and employment legislation, among others.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (638)

Joe Cooney

Question:

638. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide a breakdown of the age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet within the Clare-Tipperary division. [32609/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 31 May, the age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet within the Clare-Tipperary division is broken down in the table below:

-	No. of vehicles
< 1 year	11
1-3 years	28
4-5 years	47
6-7 years	21
8-9 years	19
10+ years	7
Total	133

An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown. I note the monthly Fleet reports are currently available from 2020 to May 2025. This is publicly available on their website at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (639)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

639. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the costs incurred by his Department and bodies under its aegis from contracts awarded to communications and PR firms in 2024; the name of the contractor and a description of the work undertaken in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32644/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules and my Department ensures that appropriate procedures are followed for all procurement activity. Departments are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contracts awarded represent best value for money.

Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. Procurement is also subject to examination by internal audit. To ensure adherence to these public procurement rules, my Department routinely uses the national public procurement frameworks from the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) for all goods and services, where these are available.

My Department has not incurred any costs relating to communications or PR firms in the period referred to. Services in relation to communications and related matters are provided by civil servants in the Department.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to costs incurred by bodies under the aegis of the Department is provided in the table below:

Agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department:

Body/Agency	Supplier	Description	Expenditure in 2024 (€ Inc VAT)
An Garda Síochána	The Communications Clinic	Media Skills Training Garda Press Office	12,139
Courts Service	Curran Communications	Media relations service	144,000
Data Protection Commission	Sodali	Strategic Public Relations Services	29,520
Fiosrú	Lucky Beard Ltd	Corporate identity development. Public information/awareness campaign	128,147
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland	MKC Communications	Advised and assisted on the development and implementation of the GRAI Communications Strategy	131,041
Irish Film Classification Office	DHR Communications	Support for general communications and public relations activities	36,670
International Protection Appeals Tribunal	Alice PR	Provision of event planning and management services for the European Chapter Conference of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) held on 9th -10th September 2024 in Dublin.	19,710
The Judicial Council	The Communications Clinic	Stakeholder communications and press releases	2,337
Legal Aid Board	Carr Communication	Presentation skills training	550
Legal Services Regulatory Authority	Gibney Communications	Communications coaching	2,435
Parole Board	DHR Communications	Event management planning for the inaugural Parole Board conference	13,791
Parole Board	Montague Communications	Providing support to the Parole Board	1,107
Policing and Community Safety Authority	DHR Communication	Communications Services (Authority members Media Training)	10,609
Policing and Community Safety Authority	Alice PR	Public Relations (Communications Support, October / November) - PCSA Launch	6,883
Policing and Community Safety Authority	Drury Communications	Communications Services (Authority members Media Training)	1,015
Policing and Community Safety Authority	Barrett Business Communications	PCSA Website Services	2,200
Policing and Community Safety Authority	Carr Communications	Staff training course (Planning & organising)	300

I am informed that no other agency or body under the aegis of the Department incurred costs from contracts awarded to communications and PR firms in 2024.

Visa Applications

Questions (640)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

640. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he will increase staffing at visa offices so that those who have submitted applications for critical skills visas and join family visas can see them processed on reasonable timelines. [32676/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.

I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. In recent months, additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division which I expect will reduce the waiting times for all applications.

I can advise the Deputy, that people who apply for an employment visas, including holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP), can expect a decision within eight weeks from the date their application is received by the Visa Office or embassy.

The current processing times of applications for visas of CSEP holders and their family members varies depending on the circumstances when the application is made. If a non-EEA national is moving to Ireland because they have been granted a CSEP, they can apply for join family visas at the same time as their own employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and are typically completed in under eight weeks.

My Department aims to process join family visa applications for family members of CSEP holders which are not made at the same time as the CSEP holder’s employment visa application within 12 months.

I can advise the Deputy that majority of join family visas receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target. In 2024 the average processing time for join family applications for family members of non-EEA citizens was 67 days. In 2025 to 31 May, the average processing time for a Join Family visa sponsored application was 86 days. This figure includes join family visa applications sponsored by CSEP holders and other non-EEA nationals.

Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.

In 2024, approximately 201,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to 2023, with over 35,000 additional applications received. These increases have continued, in the first five months of 2025, my Department's Visa Division received approximately 88,400 visa applications and has issued over 76,900 decisions. This reflects an increase in applications of 14%, compared to the same period in 2024, with over 10,700 additional applications received. My officials are working to meet the increased level of demand, and over 5,400 additional visa decisions have issued in the first five months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

Departmental Data

Questions (641)

Aisling Dempsey

Question:

641. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the properties that are under construction or contract to provide IPAS accommodation in Meath west. [32694/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to international protection applicants is a requirement of Irish and EU law.

The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, about 9,500 of whom are children. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides this accommodation in over 320 centres around the country.

The Department does not collate information on existing IPAS centres categorised by Dáil constituency. Detailed information on IPAS accommodation, resident numbers and other information is published regularly, categorised by county, on the Gov.ie website.

In terms of IPAS accommodation in Co. Meath, as of May 18th 2025, there were 985 people resident in IPAS accommodation in Co. Meath. Residents are accommodated at 9 IPAS Accommodation Centres in the county.

In terms of the Deputy's question on construction, there is no State-owned site being built or developed for international protection accommodation in Co. Meath at this time.

Citizenship Ceremonies

Questions (642)

Aisling Dempsey

Question:

642. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the invitations to the next citizenship ceremony will be issued. [32695/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the next Citizenship Ceremonies are taking place on 23 and 24 June at the INEC Killarney, and invitations to successful applicants have already issued.

• Written Answers Nos. 603-622
• Written Answers Nos. 643-662