Written Answers Nos. 561-580
561. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views in relation to the length of time it takes to process holiday/visit visas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35474/25]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa, bringing our arrangements into alignment with the visa requirements of Schengen members states, and with those of the UK.
The Dublin Visa Office have established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. My Department also established Visa Application Centres, located throughout South Africa, with visa service provider VFS Global. This is to ensure the facilitation of legitimate travel with processes that are robust, effective, and fair.
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.
Since July 2024 to date, over 11,700 applications of all types have been received by the South African Desk and over 7,900 decisions have issued with an overall 89% grant rate.
The South Africa Desk publishes guidance for applicants, target processing times and weekly decision reports, at the following webpage:
www.irishimmigration.ie/south-africa-visa-desk/
The current target processing times for visa applications submitted to the South Africa Visa Desk are 10 to 12 weeks for applications to visit family/friend and approximately 14 weeks for tourist applications. I can assure the Deputy that efforts are being made to improve the current processing times.
If an application has significantly exceeded the above times, it is possible that, on initial assessment, the application has not met the criteria to be issued a visa, and further assessment/verification is required. In such instances, processing times will be longer than those stated above.
I understand extended wait times can be frustrating. I want to assure anyone who is waiting on a decision that my Department is doing everything possible to progress 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.
People are advised that unforeseen delays can arise, which are outside the control of the Visa Desk. 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.
Any person can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
562. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to list all the public services contracts worth €10 million or more, which have been granted by himself or the forerunner for his Department, or other State bodies in the past five years; the value of each contract; the length of term of each; the expiration date of each contract; and whether any contract was discontinued during its term and for what reason. [35489/25]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information in the time available. I will write to the Deputy when the information is available.
563. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has explored average sentence length and the impact living in an area of deprivation has on these for similar crimes. [35517/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the separation of powers is enshrined in the Constitution to ensure judges are independent of Government. The courts are subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge.
In accordance with the principle of judicial independence, the court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime, but to the individual offender, identifying where on the sentencing range the particular case should lie and then applying any mitigating factors which may be present.
To promote judicial independence as well as to ensure public confidence in the administration of justice, the Judicial Council was created in 2019 pursuant to the Judicial Council Act, 2019. The Council is an independent body whose members are all judges in Ireland.
The Judicial Council Act 2019 also provided for the establishment of the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council.
The Committee was established in 2020, and its functions include the preparation of draft sentencing guidelines and the monitoring of the operation of those guidelines, together with the collation of information on sentences imposed by the courts and the dissemination of that information to judges and others.
In 2023, the Judicial Council Sentencing Committee published its Guideline Development Procedure, which can be accessed on the Council's website. This document, informed by the legislative framework and best practice in other jurisdictions, sets out the procedure that the Committee will follow in developing sentencing guidelines.
The Department is advised that the Committee intends to produce guidelines for specific offences and classes of offences, as is contemplated by section 91(1) of the Judicial Council Act. The areas of domestic violence/violence in the context of a relationship and fatal driving offences have been prioritised.
On 16 May 2025, the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee’s report on sentencing in relation to offences captured by section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 was published. The report was reviewed by the Board of the Judicial Council and has been published by way of information and assistance for sentencing judges.
564. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the retail crime strategy; the timeline for its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35524/25]
View answerI want to assure the Deputy that this Government takes the issue of retail crime extremely seriously. I am acutely aware of the very real impact that this type of offending has on business owners, staff, and customers across the country.
Retail crime is not a victimless offence. It undermines livelihoods, affects community confidence, and in many cases causes serious personal trauma to frontline workers.
In response to growing concern, my Department is currently progressing work to develop a Retail Crime Strategy. An evidence-based framework to tackling the complex and evolving nature of retail crime will be considered, including enforcement operations, preventative measures and supports for retail workers.
The development of this strategy will require collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána and representatives of the retail sector. I have already engaged with the retail sector, most notably at the Retail Forum which I co-chaired with the Minister of State for Small Business and Retail & Circular Economy on 7 May. Retail crime prevention was the central focus of this meeting and my officials continue to engage with the Forum in relation to this matter.
The strategy will also align with operational measures already underway, including Operation Táirge, launched in December 2023 by An Garda Síochána to target organised retail crime. The scale of enforcement under Operation Táirge is significant: across 2024, over 8,000 arrests and more than 20,000 charges or summonses have been recorded. This sends a clear message that retail crime will be met with a robust and coordinated response. My Department is working to develop the strategy over the course of this year.
565. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timelines for the processing of a peace commissioner applications for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35529/25]
View answerPeace Commissioners are appointed by me, in my capacity as the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in accordance with section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister. The fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner, other factors, such as the need for appointments in particular areas at a specific point in time, are taken into account.
While it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases, I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department expects to be in direct contact with the individual concerned regarding their Peace Commissioner application in the near future.
566. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when persons (details supplied) can expect a decision on their short-stay holiday visa appeal. [35560/25]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the visa applications referred to have been refused. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 05 March 2024.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the Immigration Service website. People that carefully follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order. A decision will be issued to the applicant as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.The people concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. 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.
567. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the court building in Carndonagh, which has been closed for renovation; if it is intended to be reopened as a court venue; if not, if consideration will be given to making the building available for alternative community use; if arrangements can be made to ensure that people are no longer summonsed to Carndonagh when hearings must take place in Buncrana. [35605/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts and operational matters, including matters pertaining to court buildings, are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercising of its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.
However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, my officials have made enquiries with the Courts Service and the following sets out the position in relation to the courthouse in Carndonagh.
I am informed by Courts Service that it is currently exploring all options regarding the future use of the courthouse in Carndonagh. While no decision has yet been made on reinstating the property as an active court venue, the Courts Service has been approached by a local community group expressing interest in engaging in discussions about the potential use of the building.
These discussions aim to identify a mutually beneficial arrangement that would support both community needs and the continued presence of court services in the area. This may include consideration of a rental or lease agreement, potentially involving the development or shared use of the facility.
It is important to note that any such discussions would require the involvement of the local authority before a final decision can be made regarding the future of the courthouse.
In relation to summonses, the process of transferring sittings from Carndonagh Courthouse to Buncrana Courthouse involved changes to the Courts Service Criminal Case Tracking System to ensure that all summonses appropriate to Carndonagh Court sittings reflected the fact that from the date the initial change was to occur, people were summonsed to the correct court venue. In addition to changing our systems, the Courts Service engaged in significant communications with all court users to ensure the change of venue was communicated appropriately.
I am also informed by the Courts Service that the Letterkenny Court Office has no record of a person being summonsed to a Court sitting in Carndonagh when that individual should have been summonsed to Buncrana. It is open to the Deputy to contact the Courts Service directly with regards to a specific case for their investigation. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the House of the Oireachtas; at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
568. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding an eviction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35613/25]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has been in touch with my Department and will resubmit the correspondence she references. Once this correspondence is received and considered by officials in my Department I will engage with the Deputy on the matters she wishes to raise.
570. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of retirements, per county, and by rank, in An Garda Síochána between 2020 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [35697/25]
View answerI 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.
571. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will share the details of the correspondence his Department received from the OPW regarding asbestos in Garda stations in 2017. [35698/25]
View answerAs I mentioned to the Deputy in my response to him on 24 June, with reference to the report on asbestos from 2016, I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that the OPW re-surveyed the 12 Garda Stations in early 2017 and was satisfied that works to remove asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were not necessary at that time. In all 12 cases there were either no ACMs detected, they had already been removed, or they were given a status of “manage in situ”, to be removed if works were planned that would disturb the ACMs.
As the Deputy will be aware, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by An Garda Síochána and the Office of Public Works (OPW).
572. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a review will be conducted into the IPAS centre (details supplied). [35699/25]
View answerWhile the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment publicly on individual cases, I assure the Deputy that IPAS officials are aware of the specific case and the identified needs, and are giving this matter attention.
By way of context, I also wish to reassure the Deputy that IPAS has a number of protocols and procedures in place for considering applications for transfer and to resolve queries or complaints from residents. Please note that transfers are dependent on accommodation availability.
Accommodation provided by IPAS is subject to inspection and oversight, and centres are contractually obligated to be maintained to national standards, with independent inspection and quality control through either the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) or through IPAS-commissioned inspections.
The customer services team conduct clinics at IPAS accommodation centres and individual residents may raise a query or complaint directly with IPAS at any time, and may seek support from external advocates as needed.
All international protection applicants also have access to the services of the Ombudsman and Office of the Ombudsman for Children, should they consider that their complaint has not been managed appropriately.
573. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine the case of a person (details supplied) and provide an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35712/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the issues raised in the correspondence are being dealt with and officials from Immigration Service Delivery of my Department have engaged directly with the person concerned.
574. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if emergency visa applications for persons (details supplied) will be expedited given the current situation in their home country of Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35744/25]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 20 February 2024. The application and supporting documentation was received in the Tehran Embassy on 06 March 2024. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 02 April 2024 where it awaits examination and processing.
My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
While I acknowledge the personal difficulties an applicant might be experiencing, it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All 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 possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The date published on the website 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 result in the published processing date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.
I am acutely aware that join family applications are very important for the persons impacted. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides.
To provide greater clarity, officials in my Department are currently in the process of updating the Immigration Service website to provide processing times for decisions on visa applications at the Dublin visa office.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. 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.
576. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position in relation to obtaining citizenship by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35751/25]
View answerWhile the Temporary Protection Directive was extended until March 2026, political agreement was reached at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 12-13 June to extend it to by a further year until March 2027. This will provide certainty for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides during this time. BoTPs hold temporary permission to remain in Ireland, which is renewable on an annual basis, as long as the Directive remains in force.
The Commission has also published a proposal for a Council Recommendation on the transition out of temporary protection. Both the extension and the proposal, which were the subject of a memo for information to cabinet, are subject to negotiation and agreement by Member States. I cannot pre-empt the outcome of future discussions and decisions of the EU in this regard.
577. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s overall approach towards accommodation contracts relating to the International Protection Accommodation Service and beneficiaries of temporary protection in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35755/25]
View answerSince 2022, against the backdrop of war in Ukraine, increased need, and the acute shortages of accommodation, it has not been possible for the State to apply specific policies in relation to distribution of accommodation centres, including a geographic or county-by-county based dispersal plan.
In relation to the State's Ukraine response, the level of need for accommodation among people fleeing this war has reduced and is expected to continue to do so. Properties are being returned to their former use, for example in tourism, hospitality and education, and to private use.
As a result, the Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its Ukraine accommodation portfolio to ensure greater compliance with standards and better value for money.
Data from Fáilte Ireland show that in 2024, over 12,000 beds were returned from use by my Department's Ukraine response to tourism. These were among 15,000 beds returned to private use in the period.
This should allow growth of the tourism sector in the areas concerned, with an acknowledgment of the contribution made by these areas and providers to support the historic humanitarian and State response to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
As of 26 June 2025, there are four State provided accommodation centres in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare providing accommodation to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, including children. One of them, the Hydro Hotel, is being returned back to the tourism sector on 4 July 2025.
The Department is not presently contracting additional Ukraine accommodation from new or existing providers. This situation will be kept under review.
In relation to the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), the number of people applying for international protection has increased significantly in this same period. IPAS was accommodating approximately 7,000 people at the end of 2021, and at the end of 2024, the resident total had grown to over 32,000 people.
At the moment, there are approximately 140 people who have applied for international protection resident in the Lisdoonvarna area.
As we respond to changing trends, and work toward a more stable and sustainable accommodation system in this sector, accommodation is being developed and delivered through a range of channels, with a focus on developing more State-owned accommodation.
This is progressing, but the use and commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation will be needed in the short to medium term. This accommodation will be contracted on shorter-term basis to allow responsiveness if demand reduces.
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.
578. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding draft legislation regarding the proposed use of facial recognition technology; the timeline for when this Bill will be progressed; if it will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35852/25]
View answer579. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the way in which any concerns related to data protection and civil rights will be addressed in legislation related to facial recognition technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35854/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together.
An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to allow for the use of biometric technologies in certain circumstances as a tool to process evidence in serious cases.
Work is well advanced on the drafting of a Bill to amend the Recording Devices Act to provide for certain retrospective use of biometric technologies, including facial recognition technology (FRT). The General Scheme of the Recording Devices (Amendment) Bill was published in 2023 and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Justice committee in February 2024, during which experts from across this complex area discussed its provisions.
The Bill will provide for the use of FRT, but there will be human intervention by a trained member of Garda personnel. Garda use of this technology will also be subject to codes of practice which will set out the very high standards of data protection and human rights control required. The Codes will also have to be approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas. All of the safeguards which attach to the processing of special category personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018 will have to be observed.
This underscores our commitment to ensuring that use in this jurisdiction will mirror best practice from the wide range of EU Member States which are already utilising this technology and will be in full conformity with overarching EU law in this area.
This Bill will not provide for the use of live FRT at this stage. However, the Programme for Government commits to introduce live FRT in cases of terrorism, national security, and missing persons, with strict safeguards and I intend to bring forward proposals in this regard in due course.
580. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the total number of incidents of misappropriation of funds that have occurred to his knowledge, within companies or by individuals, that provide premises to the international protection accommodation service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35881/25]
View answer581. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that the State has pursued all persons who may have misappropriated funds through the provision of accommodation or premises to the international protection accommodation service, to the full extent of the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35882/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together.
It 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.
