Written Answers Nos. 602-622
602. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming and general cosmetic expenses, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [36999/25]
View answer603. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s expenditure on beauticians, make-up artists or hairdressing professionals, stylists or personal shoppers, specifying if such expenditure was on a contract or retainer fee basis, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [37018/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.
I can inform the Deputy that a search of my Department's records revealed no expenditure on such matters.
604. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training, for example, Minister, Secretary General, principal officer and so on. [37053/25]
View answer605. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37071/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 605 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.
606. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current immigration status of a person (details supplied); when their application for the spouse of Irish national visa will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37077/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) application from the person referred to continues to be processed by my Department.
To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.
Applicants 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:portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@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. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
607. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Belarussian citizens currently resident in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37114/25]
View answer610. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the requirements for a Belarussian citizen travelling to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37117/25]
View answer611. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of visas issued to Belarusian citizens in each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37118/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 607, 610 and 611 together.
I can advise the Deputy that Belarusian nationals are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State.
Any visa required national that wishes to enter the State, and remain, for up to 90 days must have a Type C Short Stay Visa. A visa required national that wishes to reside in the State for longer than 90 days must have a Type D Long Stay Visa.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
Belarusian nationals are subject to the same requirements as any other visa-required national. The requirements and supporting documentation required in support of a visa application depend on the visa type. These details are available on my Departments website which is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/
The table below details the number of Type C and Type D visa granted to Belarusian nationals from 2020 to 2024 and to 30 June 2025.
Table 1. Type C and Type D Visas granted to Belarusian nationals from 2020 to 2025
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (to 30/06/2025) |
|
Type C Granted |
220 |
109 |
383 |
448 |
603 |
327 |
|
Type D Granted |
41 |
65 |
138 |
86 |
36 |
20 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Any non-EU/EEA nationals who wish to remain for longer than 90 days must register and apply for further permission to remain before their initial permission to remain expires. Full details of the Registration process can be found at the link below: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/
I can advise the Deputy that 304 Belarusian nationals registered a permission to remain in 2024. This number reflects those obliged to register / renew in a calendar year. However, there may be Belarusian nationals in the State with multi-annual permissions, who were not obliged to renew a permission to remain in the 2024 calendar year.
608. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are any Belarussian citizens currently seeking international protection in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37115/25]
View answer609. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Belarussian citizens granted international protection in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37116/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together.
It is a central priority for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration that our immigration laws are robust and enforced.
It is a priority for my Department 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.
The number of International Protection applications have 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 have been 43% less applications in the first six months of 2025 compared to the first six months of 2024. We know that patterns in international protection applications vary over time and that is why it is important that the Government’s response adapts accordingly. It is my belief that implementing a firmer and more efficient migration system is a key element in reducing the numbers coming to Ireland to seek international protection, particularly where individuals are unlikely to be entitled to that protection.
There are currently 17 Belarussian applications for International Protection awaiting a final decision.
Since 2020 to 7 July 2025, 29 Belarussians have been granted a permission under the International Protection Act (Refugee Status, Subsidiary Protection or Permission to Remain). The deputy should note that there isn’t necessarily a direct correlation between the year the application was made and the year the decision issued: for example, decisions issued in 2020 might relate to applications made in earlier years.
612. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the calls from some of the families who lost loved ones in the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998 for an independent public inquiry into bombing in the State; to include in his views the Government’s plan to cooperate with the existing Omagh Bombing Inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37119/25]
View answerThe single worst atrocity of the Troubles occurred in Omagh on 15 August 1998. The bombing was an unspeakable and brutal act of cruelty carried out by terrorists with no sense of humanity or respect for human life. We will never forget those who lost their lives, those who were injured and the families whose suffering for their loved ones continues.
The Omagh Bombing Inquiry was established by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State in March 2024 to investigate whether the bombing could have been prevented by the UK authorities. The work of the Inquiry is continuing. It concluded its commemorative and personal statements in February and last month the Inquiry sat to hear opening statements on behalf of the Core Participants to the Inquiry. Evidential hearings are expected to commence next March.
From the outset the Government has made clear its intention to do everything possible to assist the Inquiry. That is in the best interests of victims and their families and is reflected in the formal decision by the Government in July 2024.
In April this year I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, Lord Alan Turnbull, on matters relating to the disclosure of materials to the Inquiry. This is a truly important step towards delivering on the commitment in the Programme for Government to “play our full part in legacy processes, including facilitating and supporting the Omagh Inquiry.”
This is a complex area given that it involves assisting an inquiry in another jurisdiction. However, the signing of the MOU shows that it is possible to navigate these complexities and move forward. The MOU provides transparency in relation to the how the Government will fulfil its commitment and provides a clear framework to guide Departments and their agencies who may hold material potentially relevant to the work of the Inquiry.
There is ongoing engagement between my Department and the Inquiry to support the operation of the MOU. The central point of contact established in my Department is supporting the handling of requests for the disclosure of relevant materials to the Inquiry and facilitating engagement with nominated representatives of key state authorities, including An Garda Síochána, who may have relevant records, to ensure timely and effective management of all request for assistance received.
Along with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, I am committed to assisting the Inquiry to the greatest extent possible consistent with our laws and the rights of individuals. Should it be necessary to bring forward legislation to support this assistance to the Inquiry, the Government has made clear that this will be done.
With regards to the question of the establishment of a public inquiry in this jurisdiction, I am satisfied that the best approach is for the Government to assist to the greatest extent possible the UK Omagh Inquiry with a view to it being able to provide the answers to the questions that have been raised in relation to the bombing by the families of the victims and others.
A separate parallel inquiry in this jurisdiction is not considered to be warranted. The need for any further action to be taken here in the course of or following the conclusion of the UK Inquiry, will be kept under review.
613. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current situation around infrastructure to combat domestic violence in the State, including by providing the current number of emergency refuge spaces for victims of domestic violence; the shortfall between this level and the level that would allow Ireland to meet its obligations under the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37156/25]
View answerTackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice.
The Zero Tolerance Strategy to address DSGBV is ambitious and is structured around the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination.
One of the overarching goals of this Strategy is ensuring that everyone who needs a safe space can access one.
Cuan, the DSGBV agency, has been operational since January 2024, and is responsible for coordinating all Government actions set out in the Zero Tolerance strategy.
It works in partnership with the local front-line service providers, local authorities, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency and has streamlined processes in order to accelerate the delivery of domestic violence refuges.
I would like to assure the Deputy that we continue to review and drive progress on the development of refuge accommodation.
As the Deputy's question relates to infrastructure to combat domestic violence and the current number of emergency safe spaces, as well as additional data under the remit of Cuan, I have referred it to the agency for direct response.
614. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to estimate the capital cost of meeting Ireland’s obligations on refuge space as agreed under the Istanbul Convention (i.e., through building refuges) and the additional annual current spending necessary to operationalise the additional spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37157/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice.
The Zero Tolerance Strategy to address DSGBV is ambitious and is structured around the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination. One of the overarching goals of this Strategy is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space can access one.
Cuan, the DSGBV agency, has been operational since January 2024, and is responsible for coordinating all Government actions set out in the Zero Tolerance strategy.
Cuan works in partnership with the local front-line service providers, local authorities, the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and the Housing Agency and has streamlined processes in order to accelerate the delivery of domestic violence refuges.
I am advised that the capital costs of constructing domestic violence refuges are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS).
To be of assistance, I contacted that Department. They have advised that the current average capital cost of providing one family refuge unit of domestic violence refuge accommodation and ancillary facilities in a purpose built domestic violence refuge, is €583,000.
It should be noted that one 12 unit refuge, in Wexford, has been completed and a final account budget agreed. A further 92 units across 7 priority areas are at various stages of the pre-construction or construction process and current approved budgets have been used to calculate this average figure.
As part of the Deputy's question relates to the cost of running a refuge, which falls within the remit of Cuan, I have referred this aspect of the question to the agency for direct response.
615. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which a victim access the victims support unit through probation services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37147/25]
View answer616. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which a victim engages with restorative justice, and who are the State providers of an easy accessed and supportive service to traumatised victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37148/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 615 and 616 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, restorative justice is a criminal justice process which has been shown, through mediation, to help victims recover from crime, reduce re-offending and save public resources. It is one of a suite of measures available to the criminal justice system.
It is delivered by the Probation Service both pre- and post-sentence; by An Garda Síochána within the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, and by Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) that receive referrals at specific points in the criminal justice process.
Restorative justice processes are available to victims of crime in this country in accordance with s.26 of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017. The Probation Service Restorative Justice and Victims Services Unit (RJVSU), was established in 2018 to provide support and training to Probation teams across the country. It is the single point of contact for all victims who contact the Probation Service. This service provides support and information to victims upon request. If further assistance is needed/requested, the unit will refer the person on to the appropriate service.
Best practice dictates that all restorative justice processes are victim-led; it is up to the victim whether they wish to proceed with a restorative justice process. To be part of a restorative justice process an offender must acknowledge the basic facts of the offence committed and give their consent.
The Probation Service have assured me that restorative justice processes will only proceed where it is deemed safe to do so. This decision is informed by the application of relevant risk assessments. It is also important to emphasise that all parties have the right to withdraw their permission and consent to participate in the process at any stage.
The Probation Service's Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit welcome contact via the following: by phone at 01-817 3600 and by email at: restorative@probation.ie or vsu@probation.ie. This Unit is a national resource within the Probation Service. It is dedicated to handling inquiries and requests related to restorative justice and victim services.
In Budget 2025, the Probation Service received an additional €4 million, bringing the total budget to over €60m. Probation Service staffing and operational costs, an expansion of crime diversion programmes, further support for step down facilities and community-based alternatives to imprisonment, including restorative justice, are all funded.
The Probation Service recently published a three-year Action Plan 2025-27, ‘Restoring Relationships: Repairing Harm and Empowering Voice through Restorative Justice’. This sets out an objective to increase Restorative Justice referrals and interventions by 10% each year of the Action Plan.
Supporting all victims of crime is a priority for me as Minister for Justice.
In 2025, €3.9 million was allocated to support the work of organisations that help victims of crime. This investment reflects the ongoing commitment by Government to ensuring that victims receive the help they need - not only at the point of reporting a crime, but at every stage of the criminal justice process. This funding enables the provision of services supporting victims at different stages of the criminal justice system, and includes the provision of emotional and practical support, information and advice on the rights of victims; court accompaniment services; specialised counselling services; helplines and accompaniment to Garda interviews for those who have experienced such traumatic incidents.
Additionally, the 'Victims of Crime – Know Your Rights' campaign was launched in April of 2023. The campaign directs people to the VictimsCharter.ie website, which sets out victim's rights in an easily accessible manner and helps victims of crime to locate services and supports offered by the State as well as voluntary groups who work with victims of crime.
617. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average waiting time for approval of long-stay (D) student visa applications from India, Nigeria, Brazil and China, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37205/25]
View answerI 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 can advise the Deputy that Brazilian nationals are not visa required for Ireland. Indian, Nigerian and Chinese nationals are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State. The vast majority of long term type D student visa applications made by Indian, Nigerian and Chinese nationals are processed by the overseas Visa Offices in New Delhi, Abuja and Beijing. Table 1 below details the target processing times for long term study visa applications submitted to these offices.
Table 1. Processing times for visa applications in the requested overseas Visa Offices
|
Visa Category |
Abuja (1) |
Beijing |
New Delhi |
|
Study |
28 April 2025 |
40 days |
40 days |
(1) The date published on the website of the Abuja Visa Office is the from which applications being processed have been received in the visa office.
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.
The Overseas Visa Office’s publish any changes to their target processing times on their websites which can be accessed at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions
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.
618. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for employment-based visa applications; if he will provide a breakdown by visa office and region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37206/25]
View answer619. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average length of time taken to process visa appeals, broken down by visa type and region, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37207/25]
View answer620. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for short-stay (C) visa applications, broken down by application centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37208/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 618 to 620, inclusive, together.
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.
Due to the large number of locations in which a visa application may be processed it is not possible to provide an average time per location, by visa and by appeal type as requested by the Deputy. Such an examination would be voluminous in nature, require a significant amount of staff time and resources and could not be warranted.
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. My Department's Visa Division is working to meet the increased level of demand and the number of decisions issued in 2024 increased by 18%.
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. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
The vast majority of visa applications are determined in a matter of weeks. However, some applications, in particular those to join family members here, can take considerably longer. Processing times and decisions at my Department’s Dublin Office and the seven overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions
Table 1 below details the target processing times for short stay visa applications and long stay employment visa applications submitted to the overseas Visa Offices. Please note that processing times for the Moscow office are not available.
Table 1. Target processing times for visa applications in the Overseas Visa Offices
|
Visa Category |
Abuja (1) |
Ankara |
Beijing |
New Delhi |
Abu Dhabi |
London |
|
Short Stay Visit |
16 April 2025 |
4 weeks |
8 weeks |
3 weeks |
8 weeks (family/friends)
12 weeks (tourist) |
6 weeks |
|
Short Stay Business / Conference etc. |
14 April 2025 |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
12 working days |
4 weeks |
3 weeks |
|
Long Stay Employment |
21 April 2025 |
4 weeks |
6 weeks |
4 weeks (Category A) 12 weeks (Category B) |
4 to 8 weeks |
6 weeks |
(1) The date published on the website of the Abuja Visa Office is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category.
Table 2 below details the target processing times for appeals submitted to the overseas Visa Offices. Please note that processing times for the Moscow and Abu Dhabi office are not available. Processing times for appeals across all categories in the Beijing Office is approximately 4 months.
Table 2 Target processing times for visa appeals in the Overseas Visa Offices
|
Visa Category |
Abuja (1) |
Ankara |
New Delhi |
London |
|
Short Stay Visa Appeals (Type C) |
24 March 2025 |
2 to 3 months |
3 months |
3 Months |
|
Long Stay Visa Appeals (Type D) – e.g. Study, Employment |
24 March 2025 |
6 Months |
3 months (Study) 6 months (Employment) |
3 Months |
|
Long Stay Visa Appeals (Type D) - Join Family |
Not Available |
6 to 12 Months |
12 months |
6 Months |
(1). The date published on the website of the Abuja Visa Office is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category.
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/
Table 3 below sets out the dates that applications for short stay visa applications, long stay employment visa applications and visa appeals received are currently being processed by the Dublin Visa Office.
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 the Deputy that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.
Table 3. Processing Time for visas and appeals in the Dublin Visa Office
|
Visa Category |
Processing Time |
|
Visit |
18 September 2024 |
|
Business / Conference etc. |
24 February 2025 |
|
Employment |
27 February 2025 |
|
Short Stay Visa Appeals (Type C) |
11 December 2023 – Visit 24 March 2025 - Business |
|
Long Stay Visa Appeals (Type D) – e.g. Study, Employment |
27 May 2025 2025 – study 31 July 2024 - employment |
|
Long Stay Visa Appeals (Type D) - Join Family |
24 April 2024 – Cat B 01 March 2023 – Cat A |
My Department is committed to providing the best possible service to applicants. To provide greater clarity, officials in my Department are currently in the process of updating the Immigration Service website for processing times for decisions on visa applications by the Dublin visa office.
It should be noted that 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.
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.
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.
621. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the practical application envisioned by his Department for the recently adopted IHRA working definition of antisemitism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37215/25]
View answerResponsibility for anti-racism policy 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), and this includes work to tackle anti-semitism.
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 be progressed during 2025 and beyond.
Officials in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, will consider the application of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in consultation with representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland and with other relevant departments, including the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
622. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount the State has paid to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the nature of the contract the State has with the organisation; if the State is leasing buildings from the organisation; if these are homes subject to a section-5 referral; if the organisation is purchasing homes to provide to the Government in these contracts; and who these homes are accommodating. [37220/25]
View answerThis organisation is a provider of IPAS accommodation centres, accommodating people who have applied for international protection.
Properties from this provider were submitted under a 2022 Request For Tender (RFT) process to provide accommodation for international protection applicants. More information on the process can be found here; (irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders/ViewNotice/267275). They are designated as IPAS accommodation centres and are contracted to the State for a defined period of time, as opposed to being leased.
Detailed contractual arrangements for International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres are confidential and commercially sensitive. However, quarterly reports on all payments over €20,000 are published online and are available on gov.ie here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/collections/department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth-purchase-orders-for-20000-or-above/
The Section 5 process refers to an application to the Local Authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000 to change of use of that property for a new purpose, including as accommodation for international protection applicants. Such a change is considered exempt development under Regulation 20F of that Act.
It is current practice for this Department to require new offers of accommodation to demonstrate a grant of a Section 5 application by the Local Authority. They will also be requested at contract renewal stage. While documentation of this declaration was not an appraisal requirement for properties in 2022, the appropriate planning exemption still applies.
The Department does not have any information on properties being purchased by this organisation.
