Written Answers Nos. 259-278
259. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications his Department received for the living alone allowance in 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of applications that were refused in each of the years in question; and the average processing times for these applications. [56075/25]
View answerClaim processing figures for the living alone allowance are published in my Department's Annual Statistics Report where they are combined with figures for the increase for those living on a specified island; separate statistics for these allowances are not readily available.
In 2024, there were 19,492 claims registered for Living Alone Allowance and Island Allowance. 2,675 claims were rejected for these schemes in 2024.
These allowances are not distinct schemes in their own right but are additional allowances in addition to an individual's social protection payment. As a result the processing times for these allowances are not available.
260. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase all income thresholds annually in line with increases in the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56100/25]
View answerMeans tests and income thresholds are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. In particular, a number of changes to means testing were introduced which provided for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.
A review of means testing is currently being finalised in the Department. The Department has over 90 schemes and a significant number are means tested schemes, each with their own means test.
The purpose of the review of means testing is to look at the different means tested schemes and to identify any issues in terms of the application of their respective means test. This is complex and detailed work but the review is currently being finalised and will be presented to me shortly.
While the review is being finalised some of the initial findings of the review did inform my thinking in the context of the social welfare Budget package. That is why I once again increased the income disregards for single people to €1,000 per week and couples to €2,000 per week for the Carer’s Allowance.
The income thresholds for the Working Family Payment were also increased by €60. This measure was designed to support the most vulnerable in our society, with a particular focus on tackling child poverty.
261. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to review the guidelines for carer's allowance (that is, needing partial care rather than full care); if his Department plans to undertake a review of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56106/25]
View answerThe key role of the Department of Social Protection is that of providing an income support for people in specific circumstances that limit their ability to earn an income. These include unemployment, illness, disability and caring responsibilities. These payments recognise that people in these situations either cannot work or can only earn a limited income. The supports are designed to help those who have no other financial resources to rely on.
My department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2025 is estimated at over €1.9 billion.
The primary objective of the carer income support payments is to provide an income support to carers whose ability to earn is substantially reduced because of their full-time caring responsibilities and, in so doing, to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
To qualify for these payments, the applicant must provide full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
The full-time care and attention requirement is contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
The minimum hours condition for which a carer can be regarded as providing full-time care and attention is set out in legislation. A carer is regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of seven consecutive days, and care is provided on any five days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of seven consecutive days.
However, to support a carer’s continued connection to the workforce and to support broader social inclusion, carers may engage in employment, education or training for up to 18.5 hours per week, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care and continue to receive their full payment. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
It is worth noting that Carer’s Allowance is payable where a carer shares the caring duties with another person or with an institution, on a week on/week off basis. Each carer will share the Carer’s Allowance payment and the annual Carer’s Support Grant. All the usual qualifying conditions for Carer's Allowance apply to carers availing of these arrangements.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
262. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the client identity services area operates and processes applications relative to the Gender Recognition Act 2015; if the processing by the services includes face-to-face interviews; if the process is conducted entirely online or through a paper application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56257/25]
View answerThe process by which a person may change their gender from male to female or female to male is set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2015 (the Act). The Act provides that a person can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate to have their gender recognised by the State.
The process involves the completion of a paper application, which includes a statutory declaration duly witnessed by a peace commissioner, notary public, commissioner of oaths or solicitor. The completed application together with supporting documentation, to include evidence of the applicant's identity, should be posted to Client Identity Services, Department of Social Protection, Shannon Lodge, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim N41 KD81. An in-person meeting is not required.
When adjudicating an application, an officer determines if the person satisfies the criteria for the issuance of a Gender Recognition Certificate. This criteria includes (regardless of whether the applicant is ordinarily resident in the State or not) if the applicant's birth has been registered in Ireland, or where adopted, if the applicant's adoption has been registered in the Register of Adoptions or Register of Inter- Country Adoptions, or if the applicant's birth has been registered in the Register of Foreign Births; or, if the applicant has been ordinarily resident in the State for the 12 month period prior to making their application. For applicants who are under 18 years, the application must be accompanied by a Court Order exempting the applicant from the age requirement.
Where all required documentation is submitted for consideration, an officer proceeds to either grant or refuse the issuance of a Gender Recognition Certificate. Where an application is refused, the Act makes provision for the applicant to appeal the decision.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
263. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a section 317 review of a person (details supplied); if it will be completed before his illness benefit is stopped in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56291/25]
View answerThe person concerned applied for Invalidity Pension on 1st March 2024. Their application was refused on 7th May 2024, on the grounds that they are not permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
The person concerned submitted an appeal on 21st May 2024. Having considered all of the available evidence, the Appeals Officer found that it had not been established that the medical requirements for Invalidity Pension, as defined in the governing legislation, had been met.
The person concerned submitted a Section 317 request on the 2nd July 2025. The Appeals Officer having considered that review and the new evidence provided, did not find that the original decision was incorrect, and the review was subsequently disallowed on 14th October 2025.
This appeal has now been referred to the Chief Appeals Officer, in order to determine if a review under Section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, would be appropriate.
264. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to carers who did not benefit from changes to income thresholds in Budget 2026; the actions he will take to support this cohort with the increased costs that they are facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56296/25]
View answerThe Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently almost 103,000 people in receipt of this payment and projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2025 is over €1.24 billion.
The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
Recent progress was made at the start of July when the weekly income disregard increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. As a result of these changes approximately 98.4% of carers are in payment at the maximum rate of payment, either full or half rate.
Just last week, as part of Budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced next year. For carers who work, the weekly income disregard will be increased by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers with a spouse/partner/co-habitant. Since June 2022, this will amount to cumulative increases to the disregards of €667.50 for a single carer and €1,335 for a carer who is part of couple, or an increase of just over 200%.
These are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will mean that even people with what are considered to be relatively high incomes will qualify for a carer’s payment for the first time. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still retain their full Carers payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment. These changes are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment in the Programme for Government to eliminate the means test over the life of this Government.
It is important to note that my department also provides a range of non-means-tested payments to carers, all of which have seen recent improvements. These include Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer’s Support Grant.
As part of Budget 2026, the Carer’s Benefit earnings limit will increase by a further €375 to €1,000 from July next year and the payment rate will increase by €10 per week from January.
Domiciliary Care Allowance increased by €20 to €360 per month in January as part of Budget 2025 measures. From next January, as part of Budget 2026 measures, the payment will increase by a further €20 to €380 per month.
With effect from June 2025, the Carer’s Support Grant increased by €150 to €2,000, the highest rate since its introduction.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider including verified disability-related expenses and private care costs as allowable deductions when assessing means for carer’s allowance; given the reality of many families not being able to access public healthcare supports due to significant delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56297/25]
View answer267. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance; if will he consider introducing a model similar to the Disability Tax Credit approach, where disability-related costs are acknowledged as reducing disposable income, thereby adjusting eligibility thresholds accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56299/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 267 together.
Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people who are providing full-time care to someone who is incapacitated. It is designed to support carers whose ability to earn is significantly limited due to their caring responsibilities.
By its nature, the means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash and capital. It does not take account of a person’s expenditure. In line with most social assistance payments, a number of deductions are permitted for Carer's Allowance such as PRSI before the income disregard is applied.
Any such change to include other costs, such as those associated with caring, disability related expenses or other deductions in the calculation of income such as those applied by Revenue in the form of credits or reliefs, would have significant budgetary implications and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes and would significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment process.
The Programme for Government commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
Just last week, as part of Budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced next year. For carers who work, the weekly income disregard will be increased by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers with a spouse/partner/co-habitant. Since June 2022, this will amount to cumulative increases to the disregards of €667.50 for a single carer and €1,335 for a carer who is part of couple, or an increase of just over 200%.
These are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will mean that even people with what are considered to be relatively high incomes will qualify for a carer’s payment for the first time. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still retain their full carers' payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
The latest changes are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment in the Programme for Government to eliminate the means test over the life of this Government.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
266. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the phasing out of the carers allowance means test, as committed to in the Programme for Government; if there is a timeline for this commitment to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government has clearly set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
As part of Budget 2026, we are increasing the income disregard for a single person by €375 per week to €1,000. That’s an increase of 60% and means that a single person who provides full time care but does some part-time work can earn over €55,000 per year from that work, and receive a full carers payment. In parallel, we are also increasing the income disregard for a couple by 60% or €750 to €2,000 per week.
These are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will mean that even people with what are considered to be relatively high incomes will qualify for a carer’s payment for the first time. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
The latest changes are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to eliminate the means test over pour term and will do so in a progressive manner as part of the annual budget process.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
268. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any research or consideration given into the payment of a universal or partially universal carer support payment to replace or supplement the means-tested system, ensuring equity across income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56300/25]
View answerThe Carer's Allowance payment is an income support for those carers who cannot earn adequate income in the open labour market due to their caring responsibilities. In this regard the Carer’s Allowance forms part of the system of social assistance supports that provide payments based on income need.
There have been regular calls by carers and their representative organisations for a more generous means assessment for the Carer’s Allowance over successive Budgets. In response to these calls and in acknowledgement of the important role that family carers play in our society, the Government has committed to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
Recent progress was made at the start of July when the weekly income disregard increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.
Further steps were taken last week as part of Budget 2026, when I announced more improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced next year. For carers who work, the weekly income disregard will be increased by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers with a spouse/partner/co-habitant. Since June 2022, this will amount to cumulative increases to the disregards of €667.50 for a single carer and €1,335 for a carer who is part of couple, or an increase of just over 200%.
The increases in 2026 will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance and many on a reduced rate seeing their payments increase. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still retain their full Carer's Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
These are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will mean that even people with what are considered to be relatively high incomes will qualify for a carer’s payment for the first time. They are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment in the Programme for Government to eliminate the means test over the life of this Government.
It is important that we make progress in a way that is sustainable, and which balances the allocation of the available budgetary resources each year across all priorities. This includes funding services to other vulnerable groups such as disabled people, lone parents, pensioners and children. As such further changes to the Carer’s Allowance payment, will be made in a considered manner within an overall budgetary and policy context.
Finally it is important to note that my department makes a number of other income supports to carers that are not means assessed these include the annual Carer's Support Grant, the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance payment and the weekly social insurance based Carer's Benefit. In this regard, I am satisfied that there a comprehensive suite of income supports available for carers across a range of income brackets.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
269. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that he has had with advocacy groups (details supplied) regarding the practical impact of the income disregard limits and proposed reforms, in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance, the feedback he received, the way in which it is being incorporated into policy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56301/25]
View answerMy department actively engages with carers and their advocacy groups.
In April this year I met the two principal groups who advocate for carers at national level, including the group mentioned by the Deputy.
In addition, my department hosted the Annual Carers’ Forum on 28 May. The purpose of the event is to provide carers with a voice at policy level. I was delighted to participate in that event and to talk to many individual carers as well as the groups that represent them.
The Pre-Budget Forum in July was another opportunity for me to hear the concerns of carer advocacy groups. This event also allowed me to meet with groups across the community and voluntary sector.
A number of positive changes introduced for carers over the years, such as increases to disregards, payment rates and working hours, were made on foot of engagements such as the Annual Carers’ Forum and the Pre-Budget Forum.
Over the past number of years carer advocacy groups have been regularly calling for the abolition of the Carer’s Allowance means test as a way to expand the coverage of the scheme to carers who are excluded or who are on a reduced payment due to means.
In response to these calls and in acknowledgement of the important role that family carers play in our society, the Government has committed to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
Recent progress was made at the start of July when the weekly income disregard increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.
Further steps were taken last week as part of Budget 2026, when I announced more improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced next year. For carers who work, the weekly income disregard will be increased by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers with a spouse/partner/co-habitant. Since June 2022, this will amount to cumulative increases to the disregards of €667.50 for a single carer and €1,335 for a carer who is part of couple, or an increase of just over 200%.
The increases in 2026 will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance and many on a reduced rate seeing their payments increase. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still retain their full Carers payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
These are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will mean that even people with what are relatively high incomes will qualify for a carer’s payment for the first time. the carer's representative organisations advocate for the removal of the means test and we are committed to doing that. However, it is worth noting that this latest increase was in excess of the increase sought by the carers representative organisations as part of Budget 2026. They are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment in the Programme for Government to eliminate the means test over the life of this Government.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to continued engagement and dialogue with carers and their advocacy groups on the issues that matter to them.
270. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the ESRI’s assessment that measures in Budget 2026 will reduce average household disposable income by about 2% next year, with proportionally higher losses for low-income households due to the withdrawal of once-off supports; the targeted measures he will take before January 2026 to mitigate projected increases in income poverty; and to publish his Department’s distributional analysis underpinning these decisions. [56307/25]
View answerBudget 2026 provides for €28.9 billion to be spent on social welfare in 2026. The measures contained in the Budget are designed to support the most vulnerable in our society with the increased cost of living and there is a particular focus on tackling child poverty.
The wide array of measures clearly demonstrates the huge focus the Government has placed on assisting vulnerable people and families.
Minister Chambers and Minister Donohoe, along with the rest of Government, were very clear that there would be no once-off measures in this Budget.
However, the Government has prioritised targeted permanent measures including more than €320 million in targeted measures designed to tackle child poverty. This will make a real difference in the drive to alleviate child poverty and improve the lives of many children and their families across Ireland.
These increases exceed the rate of inflation and will directly benefit about 330,000 children whose parents are in receipt of a social welfare payment.
I acknowledge the ESRI's assessment about the loss of disposable income, however, I also note that their analysis points out that the budgetary measures targeted at children, such as increases to the Child Support Payment and the Working Families Payment, are well targeted.
Next year, the Department of Social Protection will spend €28.9 billion in social welfare expenditure supporting pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, jobseekers and families in every parish across the country. This expenditure makes a real difference to communities across the country.
271. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for the fuel allowance by a person (details supplied), who is in receipt of a widow's pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56419/25]
View answerAn application for Fuel Allowance was received from the person concerned on 24 June 2025.
The person concerned was advised on 7 October 2025 that they were awarded the Fuel Allowance with effect from 27 June 2025. The first lump sum payment issued on 10 October 2025.
The Telephone Support Allowance was also awarded with effect from 27 June 2025. The first payment, including arrears, also issued on 10 October.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
272. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the policy whereby compensation awards received by individuals following serious accidents are taken into account in the means assessment for disability allowance and related supports; and if she will review this practice, given that such awards are intended to compensate for loss, injury, and future care needs rather than to constitute income or savings. [56437/25]
View answer273. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether it is unfair and inappropriate for compensation awards arising from personal injury or trauma to be treated as means for the purpose of determining eligibility for disability-related benefits; and the steps being taken to ensure that such awards are disregarded in means testing where they are intended to improve the quality of life of the injured person. [56438/25]
View answer274. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will undertake a review of the current means testing arrangements for disability allowance to ensure that compensation or court awards arising from serious injury are not unfairly counted as income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56439/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 272, 273 and 274 together.
Social welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Means assessments generally include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. They also include assessment of property owned other than the family home and capital such as cash, savings, shares, and other investments.
Means assessment rules for Disability Allowance are given under Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).
Rule 1(1) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the SWCA 2005 (as amended) provides for the assessment of capital.
Rule 1(1)(b) provides that the weekly value of capital shall be calculated for the purposes of Disability Allowance in accordance with reference 2 of Table 1, which provides that the first €50,000 of the capital value shall be excluded.
The table below sets out how capital is assessed for Disability Allowance.
|
Value of Property/Capital |
Weekly Means Assessed |
|
First €50,000 |
Nil |
|
Next €10,000 (€50,000 to €60,000) |
€1 per €1,000 |
|
Next €10,000 (€60,000 to €70,000) |
€2 per €1,000 |
|
Over €70,000 |
€4 per €1,000
|
Social welfare legislation provides for the disregard of certain specified compensation awards when assessing the means of a person.
These disregards include, for example, all income derived from payments awarded by the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and payments made in relation to disability caused by Thalidomide.
In addition, ex gratia payments made to women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, or through the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme, or payments made by the Minister of Health in accordance with recommendations proposed by the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme are also disregarded.
All compensation or court awards which are not specifically provided for in social welfare legislation are assessed in the normal manner.
Any changes to the means assessment of social assistance schemes would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, he might provide the relevant details so that my officials can examine the specific case.
275. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the EU funding opportunities that will be open for application for schemes under his Department and at agencies under his aegis in the next six months and in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56457/25]
View answerThe European Social Fund (ESF+), is an element of the Cohesion Policy Funds, which is the European Union’s (EU) main instrument for investing in people with a budget of almost €99.3 billion for the period 2021-2027.
The ESF+ fund continues to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.
Of the €99.3 billion Cohesion funding, Ireland will receive approximately €1.3 billion of this under the EIST (Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training) programme, managed by the Department Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science, including ESF+ funding of €508 million.
The Department of Social Protection has been earmarked approximately €60 million from these ESF+ funds, which are capable of being claimed over the lifetime of the programme.
The Department manages the following schemes under this programme:
• Back To Work Enterprise Allowance
• JobsPlus
• WorkAbility
• Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
276. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for disability allowance appeals; and the number rejected over the past three years, in tabular form. [56466/25]
View answerThe number of disability allowance claims that were appealed in 2022 - 2024 and the number of appeals on disability allowance claims which were disallowed in 2022 - 2024 are shown in the table below. Figures for 2022 and 2023 are taken from the Social Welfare Appeals Office annual reports for these respective years. The figures for 2024 are not yet finalised and will be published in the Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report for 2024 in due course.
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
|
Appeals Received |
5,637 |
5,567 |
|
Appeals Disallowed |
2,222 |
2,280 |
277. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount that An Garda Síochána spent on purchasing anti-spit hoods in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [56068/25]
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.
278. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of new marked vans that came into the fleet to date in 2025; and the number of marked vans withdrawn from the fleet to date in 2025. [56069/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes all operational policing matters, such as the allocation and deployment of Garda resources, and determining the manner in which Garda resources are to be distributed and stationed throughout the state. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 includes unprecedented funding of €2.59 billion. This investment supports the continued enhancement of the Garda fleet, ensuring that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective, and fit-for-purpose fleet. Funds are allocated based on identified operational demands and prioritised according to the multi-annual sums provided.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 30 September 2025, there were 3,678 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet including 663 vans. This represents an increase of over 18% since the end of December 2020.
A total of 6 vans have been removed from the fleet from 1 January to 30 September, and 44 have been assigned to the fleet in the same period.
An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date. Information in relation to the number of Garda vans and cars is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
The Deputy should select the "Divisional/District latest monthly breakdown" at the link at the top of the page for the breakdown of Garda vehicles as at 30 September 2025.[].
