Written Answers Nos. 610-629
610. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí stationed in DMR west in each of the years, 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of Gardaí allocated to the Ballyfermot Station for the same period; and the number who were community Gardaí for these years. [57186/25]
View answerIn the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Garda members nationally, which can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/
The Deputy should select August 2025 (the latest date for when figures are available) and then select the report titled ‘Garda Members by Division District Station 2009 to 31 of August 2025’
For a breakdown of Community Gardaí by Division, the Deputy should select the report titled 'Community Garda by Division 2008 to 31st August 2025'
The 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 the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. I engage regularly with him to ensure An Garda Síochána have the resources they need.
612. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by his Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57295/25]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
613. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 892 of 17 October 2025, if he accepts that his Department received the Death in Custody Report concerned from the Office of the Inspector of Prisons in July 2025 and had three months to review the report but it still remains unpublished thereby further delaying the holding of an inquest; if his attention has been drawn to immense distress this continues to cause for family members who have waited for over three and a half years to learn all of the circumstances surrounding the death of their loved one in custody; if he will confirm the date of the publication of the report as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57301/25]
View answerI would like to reiterate my condolences to the family concerned on their loss. As previously stated, I recognise the significance and sensitivity of the investigation process for loved ones, and that delays in any investigation can cause distress for families of the deceased.
I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention to publish the report concerned as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the Garda numbers in Anglesea Street and Ballincollig Garda Stations, broken down per rankings (details supplied) per station, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57314/25]
View answer615. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the Garda numbers in Abbeyfeale and Adare Garda Stations, broken down per rankings (details supplied), per station, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57315/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together.
The 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, which includes the allocation and deployment of Garda resources throughout the state. Under Section 34(1) of the Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for Anglesea Street, Ballincollig, Abbeyfeale and Adare Garda Stations, is publicly available and can be found at the link below.
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/
For information by Garda Station and rank, the Deputy should select the current month and access the file titled “Garda Members by Division District Station 2009 to 31 August 2025” for a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers by Garda station going back to 2009.
616. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the review of the enforcement of child maintenance orders which was published in January 2024; the number of the 26 recommendations have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57325/25]
View answerThe Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, completed by officials in my Department, was published on 8 January 2024. It was one of the actions contained in the “Supporting Children” goal of the Family Justice Strategy.
The Review put forward 26 recommendations focused on generating maximum compliance with child maintenance orders, to ensure security and stability for children and to aid poverty prevention. The key recommendations of the review include:
• Development of a set of child maintenance guidelines.
• Introduction of mandatory mediation information sessions.
• Strengthening attachment of earnings orders and exploring the possibility of attaching an order to a PPS number rather than employing entities, so that orders do not lapse when there is a change in employer.
• Introduction of a single enforcement procedure when the receiving parent makes an enforcement application, allowing the judge to choose the most appropriate enforcement option based on the circumstances of the case.
• Simplification of the bench warrant process.
• Placing the onus on paying parents to pay costs associated with enforcement proceedings.
• Allowing for deductions from social welfare, the paying parent’s bank accounts, from government grants and subsidies and allowing for the recovery of arrears from tax refunds.
An interdepartmental group (“The Child Maintenance Guidelines Committee”) was established in February 2024 to develop a set of child maintenance guidelines for use by all parties on a voluntary basis when putting child maintenance arrangements in place, along with an online calculator to help determine fair child maintenance payments. The guidelines will be a voluntary tool for parents, to assist them in coming to private child maintenance arrangements. In April 2025, the Child Maintenance Guidelines Committee conducted a consultation through a survey to get the public's views on important aspects of the guidelines. The guidelines and accompanying calculator are now in the final stages of development and they are expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
My Department is also engaging with the Legal Aid Board on the development of an automatic mediation information sessions pilot for child maintenance cases. It is hoped that these initiatives will encourage voluntary child maintenance agreements and increase compliance with those agreements.
As a number of recommendations in the Review require legislative change, work on examining these recommendations with a view to identifying potential legislative measures that could be progressed has begun.
Officials in the Department are liaising with other organisations and bodies to implement the other recommendations in the Review.
617. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to expedite the processing of a family spouse unification visa application in respect of (details supplied), this application has been unduly prolonged and it is putting a huge strain on this married couple, distance apart, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57364/25]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Join Family (Irish nat.)(spouse) visa application referred to was created on 29 November 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Bangkok office on 14 December 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 09 January 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 and some applications can take longer than others. 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.
The current processing times for Dublin visa decisions is available here:
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 people 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.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s 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.
618. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider amending the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 to ensure that persons found to be in possession of child pornography, irrespective of offence gravity or other circumstances, will be liable to a mandatory custodial sentence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57385/25]
View answerThe production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material are appalling crimes which create ongoing layers of trauma for survivors, including knowing that the abuse material has been or could be shared and viewed by offenders around the world
Government is committed to combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This includes both supporting those who are victims of these terrible crimes and having in place the most appropriate legislative provisions so as to hold perpetrators to account.
There are a range of offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 to address all forms of such abuse. The act provides for severe penalties, including, for the most serious offences, maximum penalties of up to life imprisonment.
As the Deputy will be aware, the standard approach with regard to sentencing provisions in criminal legislation is for the Oireachtas to specify the criminal offence concerned and the maximum penalty that may be imposed on persons found guilty of the offence.
It is then a matter for the sentencing Judge to consider the penalty that should be administered in individual cases, having regard to all of the facts and circumstances involved.
The court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime but also to the individual offender; in that process, identifying where on the sentencing range the particular case should lie and then applying any mitigating factors which may be present. This is consistent with Article 34 of the Constitution, which provides for the administration of justice by the Courts.
In 2020, the Judicial Council established a Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee. The Committee’s 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 Committee published its Guideline Development Procedure and it has since produced a report on sentencing in relation to offences captured by Section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018.
In line with the Programme for Government, I intend to review the sentencing guidelines legislation. However, there are no current plans to introduce additional minimum custodial sentences for any category of offence.
619. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total payments made to a company in a relation to a site (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57388/25]
View answerDetails of payments made to specific providers for specific locations are not publicly supplied by my Department as such details are commercially sensitive. However, the Deputy may wish to note that payments over €20,000 to suppliers of the Department generally, including accommodation providers, are periodically published officially. The most recent figures are published at the URL www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/
The property to which the Deputy refers had previously provided 90-Day accommodation from March 2024 to March 2025 for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. When this initial contract was due for renewal, there were sufficient beds available to the Department to meet the then lowering demand for 90-day accommodation and it was decided not to renew the contract for Newhall.
To address the recent increase in arrivals from Ukraine a new contract has been agreed with this property for a six-month period which is viewed as appropriate and in line with the contractual duration of other 90-day Designated Accommodation Centres. The requirement for this facility will be kept under review.
620. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will clarify the action needed regarding American citizenship for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57399/25]
View answerThe ability to renounce and reacquire Irish Citizenship is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
I can advise the Deputy that the person cited has never renounced their Irish citizenship, therefore they are not required to submit a Form 1.
The person concerned can to complete a “Declaration of Intention to Retain Irish Citizenship” if they reside outside of Ireland, by completing Form 5 annually. This form should be submitted on an annual basis until they return to the State.
Further information is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/intention-to-retain-irish-citizenship/.
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.
621. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda vetting applications currently being processed for individuals living in County Cork. [57402/25]
View answer622. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average wait time for Garda vetting applications for individuals living in County Cork. [57403/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together.
The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.
Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
Garda authorities have advised that vetting applications are processed on a first come, first served basis in chronological order from date of receipt. This is with a view to observing equity and fairness in respect of all vetting subjects.
I am informed by Garda authorities that the e-vetting system is not configured to capture structured address information. As such It is not possible to provide statistical information in respect of the number of vetting applications to be processed by county.
I am further advised that turnaround times for approximately 85% of Garda vetting applications is 8-10 working days, nationally, from the date of receipt at the Garda National Vetting Bureau.
623. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of domestic violence refugee accommodation places in County Cork. [57404/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency is committed to providing safe and accessible accommodation and support services for victims and survivors of DSGBV.
As the Deputy's question relates to an update regarding work being carried out under the remit of Cuan, I have referred it to the Agency for direct response.
624. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration has been given to adding Vietnam to the list of safe countries of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57426/25]
View answerUnder section 72 of the International Protection Act, the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. I keep the list of safe countries under review.
A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where satisfied it can be shown that there:
* is generally and consistently no persecution;
* no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and
* no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.
Ireland currently has fifteen countries designated as safe countries of origin: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, South Africa, Botswana, Algeria, Brazil, Egypt, India, Malawi and Morocco.
The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
The Asylum Procedure Regulation (Regulation 2024/1348) makes provision for the designation of safe countries of origin at European Union level. Common designation of safe countries of origin at Union level should ensure that the safe country of origin concept is applied by all Member States in a uniform manner in relation to applicants whose countries of origin are designated as safe at Union level. The Proposal does not propose to amend Article 64 of the Asylum Procedure Regulation. Therefore, the right of Member States to designate additional countries outside the common list will continue.
The list of safe countries is kept under review.
625. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation to strengthen salmon farm licence regulations and enforcement, particularly in light of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board determination of 12 September 2025 in the case AP1/2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56621/25]
View answer626. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to take a judicial review in relation to the determination of 12 September 2025 by the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in the case AP1/2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56622/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.
On the 10th April 2019, following an examination by my Department of possible overharvesting at the aquaculture site referred to by the Deputy, a ministerial decision was made that:
A breach of the relevant aquaculture licence condition 2(e) had occurred. Condition 2(e) of the licence states:
“the Licensee shall not harvest more than 500 tonnes (dead weight) of salmon in any one calendar year”
The statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned Company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (Mowi Ireland)) to continue aquaculture operations under the provisions of Section 19(A)4 of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act be treated as discontinued.
This decision was appealed to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB), which is an independent body established by statute for the purpose of considering appeals of Ministerial decisions in respect of aquaculture. On 12th September 2025, ALAB determined that the statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (Mowi Ireland)) to continue operations at the Site should not be discontinued on the basis of the breach of Condition 2(e) of the Licence in 2016.
My officials are currently examining the determination and its implications for my Department. Work is also progressing within my Department on the legislative amendments necessary to give effect to the Ministerial decision made in November 2023 to phase out the operation of Section 19A(4) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.
627. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of prosecutions taken under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 since its implementation; the details of which organisation brought each prosecution; and for a breakdown of the sentences imposed. [56675/25]
View answerMy Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and is committed to the enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013. Prosecutions under the Act are pursued following investigations by authorised officers who investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect. Offences under the Act may be prosecuted in the District Court by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, local authorities and members of An Garda Síochána. Matters tried on indictment are the remit of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the normal manner.
Since the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 came into operation in March 2014, over 200 cases have been successfully prosecuted by my Department and the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (formerly ISPCA and DSPCA). Forty-nine cases resulted in a prison sentence of these 32 were suspended.
My Department does not hold records on prosecutions taken by An Garda Síochána and local authorities.
I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. All reports of alleged animal neglect or cruelty are investigated and appropriate action is taken. If members of the public are aware of any cases of suspected abuse or neglect, they can contact my Department's animal welfare helpline on:
Helpline Phone No: 01 607 2379
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
628. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of prosecutions taken under the Ear-cropping of Dogs Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 412 of 2023) since it entered into force. [56676/25]
View answer629. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any prosecutions have been taken under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 specifically for ear-cropping offences. [56677/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together.
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, it is illegal to crop the ears of a puppy or dog of any age. Ear-cropping is a cruel and unnecessary mutilation, causing the dog pain and suffering at the time the ears are cropped, and can often lead to lifelong discomfort and recurrent infections.
Statutory Instrument 412 of 2023 Ear-cropping of Dogs Regulations 2023, further strengthened the restrictions in place on the practice of ear-cropping. The Regulation came into operation on 1st September 2023 and specifically restricts the possession or control of dogs with cropped ears, the sale or supply of dogs with cropped ears, the import of dogs with cropped ears and the possession, sale or supply of equipment used to crop the ears of dogs, and prohibits the showing of dogs with cropped ears.
To date, my Department has taken 11 prosecutions, under the suit of the Minister under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, for ear-cropping offences, resulting in fines of €6,900, four prison sentences of which two were suspended and bans from keeping animals. No cases have been taken to date under the Ear-cropping of Dogs Regulations.
