Written Answers Nos. 238-257
238. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí assigned to the Raheny, Clontarf, and Coolock Garda stations, for each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66499/25]
View answerI am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 includes unprecedented funding of over €2.59 billion, a 33% increase since 2021, which will support the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publish information in relation to the number of members by Division and Station which is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/garda-strength-breakdown-2025.html
The Deputy should select the most recent date available and select the file titled “Garda Member by Division District Station 2009 to the most recent date” for a breakdown of members of An Garda Síochána assigned to Raheny, Clontarf and Coolock Garda Stations
239. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied); her views on whether on the appropriateness of same; if action can be taken in the short-to-medium term to mitigate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66552/25]
View answerThe Probation Service Office is situated at Kilcruttin Business Park, Cormac Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35V9P3 in a premises leased by the OPW. I am advised that a case has been made to the OPW to relocate the office. The OPW have identified suitable accommodation and the plan is for Probation Services to relocate once the premises has been fitted out. In the meantime, the Probation Service has regard to child protection and safeguarding issues in organising its engagement with offenders at its current location.
Nationwide, the Probation Service shares office accommodation with other Government Agencies such as Revenue, Agriculture, Food and Marine, and the Department of Social Protection.
240. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of unresolved or historic cases that have been referred for peer review since 2018; the number completed; the number reopened; and the number in which new investigative actions were taken. [66588/25]
View answerI have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regrettably this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
241. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current number of international protection appeals pending at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal; the average waiting time; and the number of appeals exceeding six months, nine months and twelve months. [66590/25]
View answer244. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has developed a capacity plan for the International Protection Appeals Tribunal to clear legacy appeals before June 2026; and if he will outline the projected monthly clearance rate required to meet that target. [66593/25]
View answer245. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Department has carried out any stress-testing of the accelerated border-procedure timelines introduced on 1 July 2025; and if he will publish the results, including any operational risks identified. [66594/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 241, 244 and 245 together.
There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process re-engineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.
In common with the investment made in the IPO to reduce cases on hands, there is a similar strong commitment to resource the Tribunal through its budget and staffing. This has been particularly evident in the past two years with the Tribunal budget increasing by 95% since 2023 and administrative staff doubling in capacity. Recent competitions have also seen part time tribunal members increasing from 89 to 143 and whole-time members from 6 to 9 in 2024.
A recently announced Operational Plan between Ireland and the European Union Agency for Asylum is also seeing up to 30 EUAA personnel be deployed to support the Tribunal’s work. This work includes preparing appeal files, conducting research on country-of-origin information and international protection jurisprudence, and providing interpretation in difficult-to-source languages.
On foot of the investment being made, to date in 2025, the IPAT has increased the number of appeals completed by 78% over the full year figure for 2024.
The table below details the time pending for live appeals at the Tribunal as of 16th November 2025.
|
Time pending in IPAT |
Number of Appeals |
|
0 to 6 Months |
8,107 |
|
7 to 9 Months |
3,328 |
|
10 to 12 Months |
2,364 |
|
Over 12 Months |
3,490 |
|
Total |
17,289 |
*Data correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
The overall median processing times for appeals at 16 November 2025 is 12.6 Months.
My Department also continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
On 1 July, my Department introduced the first phase of a gradual transition to a new accelerated, end-to-end process for applicants entering the international protection system in Ireland. This new accelerated process mirrors elements of the future border procedure and screening required by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum while still adhering to the existing International Protection Act 2015.
The new process is designed to enable testing of new border procedure timelines that will be required as part of the EU Pact requirements in June 2026. The border procedure allows 12 weeks to first and second-instance decisions and a further 12 weeks to return for those who receive negative decisions.
This first transition phase focused on accelerating the processing of applicants from three designated safe countries of origin: Georgia, India and Brazil. It also introduced elements of the future required screening process under the EU Pact.
During the initial three months of the transition, a total of 366 applicants were processed under these shorter timelines. While it is too soon to measure the six months total timeline permitted, the timeline of 12 weeks for first and second instance decision was achieved. This represents a significant shift from the current median processing times in the IPO and IPAT, and hence a significant reduction in costs for accommodation and other supports.
Phase two of the transition is currently underway, having launched on October 8, 2025 with the addition of the remaining 12 designated safe countries of origin. The impacts and learnings from expanding the transition will become clearer over the coming months.
242. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the Department’s estimate of the additional staffing, accommodation, ICT and operational resources required to meet the June 2026 deadlines under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact; and if he will provide the Department’s internal projections. [66591/25]
View answerIreland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which will come into effect in June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU, and through the introduction of streamlined and faster processing times.
My Department continues to focus on preparing for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in advance of June 2026.
The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact was approved by Government on 29 April 2025. As the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration recently conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme. The drafting of the Bill is well advanced. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 11 June 2026.
In the short term, the processing costs to the State will increase as two parallel legislative systems will operate for some time. The exact amount will depend on applicant numbers and will be settled annually in the course of engagement on the Estimates process, as is currently the case, but these processing costs are far lower that the costs of accommodation and other supports. In advance of the Pact coming into effect there has already been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process re-engineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.
In the medium to long-term this investment will show a return in the form of decreasing annual costs because of the improved, faster processing it will enable, thereby reducing the time an applicant remains in the system, and reducing significant accommodation and other costs.
I would also note that there is a substantial EU budget to be distributed through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) being made available to support implementation of the Pact across the EU. Ireland has received approximately €21.5m under the AMIF Thematic Facility Specific Action and a further approximately €8.9m AMIF funding will be made available on foot of a mid-term review.
243. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the Department’s assessment of the impact that accelerated first-instance and appeal decisions will have on emergency accommodation demand in Cork city and Cork county; and if he will provide any modelling carried out since January 2024. [66592/25]
View answer246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of contracted emergency accommodation beds due to expire between January 2026 and June 2026; the proportion located in Cork; and the Department’s plan for replacement capacity. [66595/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 246 together.
The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in nearly 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, over 9,500 of whom are children.
As we respond to changing trends, and work toward a more stable and sustainable accommodation system in this sector, accommodation is being developed and delivered through a range of channels, with a focus on developing more State-owned accommodation.
The table below sets out the number of Accommodation Centre contracts that are due to expire from January to June 2026, and the number of beds associated with these contracts. The breakdown of data requested with respect to the number located in County Cork is not collated for publication.
The Department conducts all contractual negotiations on the basis of there being no guarantee of the continuity of a contract beyond its end date.
With respect to potential for contract renewals, the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants is demand-led, and each premises is considered on a case-by-case basis to decide if the contract will be renewed as it approaches its end date.
|
2026 |
Contracts with expiry date |
Total capacity of contracts |
|
January |
5 |
453 |
|
February |
18 |
1335 |
|
March |
28 |
4718 |
|
April |
21 |
1990 |
|
May |
8 |
1330 |
|
June |
7 |
722 |
At potential renewal stage, consideration will be given to the current and projected demand for accommodation, the provider's performance under contract, and compliance with standards and legal obligations.
In relation to impacts of increased processing of applications on accommodation in a given county, this information is not available. While accommodation is provided in each county, the IPAS system is managed on a national basis, meaning that accommodation is assigned based on availability and with priority on people's needs in relation to family size or other circumstances.
Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in mid-2026. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications is ongoing and should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
247. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to comments made at the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference regarding the investigatory powers of the to be established historical investigation unit, if he will outline how this proposed new Garda legacy unit will differentiate from the existing Garda legacy section; the powers he is proposing the former will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66615/25]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles agreed with the British Government and announced on 19 September last and formally approved by Government on 1 October. The Joint Framework provides routes to truth and accountability for those most affected by the violence of the Troubles. It reflects the Government's commitment to play our full part in legacy processes and to address the legacy of the conflict in this jurisdiction.
As part of this, the Government has committed to facilitating the cooperation of the relevant Irish authorities with the UK Legacy Commission, once established, to the fullest extent possible. The UK Government also commits to reciprocal cooperation by the UK authorities with investigations, inquests and inquiries on the same basis and in the same spirit.
As recognised in the Joint Framework, investigations into Troubles-related incidents should be victim-centred. To further support this objective, the Garda Commissioner has committed to the establishment by the end of the year of a dedicated unit as a central point of contact for victims and families in relation to Troubles-related investigations undertaken by An Garda Síochána. The unit will also serve as a single point of contact for cross-border cooperation on Troubles-related cases (whether with the reformed Legacy Commission or other processes).
As is evident from the Joint Framework, there is no intention that the unit will be an investigative unit. The investigation of Troubles-related cases will continue to be undertaken by the relevant Garda Division in which the incident occurred with the support of national units as required. This is the most appropriate and effective approach in this jurisdiction.
As the Deputy will be aware, within An Garda Síochána, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation holds a national investigative remit specialised in the area of major crime investigation which can provide support to local Divisions. This includes, where appropriate, deploying the expertise of the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), which was established in 2007, to provide for independent review of historical investigations, including homicides.
In circumstances where historic offences have not been resolved, the investigations remain open and the Garda Authorities follow up fully on any new evidence or information that becomes available to them, whether that comes from the public, from other police services or from their own investigations.
In time, once the Joint Framework has been implemented and embedded, further investigative leads may come to light through reciprocal cooperation with the UK authorities.
As I have stated, the Garda Commissioner has committed to establishing the new unit by the end of the year. Its full operation will, however, depend on the progress made by the UK Government in enacting the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the reformed Legacy Commission becoming fully operational.
At the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 17 November the Tánaiste and I had a productive discussion with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the progress in relation to legislation in both jurisdictions to support implementation of our respective commitments. I welcomed the introduction of the legislation in the UK Parliament on 14 October 2025 and stated my commitment to bringing forward the necessary legislation to support implementation in jurisdiction, in particular, cooperation with the Legacy Commission processes. There is an obvious dependency on the progress of the UK legislation but that said, I hope to be in a position to publish my proposals next Spring and to be in a position to bring them before the Houses as quickly as possible once the UK Bill is law.
248. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the annual rent paid for any justice-related services or offices located within a building (details supplied) in Tralee; the total rent paid since the lease commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66715/25]
View answerI am informed by the Courts Service that the annual rent paid for their office at the building in question is €106,029.69. This is inclusive of VAT.
I am further informed by the Courts Service that the other information requested by the Deputy cannot be collated in the time provided. To be of assistance, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
249. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a national anonymised aggregated count of prison committals by electoral division, based on self-reported address at committal for 2022 and to date in 2025, including an additional column of sex and broad offence type (details supplied). [66747/25]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service has confirmed to my Department that data regarding prison committals is not collated in the format requested. Information in relation to the number of persons committed by County and Gender, in addition to the number sentenced by Offence Group, is published on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be found in the Information Centre under Statistics & Information.
250. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason public consultation for the Irish whiskey technical file has not yet opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66328/25]
View answer251. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Irish whiskey technical file does not currently require the use of Irish grain in the production of Irish whiskey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66329/25]
View answer252. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will guarantee that the Irish whiskey technical file will be amended to ensure that only Irish grain is used in the production of Irish whiskey, in line with the stance of US and English whiskey producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66330/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 251 and 252 together.
Irish Whiskey is a Geographical Indication registered with the European Commission and must be produced in accordance with the Irish Whiskey Technical File. The Irish Whiskey Technical File does not currently require the use of Irish Grain in the production of Irish Whiskey.
The process of amending the Irish Whiskey Technical File is currently underway and two submissions are being examined ahead of a public consultation process. This detailed examination includes an assessment on how to progress with any of proposed amendments. Some amendments may be deemed ‘standard’ national amendments, with others considered ‘Union’ amendments which must be submitted to the EU Commission for consideration. It is expected that the public consultation will commence in early 2026 and will last for a period of two months
253. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the payment of supports to farmers in the tillage sector; the measures that will be put in place to ensure that these payments are distributed fairly and equitably across all eligible tillage farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66331/25]
View answerThis Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops. I fully acknowledge the pressures facing the tillage sector, not least the challenging market conditions this season.
In recognition of the sector’s importance, my Department will be supporting the tillage sector in 2026 with funding of €50m through the combination of Protein Aid Scheme, the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and a new Tillage Support Scheme. Having secured additional funding in Budget 2026 to further support the sector, I intend to consult with stakeholders on how this funding will be utilised.
In addition to additional commitments made in Budget 2026, my Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers in recent years. This year, the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme is €10m, having increased from €7m to €10m annually from last year. Earlier this year, I made the decision to pay all eligible applicants under the Straw Incorporation Measure in 2025.
In February this year, I announced €32.4 million of payments under the Tillage and Horticulture Support Scheme, which was Government’s response to the difficult position tillage and horticultural farmers found themselves in due to exceptionally poor weather and continued high input costs last Spring.
The Farming for Water EIP has a budget of €60m to support targeted on-farm additional measures to improve water quality, including establishment of cover crops. The tillage sector is also being supported under other schemes, including the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme, ACRES and the Organic Farming Scheme.
I will continue to work with the tillage sector and provide targeted support where possible given the strategic importance of the sector within the wider agricultural industry
254. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current average timeframe from reactor identification to payment to farmers whose cattle have tested positive for bovine TB; the steps being taken to ensure the prompt processing and payment of compensation to affected farmers to support their financial stability; whether his Department intends to introduce further measures to reduce delays and improve certainty for affected farmers, and ongoing farm operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66332/25]
View answerBovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland.
In recent years we have seen a significant increase in bTB levels nationally, with over 6,000 farm families affected by a bTB outbreak in 2024, and herd incidence at 6.04%.
The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown on their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value of an animal as if they were not affected by disease, subject to ceilings.
The current average timeframe from reactor identification to payment to farmers whose cattle have tested positive for bovine TB is 91.5 days.
There are a significant number of steps which must be taken between identification of a reactor to the payment of compensation including, amongst others, arrangement of a valuation, the appeal of a valuation by a herd owner or my Department, arranging the removal and slaughter of reactors, which can be delayed where veterinary medicines have been administered to an animal, cleansing and disinfection of a premises and the receipt of certain paperwork by my Department from a herd owner.
The continued increase in bTB disease levels in recent years has resulted in significant additional work in the administration of the bTB programme for the Department.
There has recently been an increase in the volume of bTB compensation payments that resulted in a temporary backlog in payments. This backlog has now been cleared and outstanding compensation payments are issuing to Herd owners this week.
On 9th September I published the “Bovine TB Action Plan, Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland”
There are 5 measures in the Plan which are underpinned by 30 actions:
• Support herds free of bTB to remain free
• Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB
• Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a bTB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown
• Help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity
• Reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bTB
By addressing bTB disease levels in Ireland through the implementation of the actions in this plan we will be able to tackle this disease in a meaningful manner and better protect farm families in Ireland from this disease
255. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out his Department's current assessment of national food security, including risks to the agricultural supply chain; to outline any forthcoming initiatives to strengthen resilience across farming sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66333/25]
View answerIreland is among the most food secure countries in the world and ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the most recent Global Food Security Index. Additionally, new food security work featured in Teagasc’s recently released 2024 Sustainability Report finds that Irish farms produce protein sufficient to meet the requirements of over 36 million people, or 30 million people on a net basis.
As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is part of the EU single market and participates in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which is the critical key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe. The Government will continue to support farmers as we make payments under Ireland’s €9.8 billion Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan and via specific supports, as required. I will continue to engage actively and constructively in negotiations concerning CAP post-2027 to ensure that the agrifood sector Ireland and Europe continues to benefit from an ambitious, workable and adequately funded CAP that balances economic, social, and environmental sustainability and underpins food security.
Looking at food security coordination in the European Union, the communication "Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems” sets out actions in the three areas of security, stability, and sustainability. The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers, of which I am a member, continues to focus on these core areas and to support the work of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM). The EFSCM was established in 2021 to monitor and respond to threats to EU food supply and security, including implementation of mitigation measures. My Department, other Member States and private stakeholder organisations continue to collaborate and convene periodically through the EFSCM to ensure adequate preparations for and response to potential threats to global food supply and food security. To date, four reports on the State of Food Security in the EU have been published, and a food supply and security dashboard has been developed to monitor evolving risks to food security and supply
256. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the measures from Budget 2026 that will support generational renewal in farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66334/25]
View answerFirst and foremost, generational renewal requires a viable farming sector. In October I announced details of my Department’s 2026 Budget. With an additional €170 million secured, bringing the Vote to over €2.3 billion, Budget 2026 will provide very significant supports to farmers, fishers and foresters. I am determined to protect and grow Ireland’s agri-food sector and the significant contribution it makes to our rural and national economy.
Supporting young farmers and facilitating generational renewal is critical to ensure a bright future for the agri-food sector. Farm succession is a complex issue and there are many factors that impact farmers’ decisions. The Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming was established to examine these issues. The Commission has produced a thorough analysis and made 31 recommendations across a wide range of areas, including CAP Supports, Pensions, Taxation, Access to Finance, Access to Land, Collaborative Arrangements, Advisory Services, Education and Training, Gender Balance and the Overall Attractiveness of the Sector.
Budget 2026 takes the first steps towards addressing the Commission’s recommendations. The Budget ensures that a number of critical taxation measures remain in place, for example Agricultural Relief which facilitates succession and the intergenerational transfer of farms. This important relief delivers approximately €230 million annually in tax supports to farm families.
The 100% Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty Relief is another vital support for young farmers, valued at around €20 million annually. In line with the Commission’s recommendation to bring more certainty to succession planning, the relief will be extended by four years instead of the normal three years for such measures. Farm Restructuring (CGT) relief and the complementary Stamp Duty for Farm Consolidation relief were also renewed for four years.
An implementation team in my Department will now work on the remaining recommendations of the Commission. While some recommendations are for consideration in the context of the next CAP, it is hoped that others can be progressed in a shorter timeframe.
Attracting the next generation of farmers is critical to ensure that the agri-food sector remains vibrant and sustainable into the future and the Commission’s analysis ensures that we have a comprehensive, well-considered foundation for future policy on generational renewal.
257. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider improving competitiveness by introducing a reduced stamp duty rate of 1% for green-certified farmers between the ages of 35 and 40; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66366/25]
View answerWhile taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister of Finance, I work closely with him on taxation issues to ensure it is consistent with Government priorities for the agri-food sector.
In Budget 2026, we worked together to renew the 100% Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty Relief, where subject to certain criteria, no stamp duty is paid. And, in line with the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming’s recommendation to bring more certainty to succession planning, this was extended by four years instead of the normal three years for such measures. Agricultural Relief is a key measure for succession, as noted by the Commission, and I am pleased this critical taxation measure also remains in place.
In addition to these measures, Consanguinity Relief is also available to support the intergenerational transfer of farms. This relief provides, under certain conditions, for a 1% rate of stamp duty to be applicable where a transfer of agricultural land is made to close relations.
Agricultural Relief and the stamp duty exemptions were worth some €325 million in 2024, highlighting the strong Government support for farmers already being provided through then taxation system
