Written Answers Nos. 79-105
79. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is concerned that his proposals on immigration will make it harder for refugees and other immigrants to integrate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68245/25]
View answerFirstly, I understand the value of supporting the integration of migrants into our communities, and my Department invests in a range of measures to promote integration, including a series of community led initiatives.
I am delighted to announce today that 37 projects are set to receive over €1.5m in funding under the Ireland Against Racism Fund 2025, ensuring that both local and national organisations can carry out valuable and much-needed projects to promote cohesion and equality across our communities.
The wide range of projects receiving this funding further emphasises Ireland’s unwavering commitment to fairness, community and inclusion.
As the Deputy will be aware, last week Minister O'Callaghan and I announced a number of new policies and legislative changes to strengthen Ireland’s migration and asylum system.
We published the review of the non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, which has remained largely unchanged since 2013, and sets out how Irish citizens and most non-EEA Irish residents may apply to bring non-EEA family members to live with them in Ireland. The majority of these changes will take immediate effect, with longer term measures to be introduced as soon as operational considerations allow.
The policy will limit family reunification to immediate family members only.
An important consideration in all family reunification applications is the ability of the sponsor to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for their family members if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland. New conditions will also be introduced over time to ensure sponsors have suitable private accommodation for their family before they arrive in Ireland.
The purpose of the revised Policy is not to deter people from integrating or making applications, but to ensure that people who are sponsoring an application have sufficient resources to provide for their family, without the reliance on public services or state funds.
Many of those arriving for the purposes of employment do have those resources and their applications will continue to be approved.
Separately, changes to legislation will ensure that Family Reunification for those granted International Protection status will only be granted in cases where it can be shown they have sufficient resources to support family members.
Minister O'Callaghan and I have also announced changes to the process for granting citizenship. Residency requirements for those granted international protection will rise from three to five years to bring them in line with the majority of other applicants. Clear guidance on the application of good character requirements will be developed, and a requirement will be introduced that applicants are not in receipt of certain social welfare payments in the period preceding their application.
I am of course committed to ensuring that migrants who have a legal basis to be here can integrate into society and I do not believe that the measures announced will have a detrimental effect on this. Earlier this week, 5,000 people were granted Irish citizenship in the latest of 25 joyful ceremonies held this year.
The measures I have outlined to the Deputy show how my Department support people to smoothly integrate into Irish society.
81. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he can provide an update on changes in respect of bail recommended by a person (details supplied) in the report commissioned by the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68448/25]
View answerWhile bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive, I am committed to ensuring they are fit for purpose while ensuring fundamental rights principles are adhered to. Last May, I announced that I intended to appoint a Senior Counsel to undertake an assessment of the current operation of bail in Ireland, both legal and practical.
The commissioning of the report arose from concerns regarding bail processes and their applicability to recidivist offenders. These concerns were acknowledged in my apology to the family of the late Shane O’Farrell, who was tragically killed in August 2011, when struck by a car driven by a person who was on bail for a series of offences at the time.
Mr Lorcan Staines SC was subsequently appointed to undertake the review and was asked to include appropriate recommendations, considering the requirements of constitutional justice and the impossibility of refusing bail to every person accused of an offence, particularly a summary offence. His report ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’ has been completed and was published by my Department last week. I would like to express my thanks to Lorcan Staines for his work in compiling this comprehensive report.
His recommendations include investment in improved information sharing systems for both An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service; the implementation of an adult bail supervision scheme to ensure the proper management of recidivist offenders; changes to bail legislation to significantly expand the conditions which may be attached to the granting of bail; and further legislative amendments to improve the legal framework surrounding bail, including consideration for the legal supports for the expected operational implementation of electronic monitoring in 2026. The electronic monitoring project is progressing and a request for tender for a pilot phase is expected to be issued later this week, and to be operational in Quarter 1 of 2026.
This examination of our bail laws and subsequent proposals underlines the need for additional actions to be considered to ensure the criminal justice system effectively mitigates against risks that may be associated with individuals on bail.
The presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the decision to grant or refuse bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the court. The restriction on a person’s liberty prior to conviction is taken very seriously, given the Constitutional presumption that every person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
With that said, it is totally unacceptable that offences are committed by people on bail. That is a direct breach of their promise made when bail is granted by the court. The report is a detailed analysis that will greatly assist in considering how our criminal justice system might better respond to recidivist offenders who persistently break summary laws.
I am committed to keeping our bail laws under review and any further useful amendments that are identified will be introduced as appropriate.
83. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of individuals detained in the State pending deportation to date in 2025; the breakdown of the prisons in which they were held, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66424/25]
View answerA deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed.
This year 4,428 deportation orders have been signed up to 28 November, while 1,909 people have had their departure from the state confirmed. 344 people have been the subject of an enforced deportation.
This year, six charter flight operations have removed 205 people from the State. Of these, five operations to non-EU destinations removed 182 people who were subject to deportation orders and one operation removed 23 EU citizens on grounds of criminality.
Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked by the Minister for Justice – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future.
A person who is the subject of a deportation order may be detained for up to 56 days for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State.
The prescribed places of detention for this purpose are contained in the Immigration Act 1999 (Deportation) Regulations 2005 and are: Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, Cork Prison, Limerick Prison, Midlands Prison, Mountjoy Prison, and Wheatfield Prison, as well as all Garda Síochána stations. However, not all of these locations are used for this purpose.
I can advise the Deputy that of the 344 individuals whose deportation orders have been enforced by GNIB so far in 2025, 267 were detained prior to deportation. Of this group, 28 had criminal convictions.
I can further advise that of the 267 people who were detained for the purposes of deportation this year up to 28 November, 206 were detained in Cloverhill Prison, 24 in Mountjoy Female Prison, 16 in Cork prison, 10 in Limerick prison, seven in Castlerea Prison, three in Midlands prison and one in Dublin Airport Garda Station.
84. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the up-to-date position on delivering a more stable and sustainable IPAS accommodation system; the up-to-date position on refocusing IPAS accommodations to a state owned and service model; his plans on reducing and ceasing the use of commercial contracts for IPAS accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68402/25]
View answerThe Department is taking action across all aspects of the international protection accommodation system to move toward greater State-owned provision, to improve value for money, and strengthen governance, compliance, and integration supports.
A range of support services are provided directly to people in IPAS accommodation centres to support them to settle in, and to support them in their day to day needs while they are resident with us.
I was delighted to announce this morning the 37 community organisations that will be supported under the Ireland Against Racism Fund 2025. The organisations will share funding of €1.5m which will enable them to progress valuable local and regional projects that combat racism and promote racial equality in our communities.
The Department provides funding for integration teams within each Local Authority, and a range of funding schemes for communities, to support integration of people who newly arrive to an area.
An overall reform of the international protection system is underway that is already working to speed up the processing of applications and should reduce the need for constant growth in the accommodation system, such as we have seen in recent years.
We are developing more State-owned accommodation from a range of sources, including using State-owned sites for temporary accommodation and purchasing of appropriate sites for use as accommodation. As a key milestone, the State has purchased Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre in August of this year, which has increased our overall State-owned bed numbers from 900 spaces in early 2024 to over 4,000 today.
Developing more State-owned options will allow us to move away from the current degree of reliance on commercial provision to more State-owned accommodation.
While commissioning emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be necessary in the short to medium term, it is being contracted on a short-term basis, which will enable the State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates.
Applications for international protection this year have reduced compared to 2024, though they remain high compared to pre-2022 levels. This reduction has allowed department officials to put in place greater controls over the IPAS accommodation portfolio after many years of intense surges in arrivals, and a crisis response to source accommodation.
A range of updated systems and procedures have been put in place and are already having an impact. IPAS has put improved processes in place for appraisal, validation, contracting and payments. The introduction of a new rate card model is driving costs down for new and renewed contracts, already saving over €59 million this year. This reform within the accommodation system is on track for continued process improvement and costs savings as we move forward into 2026.
85. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the up-to-date position on implementation of a single permit system for visas and work permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68401/25]
View answerI have been working closely with the Minister of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to ensure that Ireland's legal employment pathways are as efficient and convenient as possible.
I know the Deputy has brought this up in recent months and since then I have had a very productive meeting with Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon and his officials in relation to this project.
As I know the Deputy is aware, in May 2024 Government approval was secured for our plan to introduce a single permit to both work and live in Ireland.
Currently, employment permits, visa applications and residency permits are processed separately. A detailed plan is being developed to unify these processes and an implementation team is working to introduce a single permit. Once this is in place Ireland can seek to opt-in to the EU Single Permit Directive.
This is a complex technical project, involving linking two separate IT systems, and is likely to require legislative amendment. Completion is expected in 2027.
In the short term, streamlining the process will ensure that information requests and checks won’t be duplicated. Customer experience will be improved through aligning online information and introducing a single payment model. These steps will simplify the process while a common application platform is being developed.
Last year, changes were introduced that have enabled spouses and partners of employment permit holders to take up employment without separate authorisation.
These initiatives support the long-term sustainability of our economy and recognise the important contribution legal migrants make across our economy and society.
My Department is also leading on the development of a National Migration and Integration Strategy to address the demands and opportunities facing Ireland in the coming decade.
We are working with a wide range of other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first whole-of-government Migration and Integration Strategy in 2026.
88. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of community organisations seeking to support vulnerable people under the community sponsorship framework of the Humanitarian Admissions Programme; his views on whether the level of communication with these groups is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66815/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Humanitarian Admissions Programme prioritises at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary, and journalists, for admission to Ireland as programme refugees.
This is managed within the remit of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department. Over 700 people from Afghanistan have been admitted to Ireland under this programme since its inception in 2021.
In accordance with the terms of the scheme the number of admissions available under the 2025 Programme was limited to 50, and as the number of applications received far exceeded that and accordingly not all applications were successful.
The 2025 Programme is now closed for applications and arrangements are being made by my officials to facilitate the arrivals of the remaining successful applicants before the end of 2025. All applications submitted to my Department for consideration under the programme were subject to review by my officials to ensure a fair process.
All unsuccessful applicants were notified of the position by the designated partner organisation, which for 2025 is The Open Community. The Open Community offered feedback to those representing the unsuccessful applicants from both phases of the 2025 Programme, and engaged intensively with all those who attended these online sessions.
I am satisfied that the partner organisation ensured that there was clear communication with applicants and their representatives at all stages of the process. This engagement was aimed at somewhat mitigating the natural disappointment of applicants and their prospective sponsors in that regard.
I have committed to admitting 50 applicants under humanitarian admissions for both 2026 and 2027. Further information on the programme for 2026 will be made available at the appropriate time.
92. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline his plans to increase the Garda training allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68326/25]
View answerGetting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime is my first priority as Minister.
The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána recruit 5,000 members across the next five years. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs and Budget 2026 provides unprecedented funding of €2.59 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
The Garda Trainee allowance increased from €305 to €354 per week with effect from 1 October 2024 and has almost doubled – an increase of €170 per week.
Insofar as further increases to the allowance are concerned, these will be considered in the normal course and in the context of the overall Garda recruitment situation.
It is worth highlighting however, that for first time ever, there were two Garda recruitment competitions held this year. There was significant interest in both competitions, with over 11,100 people applying to join An Garda Síochána this year. This demonstrates that there is a strong and sustained interest in a career as a Garda amongst the public.
It is clear that recruitment into An Garda Síochána is now gathering real momentum. I was delighted to see 223 Gardaí enter Templemore earlier this month, the largest single intake in over a decade. This was the second intake of 200 or more this year. Overall, 794 trainees have entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018.
93. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of incidents reported in International Protection Accommodation Service centres for each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown of these incidents by the nature of the incident and the centre in which they occurred, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68149/25]
View answerThe safety and wellbeing of all residents and staff in our accommodation centres is a priority for the Department and all IPAS teams.
IPAS is always available to deal with any complaints from residents and residents are encouraged to engage with IPAS if they are unhappy with any aspect of their accommodation.
Where a complaint is significant in nature or a resident is not comfortable raising a complaint with a centre manager, they may make the complaint directly, or through a representative authorised to act on their behalf, to the IPAS Customer Service Team.
Incidents that arise in centres are defined and set out in IPAS policies, from a broad scale of general, minor incidents that include petty theft or damage to property, complaints about behaviour or noise, to include incidents considered critical in that they relate mental health or self-harm incidents, violence towards staff or residents, or the unexpected death of a resident.
Guidelines are in place for IPAS staff and Department officials in relation to responding quickly to any incidents, taking action to ensure people are safe. This includes reporting to An Garda Síochána if this is necessary.
When any incident occurs, IPAS teams and centre management and staff work to ensure that residents involved can be supported, and that staff are trained and ready to respond in the right way, seeking support from officials and other agencies as needed.
Staff and centre management are also equipped to support other people affected, including any family members or friends of the resident in the centre.
Critical Incidents are events that happen in a centre that are outside the normal range of experience and may lead to significant injury, property damage or even death.
If a Critical Incident occurs in a Centre, Centre Management will assess the situation and alert emergency services as appropriate. Critical Incident Staff Training is provided to staff working in IPAS Accommodation centres. They are given examples of what constitutes a critical incident and what to do to respond.
Critical Incidents
|
- |
2024 |
2025 (to end Oct 2025) |
|
Mental Health/self-harm |
25 |
28 |
|
Violence towards staff/others |
23 |
11 |
|
Deaths on-site |
7 |
2 |
|
Other |
2 |
20 |
|
Total |
57 |
61 |
Information on the location of incidents is not reported in order to protect the privacy and confidentiality of resident information.
94. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the concerns of rural communities regarding policing and community safety. [68409/25]
View answerThis Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities across the country. Minister O'Callaghan and I are conscious that different communities have different needs and we must recognise that. When it comes to rural communities, some areas may face quite specific challenges given their geographic characteristics, whereas some challenges and crime types may be experienced across all rural communities.
Getting more Gardaí out on patrol in all our communities is this Government’s first priority in the area of Justice. A Garda budget of €2.59 billion in 2026 will fund the recruitment of up to 1,000 new Gardaí. An Garda Síochána, through Public Jobs, has run two Garda recruitment campaigns in 2025, with over 11,100 applications in total. Overall, 794 trainees have entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018. This shows that recruitment of new Gardaí is gathering real momentum and we now have a steady pipeline of recruits entering the Garda College. 194 new Gardaí attested from the Templemore in mid-November and we are confident that we can look forward to seeing more large groups of Gardaí attesting from Templemore over the course of 2026. In turn these Gardaí will boost numbers throughout the country.
Rural crime obviously covers a number of areas that cause concern for people living in rural communities, ranging from burglary and theft, to animal crime and road traffic offences. An Garda Síochána are committed to tackling all crime, including crime that occurs in our rural communities.
I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is committed to strengthening their role in fighting crime in rural communities through intelligence-led operations, and their national anti-burglary initiative, Operation Thor. They commenced the winter phase of this Operation in October. This annual increased enforcement operation is aimed at preventing burglars from exploiting the reduced hours of daylight. An Garda Síochána will continue to make arrests as part of ongoing investigations into rural burglaries and bring individuals before the Courts.
Rural safety and community safety is not about policing alone of course – it requires a multi-agency, multi-sectoral and a whole-of-Government response.
Supporting the work of the National Rural Safety Forum, our Department has published the second Rural Safety Plan 2025-2027. The Plan’s vision is to ensure people and communities in rural Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, places of work, and their local environments.
It does this by identifying five key priority areas that we will focus on to achieve the overall goal. These areas are: Community Safety, Burglary and Theft, Roads Policing, Animal Crime and Heritage Crime.
Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) are also being rolled out across the country at present, including the Waterford LCSP which has been established and which held its first meeting at the beginning of November. They will play a major role in enhancing public safety alongside An Garda Síochána, residents, businesses and state agencies.
95. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider establishing an additional layer to the Criminal Assets Bureau in order that it will have the capacity to investigate lifestyles funded by criminal activity, including gangland and drug dealing activities, at a more micro/local community level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68255/25]
View answerSince its inception, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime and disrupting the activities of criminals by depriving them of ill-gotten assets. CAB works closely with Gardaí and all law enforcement agencies at national and international levels and continues to focus its efforts on targeting assets deriving from all types of criminal conduct.
Actively investigating lifestyles funded by criminal activity is a core part of the Bureau's work. They utilise a network of Divisional Asset Profilers within An Garda Síochána, trained by CAB, who are tasked with continuously providing a criminal asset profiling service in each Garda Division. These profilers are the eyes and ears of the Bureau, as they cover every corner of the country and have first-hand knowledge of criminality in their geographic locations. The Divisional Asset Profiler Network provides the Bureau with an increased reach to all areas throughout the country.
The role of the Divisional Asset Profiler is to assist the Bureau in the course of investigations within their respective Garda Divisions. They prepare asset profiles on local criminals and refer them to the Bureau for consideration. To allow the Bureau investigate cases that may exist at a lower level, the threshold of assets was reduced from €13,000 to €5,000.
Since the inception of the Programme the number of Divisional Asset Profilers trained has increased to 628 Gardaí, from 208 in 2016. There were also 21 Revenue Profilers and 9 Department of Social Protection Profilers at the end of 2024.
The Criminal Assets Bureau conducts annual training courses for Asset Profilers.
CAB continues to deny and deprive people of the proceeds of criminal conduct. In 2024 for example, more than €17 million was returned to the Exchequer arising from their work.
I am committed to ensuring that the Criminal Assets Bureau have the powers and resources to continue their important work. The Proceeds of Crime Bill is making its way through the Oireachtas currently. Once passed into law, the Criminal Assets Bureau will have stronger investigative powers and will be able to dispose of assets much more quickly than is currently the case.
I was also pleased to secure a 6.3% increase on the Criminal Assets Bureau budget allocation for 2026.
96. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the supports available to communities in Cork that are accommodating newly arrived international protection applicants; the number of centres in place in 2025 compared to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67261/25]
View answerThe State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, about 9,500 of whom are children.
During a significant surge in applications from 2022 to 2024, the State was obliged to urgently source over 26,000 beds to accommodation people in the IPAS system. While the State was not in a position to implement policies in relation to dispersal or distribution, the nearly 320 IPAS accommodation centres currently in operation are distributed and operational in every county across Ireland.
Currently, there are 22 IPAS accommodation Centres in Co. Cork. In November 2024, there were 23 IPAS Accommodation Centres in Co. Cork. Cork hosts a total of 1483 international protection applicants, about a quarter of whom are children.
When new residents arrive to a centre, IPAS have a range of supports in place to help them to settle into their accommodation, including Resident Welfare Team supports, the centre staff and management themselves, and the wider Customer Service team within IPAS. Advocacy organisation also connect with new residents to assist them.
The Department provides funding for dedicated integration teams within each Local Authority, and a range of funding schemes for communities, to support integration of people who newly arrive to an area.
The Local Authority Integration Teams in both Cork City Council and Cork County Council are funded directly by my Department and provide a range of supports to both new and longer-term residents, connecting them with the wider community as a whole.
Another important mechanism used to support integration is through local and national funding programmes, aimed at non-government and community groups, to enable them to play their part and progress programmes to support integration initiatives in their locality or in their area of expertise.
The Ireland Against Racism Fund is part of the [National Action Plan Against Racism] (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/national-action-plan-against-racism/) and enables non-government and community organisations to provide projects and local initiatives that combat racism and promote racial equality. To date, 57 projects have received funding amounting to €2.4 million under the scheme, and results of the 2025 Ireland Against Racism Fund are to be announced by Minister Colm Brophy this week.
The Integration Fund 2025 supports local community groups, charities and other organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, regional or local level. Results of the 2025 Integration Fund were announced on 12 November 2025. 117 projects were awarded grants with a combined total of €3.6m.
The National Integration Fund (NIF) is a multi-annual funding call which supports communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants, and is open to organisations operating at regional and national level. NIF 2023 results were announced in April 2024, with 18 projects being awarded grants with a combined total of over €2.8 million over a three-year period.
Ireland also receives EU Funding to support the integration and social inclusion of migrants. This includes, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, and the Integration and Employment of Migrants action through the European Social Fund+. As an example of how these funds can support progress and services in counties, both Nasc and SECAD have benefited from these funds, and use these to assist in providing education, language, employment, wellbeing, and social inclusion supports for Non-EU Nationals, including international protection applicants based in Cork.
The Programme for Government 2025 provides a commitment to developing a new Migration and Integration Strategy for Ireland, detailing how we intend to meet the demands and the opportunities facing our society and economy over the next decade. Work is well advanced on this project, with a view to the Strategy being launched next year.
97. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s plans for the building currently occupied by a community centre (details supplied) in Tuam, County Galway; if his Department plans to retain, refurbish, or dispose of the property; the engagement which has taken place with TCTC regarding the future use of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67870/25]
View answerThe Tuam Community Training Centre, based in Galway, provides education, training, restorative justice interventions, personal development and progression opportunities for young adult offenders and those at risk of offending or re-offending. The premises occupied by the centre is owned by my Department and the work they do is funded by the Probation Service. I saw first-hand the valuable work carried out by the centre during my visit there last May. I am also aware that there are issues with the condition of the building. Following engagement with the Centre by the Probation Service, my officials are considering options for the building occupied by the Tuam Community Training Centre. I can assure the Deputy that I will provide an update once these options have been reviewed and a decision reached.
The Centre engages with probation clients providing support and training in the community. This is consistent with the Government’s commitment in the Programme for Government to the expanded use of community sanctions, which will improve efforts to rehabilitate offenders and contribute to reducing prison overcrowding.
In April 2025, I launched the Probation Service Community Service Implementation Plan, “New Directions 2025-2027” which sets out a range of actions and targets to increase the uptake, consistency and availability of Community Service Orders throughout the country, so as to provide a meaningful alternative to custodial sentences where appropriate and support desistance from offending behaviour.
Budget 2026 provides an 11.2% increase in funding for the Probation Service, allowing for the recruitment of 100 additional staff. This additional funding will also be used to increase use of supervised community sanctions in the criminal courts, expand restorative justice services and expand supervised temporary release schemes nationally.
On 6 May 2025, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which seeks to amend legislation to increase the maximum number of hours that can be imposed under a Community Service Order from 240 to 480 hours. The amendment will also require a judge to consider a Community Service Order, if a sentence of up to two years is being considered, rather than the current one year requirement.
Work is also under way to develop a pilot bail support policy for women, as an alternative to being detained in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.
€7.3 million additional funding is being provided for Youth Diversion Projects, which now provide opportunities to prevent young people from getting involved in anti-social, or criminal behaviour, in every part of the State.
The Programme for Government also commits to implement electronic monitoring (EM) for appropriate categories of offender and Budget 2026 allocated funding of €2.1m for the project to allow for staffing, procurement, and other set-up costs. It is intended to go to tender for an electronic monitoring provider shortly.
98. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration will be given to opening a new domestic violence refuge space in Kildare north in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68390/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Cuan has been working to accelerate the delivery of refuge spaces across the country, since its establishment last year.
By the end of 2024, 14 of 18 priority locations had identified a site, one new refuge had opened and another had started construction. Estimated delivery timelines were worked through for all priority locations.
Following a request from me, Cuan undertook a progress review and set out actions to further speed up delivery. On foot of this review, completed in Spring of this year, the following will be delivered by the end of 2026:
• 52 new family refuge units
• 45 new safe homes
• with 50 new units under construction.
At the outset of the zero-tolerance strategy there were 49 safe homes in place. By the end of 2026 it is envisaged that 94 safe homes and 193 refuge units will be completed, bringing total safe accommodation to 287, with 50 further refuge units under construction.
There are currently no plans to develop a new domestic violence refuge space in Kildare north in 2026. Teach Tearmainn currently leads the provision of refuge and Safe Home accommodation, as well as children’s supports, outreach, and court accompaniment in County Kildare. It currently operates four refuge units. There are also two safe home accommodation units in the county. Cuan provided Teach Tearmainn with €915,000 in 2024 and has allocated provisional funding of €930,000 for 2025. Cuan will continue to work with Teach Tearmainn to develop service provision.
While currently almost three quarters of the population in the State is within 30 minutes of a refuge location, Cuan is acutely aware of the need to improve on this and to ensure that services are accessible to everyone living in rural and urban areas. Achieving this, including through the completion of a National Services Development Plan, is a core objective of Cuan’s Corporate Plan 2025-2027, which was published at the end of last year.
99. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide updated figures on Garda deployment levels in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68161/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, and Garda Staff by Division and Station, including for Laois/Offaly Garda Division, is publicly available and 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 the most recent month and access the file titled “Garda Members by Division District Station 2009 to the most recent date” for a breakdown of total Garda numbers by Garda station going back to 2009.
The Deputy should select the most recent month and access the file titled “Garda Staff by Division and Station to the most recent date” for a breakdown of total Garda Staff going back to 2010.
100. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the Humanitarian Admissions Programme; if he will commit to accepting future applicants in the coming years under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66814/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Humanitarian Admissions Programme prioritises at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary, and journalists, for admission to Ireland as programme refugees.
This is managed within the remit of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department. Over 700 people from Afghanistan have been admitted to Ireland under this programme since its inception in 2021.
In accordance with the terms of the scheme the number of admissions available under the 2025 Programme was limited to 50, and as the number of applications received far exceeded that and accordingly not all applications were successful
The 2025 Programme is now closed for applications and arrangements are being made by my officials to facilitate the arrivals of the remaining successful applicants before the end of 2025. All applications submitted to my Department for consideration under the programme were subject to review by my officials to ensure a fair process.
All unsuccessful applicants were notified of the position by the designated partner organisation, which for 2025 is The Open Community. The Open Community offered feedback to those representing the unsuccessful applicants from both phases of the 2025 Programme, and engaged intensively with all those who attended these online sessions.
I am satisfied that the partner organisation ensured that there was clear communication with applicants and their representatives at all stages of the process. This engagement was aimed at somewhat mitigating the natural disappointment of applicants and their prospective sponsors in that regard.
I have committed to admitting 50 applicants under humanitarian admissions for both 2026 and 2027. Further information on the programme for 2026 will be made available at the appropriate time.
101. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the implications the change of rules by the British Government on immigration may have on the Irish State; the additional measures that will have to be put in place as a consequence of the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66650/25]
View answer376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has produced any formal impact assessment, internal risk analysis or scenario modelling on the likely displacement of asylum applicants from the United Kingdom to Ireland following the UK Government's recently announced asylum reforms, and to outline the date each assessment was commissioned and completed and the principal findings. [68838/25]
View answer377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the estimated change in arrivals through Northern Ireland that his Department anticipates over the next twelve months as a result of the UK Government's asylum reforms, including any modelling undertaken on movements across the Common Travel Area and the open land border, and to detail the data sources, assumptions and projected ranges applied in this modelling. [68839/25]
View answer379. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to detail the specific legislative or administrative changes under preparation to ensure that Ireland's asylum system does not act as a pull factor relative to the United Kingdom following its asylum reforms, including the timeline for these changes and whether they will be incorporated into the forthcoming International Protection Bill. [68841/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 376, 377 and 379 together.
I am focused on taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while also ensuring the integrity of the system.
We know that a significant proportion of people who apply for international protection here in Ireland have entered over our shared land border with the UK. We must recognise however that, when my officials and I speak to our UK counterparts, they also express concern that many people are travelling in the opposite direction too: from Ireland, across the land border, and into the UK to claim asylum there.
It is true then that both Ireland and the UK have a common interest in the effective operation of the Common Travel Area (CTA) from a migration as well as from a security point of view and we work together to prevent any abuses of the CTA as well as to strengthen the external border of the CTA.
My Department is carrying out a joint risk assessment with the UK Home Office which will consider emerging trends which may impact operational and policy priorities. Its overarching aim is to inform policy making and operational prioritisation in line with our existing strategy to secure the external CTA border.
I would also add that, since my appointment as Minister for Justice, I have had a number of engagements with the then UK Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, where we discussed cooperation in respect of managing the Common Travel Area, and our shared objectives to provide for effective management of migration and border security. I am looking forward to engaging with the current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, in the coming weeks where this important engagement will continue.
I can assure the Deputy that I and the Government are aware that changes to the UK’s asylum practices or laws can result in changes to the migratory flows between the UK and Ireland. My officials and I will be closely monitoring any effect on trends in applications and will take any action necessary in close cooperation with the UK.
102. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will detail the communications there has been between his Department, other Government Departments and relevant agencies on the issue of responding to drugs crime and the societal impact of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67896/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to a health-led approach to drug use, firmly believing that individuals experiencing problematic drug use should be met with compassion, dignity, and appropriate care. In line with Programme for Government commitments, the Department of Health is now preparing a successor National Drugs Strategy to cover the period 2026-2029.
This will be informed by an evaluation of the existing strategy and consultations with stakeholders, along with the recommendations of the Citizen’s Assembly on Drug Use.
My colleague the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor established a Steering Group in September 2025, chaired by Dr. Sarah Morton, to provide oversight and guidance to the development of the successor National Drugs Strategy.
The group, which includes a representative from my Department, has been tasked with overseeing the drafting of a successor national drugs strategy, as well as a two-year action plan to support its delivery, for completion by December 2025. A reference group is supporting the Steering Group's work providing real-world knowledge and lived experience of drug use to inform the drafting of the new strategy.
As Minister for Justice I am fully committed to helping to significantly reduce the harms caused to families and communities by illicit drug use. The three main policy objectives my Department are seeking to achieve in this area are:
• tackling organised crime;
• minimising the harms caused to those with addiction issues; and
• diverting people from involvement in crime and illicit drug-related activity.
The Government is fully committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to fight organised crime. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.59 billion in Budget 2026.
Operation Tara, aims to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels – international, national and local – involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs. Under Operation Tara, individuals and groups involved in the drug trade are the target of enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest crime trends.
Two examples of Garda success in the past month alone include:
• Searches at a residential addresses in the Dublin and Wicklow areas on 13 November 2025 in which 98 kilos of cannabis and 2 kilos of cocaine – with a combined estimated street value of €2.1 million – were seized.
• As part of an intelligence led operation, Gardaí and Revenue Customs Service, seized 220 kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €4.4 million on Friday 14 November 2025.
In terms of minimising harms, the Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. Information in relation to the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and a list of the nominated Inspectors countrywide is available on the Garda website.
In May, alongside my colleague Minister Murnane O’Connor, I launched the DRIVE (Drug related intimidation & violence engagement) project. DRIVE’s primary goal is to establish effective systems and structures for a unified, timely, and sensitive response to drug-related intimidation. It focuses on responding to incidents, supporting those affected, and preventing future occurrences.
DRIVE promotes interagency collaboration by bringing together law enforcement, health services, social services, and community organisations to tackle Drug Related Intimidation from multiple perspectives. It operates on a national scale across Ireland, ensuring consistent and comprehensive support in all regions.
There are over 400 publicly funded drug services, including family support services, across the country which can advise and support people affected by Drug Related Intimidation. Family support services are critical because drug-related violence nearly always becomes an issue for the whole family. More information can be found online on the Driveproject.ie website.
We also have a particular focus on targeting the work of organised crime groups, which inflict intimidation and violence on families and communities, while grooming and coercing vulnerable young people into drug-related criminal activity.
A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use, including:
• Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct gangland and drug related crime;
• New laws have been enacted which criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Drafting new laws which will provide for the use of facial recognition technology in the investigation of certain drug offences;
• Rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit.
103. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the actions he is taking to support Gardaí in tackling persistent antisocial behaviour in town centres in Offaly, including Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68162/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and crime to build safer, stronger communities. I am conscious of the damaging impact on the quality-of-life which crime and anti social behaviour can have in our communities and a visible Garda presence is important to help people feel safe.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda stations in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry are open 24/7. Community Policing teams are also attending meetings and engaging with various community groups to hear their concerns and provide crime prevention advice.
I engage regularly with the Commissioner to ensure that he has the resources that he needs to fight crime. This is reflected in the record allocation of €2.59 billion in the Garda Vote for 2026 which will support the continued recruitment of Gardaí and Garda staff. The Garda budget will fund the recruitment of up to 1,000 new Gardaí, 200 more Garda staff and a doubling of the Garda Reserve to over 600 next year.
Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is gathering momentum and we now have a steady pipeline of new recruits entering the Garda College. 21 Probationer Gardaí have been assigned to the Laois/Offaly Garda Division over the last two years.
794 new recruits entered the Garda College this year and we can look forward to seeing those probationer Gardaí assigned throughout the country in 2026 as they attest from Templemore. It must also be noted that the allocation of newly attested Gardaí allows for currently serving Gardaí to transfer to other Divisions across the country and into specialist units.
Along with extra Gardaí and an enhanced, visible Garda presence, some of the other measures the Government are taking, include:
• The introduction of Local Community Safety Partnerships around the country, including in Offaly, to develop tailored Community Safety Plans for every area;
• Continued expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures;
• New laws which criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• The deployment of body-worn cameras, with nationwide roll-out to follow the current pilot project;
• Proposing solutions to public order and anti-social behaviour through the Local Leadership Programme which brings together local stakeholders in a structured manner;
• Over €4 million allocated to 42 projects through the Community Safety Fund, which re-invests the proceeds of crime into local safety projects.
Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) represent a significant step towards a more collaborative, responsive, and locally driven model of public safety. They will bring together a broad range of relevant stakeholders to address community safety issues in their area which will include residents, local councillors, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority. A core part of their work will be to draft a Community Safety Plan tailored to the community's needs.
From An Garda Síochána's perspective, a long-term strategic approach to tackle anti-social behaviour in communities assists in addressing potential problems before they arise. An Garda Síochána work collaboratively with Local Authorities, community leaders and groups to find solutions to problems associated with anti-social behaviour.
I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána will always be on hand to respond to incidents, implement local policing plans as necessary and provide crime prevention advice to address the needs of the communities they serve.
104. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of convictions for coercive control to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68335/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and ensuring that victims and survivors are fully supported, remain absolute priorities for this Government. These commitments underpin the Third National Strategy on DSGBV and a key element of achieving the Strategy’s aims is through robust legislation.
The offence of coercive control, provided for under section 39 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, recognises and criminalises patterns of psychological and emotional abuse within intimate relationships. A person convicted of this offence is liable to receive a fine or face imprisonment for up to five years.
To be of assistance, I had enquiries made with the Court Service.
Offences such as coercion would typically be sent forward for trial in the Circuit Court.
I am informed that, at this time, the system in use by the Courts Service in the Circuit Courts cannot produce reports for specific offences. The only reports which are available are by offence category rather than for individual offences and categories of offences can contain multiple offences. The Courts Service is, therefore, unable to provide the data requested for these reasons.
105. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has undertaken a review of IPAS accommodation in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68334/25]
View answerThe 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.
The IPAS system is managed as a unified, national system, and as such the Department does not collate reports or analyses of inspections and compliance by county or by a particular area within a county.
All accommodation centres are subject to routine inspections and compliance checks during the lifetime of the contract, either by Department officials, HIQA, or through IPAS-commissioned inspections. These inspections are fully transparent and published online regularly.
Reports of IPAS inspections are available online on gov.ie and numbers of inspections have increased significantly since 2023.
www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/ipas-inspection-reports/ .
In 2025 to date, there have been 372 inspections completed by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS), covering 341 separate properties.
202 of these inspections have been carried out by IPPS and 170 by an independent inspector. The inspection carried out by the independent inspector have covered 153 separate properties.
Where any centre has areas of partial or non-compliance identified during an inspection,?a bespoke Compliance Plan is agreed and outlined in the inspection report, noting the specific and time-bound measures which will be taken in order to ensure full compliance with the National Standards.
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 Department continues to appraise the portfolio of existing accommodation with a view to consolidation where possible, along with better governance and compliance, and increased frequency of inspections of properties.
In 2025, 22 have been notified of termination by the Department and details of each contractual process are treated as confidential and commercially sensitive.
Reasons for termination can include non-compliance with contractual terms or with regulatory requirements such as building and fire regulations or planning matters.
While commissioning emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be necessary in the short to medium term, it is being contracted on a short-term basis, which enables the State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates.
