Máire Devine
Question:688. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for advice related to a family reunification application (details supplied). [71485/25]
View answerFamily Reunification
Questions (688)
Written answers
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.
I 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 took immediate effect, with longer term measures to be introduced as soon as operational considerations allow.
I can advise the Deputy that the income requirements for healthcare workers on General Employment Permits remain unchanged. They must have a gross income in excess of €30,000 in the previous year to sponsor a spouse or partner, and a gross income in excess of €44,300 to sponsor one child. The income thresholds, as before, are indexed against the Working Family Payment (WFP) based on the number of children a sponsor wishes to bring. This means that the threshold to sponsor one child will rise to €50,200 in January 2026. For such applicants, the requirement to produce financial records has reduced from two years to one year, to align with the existing one year waiting period.
I can also confirm that the income of only one individual sponsor will be considered in assessing whether an application meets the financial requirements. Declared and verifiable savings by the family member or sponsor may also be taken into account in assessing cases that fall short of the income thresholds.
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 as soon as operational considerations allow 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 state funds. The policy also aims to ensure that the needs and welfare of children are considered when determining the eligibility of a sponsor.
The revised policy can be accessed on my Departments website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/publications/revised-non-eea-family-reunification-policy-and-final-report-on-the-review-of-the-policy/.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (689)
Emer Currie
Question:689. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí who have retired or left the force in Dublin to date in 2025; the number of new Gardaí assigned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71487/25]
View answerWritten answers
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (690)
Emer Currie
Question:690. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí who have retired or left the force in Dublin DMR west to date in 2025; the number of new Gardaí assigned, broken down by station, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71488/25]
View answerWritten answers
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (691)
Emer Currie
Question:691. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of probationer Gardaí allocated to Dublin DMR west in 2025, broken down per station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71489/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 and is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act. As Minister, I have no role in the deployment of Garda resources or operational policing matters.
In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes detailed breakdowns on the allocation of Gardaí including the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station. This information is updated on a monthly basis 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/
To be of assistance, I have provided the below table which includes all probationer allocations to date for 2025 to the DMR West Division by Station.
|
Divisions |
Training Station |
Station Totals |
|
DMR West |
BALLYFERMOT |
4 |
|
|
BLANCHARDSTOWN |
15 |
|
|
CLONDALKIN |
14 |
|
|
FINGLAS |
1 |
|
|
LUCAN |
10 |
|
|
RONANSTOWN |
5 |
|
Total |
|
49 |
An Garda Síochána
Questions (692)
Emer Currie
Question:692. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the date for the next Garda attestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71490/25]
View answerWritten answers
Getting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime is my first priority as Minister. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, and I was very pleased to secure unprecedented funding in Budget 2026 of €2.59 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
At the end of October, the total Garda personnel strength stood at a record level of over 18,000, which included 14,290 Gardaí, 3,487 Garda Staff, and 291 Reserves. I will continue to support An Garda Síochána to increase this number further so that we can see more Gardaí assigned all across the country.
The provision of training is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner but I can inform the Deputy that the next group of Garda recruits due to complete their training at the Garda College is expected to attest in February 2026.
Departmental Policies
Questions (693)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:693. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025; if his Department intends on proceeding with the Bill’s current provisions to prohibit sex for rent exploitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71491/25]
View answerWritten answers
Any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through such 'sex for rent' arrangements is completely unacceptable. Such actions are an abuse of power, which will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which I published on 6 May, includes measures to criminalise the exploitative practice of seeking sex in lieu of rent. It is proposed to introduce two specific criminal offences related to ‘sex for rent’: (i) offering accommodation in exchange for sexual activity and (ii) the advertising of accommodation for the same motivation.
The General Scheme of the Bill was referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and to the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for pre-legislative scrutiny. The pre-legislative scrutiny hearing took place on 30 September 2025 and the Committee’s Report was published on 13 November 2025.
I received Government approval on Tuesday, 16th December 2025 to publish the Bill and I intend on introducing the legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas early in 2026.
Immigration Policy
Questions (694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699)
Alan Kelly
Question:694. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to introduce a compulsory English language course concluding with an oral and written examination for non-European Union adults as a provision for achieving right to remain status in Ireland, excluding those who can demonstrate an oral and written competency in the language. [71525/25]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:695. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to introduce a compulsory English language course for all European Union adult citizens wishing to achieve Irish citizenship (details supplied). [71526/25]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:696. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if she plans to introduce a compulsory course of English, to exclude a demand for fluency in English applicants for right to remain or citizenship people who are of retirement age or who have special learning difficulties. [71527/25]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:697. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of adults in 2021 to 2025 which have received right to remain in Ireland without a competence in English. [71529/25]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:698. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of adults in 2021 to 2025 which have received Irish citizenship without a competence in English. [71530/25]
View answerAlan Kelly
Question:699. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to introduce a compulsory examination course on Irish culture and institutions for all immigrants seeking right to remain or citizenship; and to ensure a cohort of permanent teachers be established to deliver such a course either online or in person (details supplied). [71535/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 694, 695, 696, 697, 698 and 699 together.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department has not developed any plans or proposals to introduce civic and language courses or tests for applicants seeking an immigration permission to remain in the State or as part of the naturalisation process.
Last month Minister O'Callaghan and I secured Government approval to introduce new policies and legislative changes to strengthen Ireland’s migration and asylum system to ensure it is rules-based, efficient and more aligned with EU Member States.
In this context, my Department is reviewing many aspects of our current immigration regime, including the requirements for naturalisation.
As my Department does not record details of the English-language competence of individuals who receive an immigration permission or a certificate of naturalisation, the statistics the Deputy has requested are not available. However, the Central Statistics Office, through Census 2022, has gathered data on the English-language ability of people living in Ireland whose speak a language other than English or Irish at home, which is set out at data.cso.ie/table/F5015.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how we intend to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade. My Department is working with other Government departments to develop this, with the aim of publishing Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy in 2026.
The provision of accessible language supports remains an important element of our broader approach to integration. Education and Training Boards across the country offer free ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL) classes for migrants.
Question No. 695 answered with Question No. 694.
Question No. 696 answered with Question No. 694.
Question No. 697 answered with Question No. 694.
Question No. 698 answered with Question No. 694.
Question No. 699 answered with Question No. 694.
Programme for Government
Questions (700, 741)
Frankie Feighan
Question:700. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department's Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71630/25]
View answer
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:741. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72200/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 700 and 741 together.
Delivering on the commitments laid out in the Programme for Government is a priority for me as Minister, my Department and my colleagues, Ministers of State Colm Brophy and Niall Collins. Working with them, I want to ensure that our justice system is modern, efficient, and responsive to the needs of all of our people. To serve the fundamental need of all people to feel safe and secure in their homes and in their communities.
I was pleased to recently publish the new Statement of Strategy for my Department for 2025–2028. The Strategy aligns with the Programme for Government, sets out my Department’s strategic direction to 2028 and will further the work towards our shared vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland.
Some of my Department's achievements regarding commitments set out in the Programme for Government (PfG) since the formation of the Government are set out below.
Garda Recruitment
My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí out onto our streets preventing the commission of crime through high visibility patrols. Increased recruitment and appropriate civilianisation where possible are vital to achieving this as is modern technology and equipment and active management of Garda resources. The PfG commits to recruiting at least 5,000 Gardaí in the coming five years. As we strengthen An Garda Síochána, we will see more Gardaí visible in our communities tackling and preventing crime.
This year 794 new recruits have been welcomed into the Garda College in Templemore. This is the highest number recruited since 2018. This includes an intake of 223 trainees in November, the largest single intake in over a decade. Recruitment into An Garda Síochána is now gathering real momentum. New Garda recruits are already making an impact in their communities and the ongoing recruitment of new Gardaí will see further progress in increasing Garda numbers across the State.
Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024
On 2 April 2025, I was pleased to commence the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, in line with the PfG.
As a result, the following bodies were established:
• The new Garda Board
• The Policing and Community Safety Authority (replacing the existing Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate)
• Fiosrú – the Office of the Police Ombudsman
• The Office of the Independent Examiner of Security Legislation
• The National Office for Community Safety
The Act strengthens and consolidates independent, external oversight of An Garda Síochána; makes community safety a whole of government and multi-agency responsibility and enhances the internal governance of An Garda Síochána by establishing a new non-executive board which is a corporate governance standard across the public and private sectors.
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
The Government’s focus on youth diversion and interventions is a keystone in the Youth Justice Strategy, which is a forward-thinking plan designed to address the unique challenges faced by young people in Ireland. At its core, the Strategy emphasises early intervention, prevention, family support, and community engagement. It includes key objectives aligned with PfG commitments, aimed at promoting positive behavioural change, and it is only by targeting this behaviour that we can break the cycle of offending by young people. YDPs work with young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour to divert them away from criminal behaviour and towards better life outcomes.
In November, I was pleased to announce with Minister of State Collins that the State’s network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) has been successfully rolled out nationwide, making these critical interventions available to young people at risk of engaging in criminal activity no matter where they live in Ireland.
Prisons and Penal Policy
A multi-year building programme is currently progressing at several key sites across the prison estate. To accelerate delivery, agreement has been secured for six major projects to bypass the first approval gate of the Infrastructure Guidelines. This decision is expected to bring forward delivery timelines on those six projects by 12 to 18 months. This acceleration reflects the priority placed by the PfG on strengthening the prison system’s resilience and supporting the Irish Prison Service to provide safe, secure and humane accommodation.
Electronic Monitoring
My Department is leading a cross-agency project to introduce electronic monitoring for specific categories of individuals, as committed to in the Programme for Government, and in line with existing legal provisions. Existing legislation, including the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended and the Sex Offender Act 2001, as amended, provide for electronic monitoring, in certain circumstances.
I had committed to the publication of a Request for Tender (RFT) for the provision of an electronic monitoring service provider by the end of 2025. This Request for Tender has now been published with a closing date of the 16 January 2026 at 5pm.
My Department is tendering for an electronic monitoring service provider for a 12-month pilot phase, which will focus on individuals on temporary release nationally and those admitted to bail in a pilot area. It is proposed to utilise 30 to 50 electronic tags during this phase. This is expected to provided capacity to electronically monitor between 90 and 150 people in a year, but exact numbers monitored will depend on a range of factors including individuals’ lengths of time on bail or on temporary release, and individuals’ personal circumstances, including ongoing suitability and compliance with conditions.
The pilot approach will allow for processes and procedures to be tested before a wider scale national rollout, while also supporting the agencies involved to build capability and knowledge of the electronic monitoring system. Insights from the pilot will inform any future national rollout and procurement. The pilot is expected to be operational in 2026.
A Modern Courts and Legal System
I am committed to enacting essential legislative reform to modernise and streamline our Courts and legal system including:
General Scheme of the Civil Reform Bill
I obtained Government approval to prepare a General Scheme of a Civil Reform Bill. The Civil Reform Bill is a key implementation measure of the Kelly Report of the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice. As part of the Bill, it is my intention to introduce provisions which will codify the existing law on judicial review by placing it on a statutory basis. The measures should achieve greater transparency in the law and lead to a more streamlined review process.
Key reforms should ensure that the system cannot be misused on purely technical grounds, that the public interest is placed at the heart of judicial review, costs are reduced where possible and litigants have sufficient standing to properly challenge decisions. Given the significant challenges currently facing our State in terms of housing shortages, energy deficits, inadequate water supplies and climate change, all of which are exacerbated by the demands of a rising population, we can no longer delay on reform of the judicial review system. I am confident that the Bill will remove weaknesses in the current law, eliminate impediments to progress and deliver reform for the public benefit. I am also confident that measures in the Bill preserve the right of the citizen to ensure that public bodies act lawfully and are accountable for their decisions.
General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
In May, I secured Government approval to progress the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which inter alia significantly expands the courts' powers to conduct criminal proceedings remotely, provides for the digitalisation of court documents in such proceedings, criminalises the exploitative practice of seeking sex in lieu of rent, amends the law on disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials, and empowers the Gardaí to direct the removal of face coverings in certain public order situations.
The Bill also incorporates legislative amendments to the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 1983 and the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011 to provide that the limit of community service hours be increased from 240 up to 480 hours. This action also includes the requirement for the judiciary to consider community service be mandatory where considering a custodial sentence of up to 2 years or less. It is anticipated that the Bill will be published this year.
I was pleased to receive Cabinet approval for the Bill today 16 December.
Family Law Reform
The ongoing reform of the Family Justice system, for the benefit of families and children, is another of my key priorities.
On 28 April, I hosted my first meeting of the Family Justice Development Forum, and I look forward to the next one planned for 19 January.
This was followed in May by the publication of the Review of the Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings. The review, a key action in the Family Justice Strategy, was conducted by a team from University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin and is an important piece of research which details the perspectives of many stakeholders regarding the current understanding and operation of the in-camera rule in family law proceedings. Importantly, it includes the views of those who have been parties in such proceedings. Officials from my Department are currently engaging with a variety of stakeholders and working on a policy paper regarding how some of the recommendations made in the report could be implemented.
In August of this year, I published two tenders for the provision of new family law services aimed at making our system more transparent and better for children. The first is for a Private Family Law Reporting Project to provide transparency for the public and increase awareness and understanding of family law proceedings while ensuring that children’s and parents’ right to privacy is upheld. I am pleased to say that the Child Law Project has been contracted to deliver the three year project and work on it has commenced. The second is for a service to provide a new and innovative way to hear children’s voices in private family law proceedings. The Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project will initially be established in Waterford and Clonmel, ensuring that all children to whom guardianship, custody or access applications relate can have the opportunity to be informed about the proceedings relating to them and have their voice heard without any cost to families.
In October this year I launched a social media campaign to promote a culture of paying child maintenance. This was a recommendation in the Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders. Work on implementing the other recommendations in the review is ongoing with child maintenance guidelines and an accompanying calculator due to be launched in January.
In November I hosted a stakeholder event where the OECD and the World Justice Project released the preliminary findings of my Department’s first Legal Needs Survey. The survey forms part of a project Ireland is participating in to develop people-centred justice services to enhance access to justice, including in family justice. I look forward to the full findings being published in 2026.
Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Strategy
Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) has been of central importance for me since taking office.
In June, I published the final implementation plan of the five-year ‘Zero Tolerance’ National DSGBV Strategy setting out the delivery targets and collective action to end 2026. The plan builds on the DSGBV commitments set out in the PfG and contains 95 specific actions across the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention. There is a strong emphasis on delivery, collective responsibility, and meaningful outcomes.
Amongst the key deliverables are actions already underway in respect of significant legislative reform commitments including:
• Prioritising the drafting of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill that will, in certain situations, allow for the removal of guardianship rights from individuals convicted of killing the other parent or guardian of their child;
• Limiting the disclosure of counselling records in rape and sexual assault cases;
• Banning sex for rent under the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025;
• Introducing the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence, and International Instruments) Bill 2025 which will introduce the Domestic Violence Register of Judgments - known as ‘Jennie’s Law’ - bringing greater transparency and accountability for serious offenders;
• Establishing the necessary legislative basis to provide for Operation Encompass, which will enable An Garda Síochána to share information with schools when a child has been exposed to domestic violence.
As part of the Zero Tolerance Strategy, Government committed to doubling domestic violence accommodation capacity in Ireland by the end of 2026 from 141 to 282 family units.
The following safe accommodation target was set earlier this year
• 52 new family refuge units by the end of 2026
• 45 new safe homes by the end of 2026
• 50 new units under construction by the end of 2026
Therefore, by the end of 2026 it is envisaged to have 94 safe homes and 193 refuge units completed, bringing total safe accommodation to 287, with 50 further refuge units under construction. I am continuing to work with Cuan, my Department and the Department of Housing to ensure we are exhausting all measures to increase the pace of delivery for this much needed additional capacity.
Immigration
My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals in line with commitments set out in the PfG. This includes the renewed use of chartered deportation flights. To date this year 4,454 deportation orders have been signed and 1,952 people have departed the State under various mechanisms.
In keeping with the PfG commitment to significantly enhance the delivery of public services digitally, phase one of my Department's Immigration Customer Service Portal, which enables applicants to check their immigration application status, book first-time registration appointments, and submit queries, has been operational since last October. To the end of Q3 2025, more than 195,000 customers have registered, with over 150,000 queries resolved and in excess of 88,000 registration appointments made.
In April I secured Government approval to draft the International Protection Bill, the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State in line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. The 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. These important changes include streamlining the decisions process, streamlining the returns process, a new ‘Border procedure’ with a three-month time limit for decisions, and new institutional arrangements for international protection decisions and appeals.
State-Owned Accommodation
I am committed to reforming Ireland’s international protection system to ensure its efficiency and robustness. A stable and sustainable accommodation network is a central element of that reform and a key PfG commitment. State-owned centres are part of the Government’s long-term plan to reduce the reliance on private accommodation providers resulting in better value for money of public funds and a more efficient international protection system. The purchase of the Citywest Hotel in June was a significant step in achieving this.
The viability of other properties that could be utilised as state-owned accommodation is currently being accessed.
Integration
Work on the publication of a new national Migration and Integration Strategy is ongoing as referenced in the PfG.
The Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, recently announced the 37 projects set to receive over €1.5m in funding under the Ireland Against Racism Fund 2025. This Fund enables non-government and community organisations to provide national and regional projects and local initiatives that combat racism and promote racial equality. The Fund is a key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) which was informed by the experiences of people who have been directly affected by racism.
This is in addition to the Integration Fund which combines two previously run funds – the International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) and the Communities Integration Fund (CIF). Since their inception, these funds have provided close to €10m in funding to more than 1,000 projects across the country. This fund is for projects supporting migrant integration in areas such as sport, education, employment, and culture. Results of the 2025 Integration Fund were announced in November. 117 projects were awarded a total of €3.6m.
Transfers of Responsibilities
In line with PfG commitments, responsibility for integration, International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), and the Ukraine Division transferred to my Department from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, and Equality on 1 May 2025. This transfer includes the transfer of all staff, approximately 340 people, alongside a substantial budget transfer of approximately €2.1 billion. As my Department had existing responsibility for immigration and migration and the processing of applications for international protection, this transfer underpins a more cohesive and strategic approach to migration and integration.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) also transferred to my Department from the Department of the Environment, Communications and Climate on 2 June 2025. The NCSC is the lead government agency on cyber security.
Responsibility for the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) transferred from my Department on 1 August to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. This transfer was carried out in line with the Programme for Government and aligns the work of IFCO with the Department responsible for culture. Responsibility for the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), as well as the Property Services Appeal Board, also transferred from my Department on 1 August to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Question No. 701 answered with Question No. 683.
Question No. 702 answered with Question No. 683.
Question No. 703 answered with Question No. 683.
Citizenship Applications
Questions (704)
Máire Devine
Question:704. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of a citizenship application (details supplied). [71646/25]
View answerWritten answers
The naturalisation application referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
I can advise the Deputy that this naturalisation application has been returned twice as it was incomplete and missing all the required documentation.
In cases where incomplete applications are received, the applicant is notified, and the application is returned with a request to provide the missing documentation within 28 days. A reminder notification is issued after 18 days if the required documentation has still not been provided.
When an application is returned, it is taken out of the queue for processing and will only rejoin the processing queue once the application has been updated and resubmitted by the applicant. It is important to note that the resubmitted application will rejoin the queue based on the date that it is resubmitted, not the date of the original application.
It is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some checks, including international checks, can take a considerable amount of time and are largely outside the control of the Immigration Service.
For that reason, while I expect that, going forward, most applicants will receive a decision within one year, this timeframe cannot be guaranteed in respect of applications made in any specific year.
Citizenship Division has taken a significant number of steps to improve the process for applicants. These include the introduction of an online digital application system, online payments, and eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these measures are contributing to reduced processing times.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: [www.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.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (705)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:705. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 522 of 20 November 2025, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to answer this PQ. [71682/25]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that Parliamentary Question No 522 of 20 November 2025 sought: "the number of Gardaí within the Meath-Westmeath Division that have been fully trained in each level of public order training in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form."
The table below has been provided to me by the Garda authorities and outlines the number of Gardaí within the Meath-Westmeath Division that have been fully trained in each level of public order training in 2024 and as of 18 November 2025.
|
Specialist: Public Order Course |
2024 |
*2025 |
|
Level 1 Operator |
11 |
22 |
|
Level 2 Operator |
11 |
10 |
|
Level 2 Operator Recertification |
3 |
0 |
*as of 18 November 2025
An Garda Síochána
Questions (706)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:706. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí by rank attached to Meath-Westmeath roads policing unit as of 5 December 2025. [71683/25]
View answerWritten answers
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.
In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí nationally. This includes a breakdown of Gardaí assigned to the roads policing unit in the Meath/Westmeath Division. This can be found at the following link:
The Deputy should select the most recently available date and then select the file titled ‘Roads Policing by Division to the most recent date" to access a breakdown of Garda members assigned to roads policing by Division.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (707)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:707. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí that transferred into the Meath-Westmeath division in 2024 and to-date in 2025; and the number of Gardai that transferred out of this division in the same period, in tabular form. [71684/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State, under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act.
The table below, provided by the Garda authorities, outlines transfers into and out of the Meath-Westmeath division in 2024 and to-date in 2025.
|
- |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Transfer Out |
51 |
52 |
|
Transfer In |
89 |
101 |
I am informed that applications for transfer are considered on an ongoing basis. In considering the transfer of personnel, while the overall needs of the organisation must be considered, particular consideration is given to the resourcing needs of the member’s current Division and those of the Division(s) to which they have applied to transfer to, as well as the welfare circumstances of members themselves.