Written Answers Nos. 1596-1615
1596. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2136/26]
View answerAny legal costs or settlements over €50,000 incurred by my Department or State bodies under the aegis of my Department (whether it is an employment law matter or otherwise) must get sanction from the Vote section of the Department for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1597. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to his responsibility for the General Register Office, when the digitisation of death registrations from 1864-1871 will be completed and made available online. [2174/26]
View answerThe General Register Office (GRO) is the central repository for records relating to births, stillbirths, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths in Ireland.
The computer system which holds and processes civil registrations in the GRO, the Civil Registration Computer System (CRCS), is being upgraded at present. Along with other work, it is hoped to complete the digitisation of the deaths registered from 1864 to 1870 and make these records available online on [www.irishgenealogy.ie] later in 2026.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1598. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has been made aware of the challenges schools with fewer than 75 pupils face in securing school lunch providers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2202/26]
View answerThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The programme is designed so that meals are provided by contracted food business operators. This ensures responsibility for food safety and legislative compliance is placed on these professional providers and not on the schools themselves. This also ensures children benefit from a reliable, high-quality service, while schools are protected from having to take on responsibilities more appropriate to the providers, who will have the necessary expertise and experience in food provision.
The recent refinements to the procurement system, which underpins the programme, strengthens it by ensuring consistent standards across all participating schools. They also reflect the combined input of several Government Departments and State agencies, ensuring that schools and providers operate safely and compliantly across areas such as food safety, health and safety, fire safety, and building regulations.
No new legislation has been introduced or application of the law changed.
Some 89% of primary schools with fewer than 50 pupils who participated in the School Meal Programme in 2024/2025 academic year received a hot school meal.
My officials in this Department have been working with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and they have compiled a list of supports available to local community organisations who may wish to expand their operation into the school meals area. This information has been supplied to some rural schools and a range of other community organisations. This can be obtained from my department. Schools can also engage with local café, restaurants, local suppliers, and meals on wheels services etc.
Should any school wish to contact my Department directly to discuss the options available to them, they can do so by contacting [school.meals@welfare.ie] or 071 9138625.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1599. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department uses artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2254/26]
View answerI can confirm that my Department does not use artificial intelligence tools in place of artists, designers or videographers. My Department is aware of the Guidelines for Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service, and the Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies. My Department will continue to assess the suitability of AI on a case by case basis.
1600. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any agencies or other bodies under his remit are using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the organisation are affected. [2272/26]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. These bodies have confirmed with my officials that they do not use artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in the place of artists, designers or videographers.
1601. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of the top ten capital or programme projects delivered by his Department or its agencies over the past three years which were completed on time and within the originally approved budget; the project name, location, delivery timeframe, original approved budget, final outturn cost and delivery body, for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2436/26]
View answerThe capital allocation for my Department is primarily used to deliver IT modernisation and carry out refurbishments on the Department’s buildings.
The following table provides the capital budgets allocated to the Department over the past three years.
|
Capital Budgets |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
|
A.2.4 Operational Supplies Services and Sundry Equipment (Other Equipment) |
400,000 |
|
|
|
A.2.5 Digital Capital Investment and IT Expenses (computer hardware) |
10,600,000 |
11,000,000 |
11,000,000 |
|
A.2.6 Premises Expenses |
6,000,000 |
5,000,000 |
5,000,000 |
|
Total Capital |
17,000,000 |
16,000,000 |
16,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITAL CARRYOVER |
|
|
|
|
A.2.5 Digital Capital Investment and IT Expenses (computer hardware) |
|
0 |
390,000 |
|
A.2.6 Premises Expenses |
1,380,000 |
0 |
1,000,000 |
There are no capital projects in relation to ICT expenditure as my Department's ICT capital expenditure provision is used to enable the Department to continue to modernise its business systems and replace legacy computer systems and ICT infrastructure. This involves the continued migration of business functionality to the Department’s strategic ICT platform and the continued development of a digital services platform. It also includes continued investment in physical ICT infrastructure, security systems, and ensuring that the complex ICT environment remains fit for purpose.
Capital building projects for the Department of Social Protection are delivered by the Office of Public Works (OPW). While many projects are fully funded from my Department’s capital allocation, the OPW also wholly funds or co-funds certain works that support the Department’s accommodation and operational needs. In such cases, the Department does not hold the full and final expenditure details.
The OPW is responsible for the management and delivery of these projects, including setting the delivery timeframes and managing project budgets. My Department approves and provides funding in line with the budgets proposed by the OPW, monitors and engages with OPW on an ongoing basis to ensure projects are delivered within agreed timelines. As the OPW is the delivery authority, information on whether each project was delivered on time and within budget is held by the OPW.
The following table sets out the top ten OPW-delivered projects funded by my Department and completed over the past three years.
|
No. |
Project Name |
Location |
Year |
Amount funded by DSP (€) |
|
1 |
Fitout |
DSP Blackwater Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork |
2023 |
1,178,484 |
|
2 |
Tallaght Intreo Fitout |
Tallaght Intreo Centre, Dublin 24 |
2023 |
1,022,632 |
|
3 |
Fitout |
Mallow SWO, Mallow |
2023 |
791,417 |
|
4 |
NAERSA Office Fitout |
Letterkenny CTBO, Co. Donegal |
2025 |
656,100* |
|
5 |
Retrofit & Refurbishment |
Pension Services Office, Sligo |
2024 |
471,730 |
|
6 |
Standby Generator |
DSP Buncrana, Co. Donegal |
2025 |
151,750* |
|
7 |
LED upgrade |
Ballyfermot Intreo Centre, Dublin 10 |
2023 |
122,062 |
|
8 |
Fire Suppression System |
Goldsmith House, Dublin 2 |
2024 |
117,214 |
|
9 |
Lighting upgrade |
DSP Buncrana, Co. Donegal |
2023 |
84,850 |
|
10 |
Air-conditioning installation |
Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Dublin 1 |
2025 |
76,319 |
*project recently completed; final outturn not yet available. DSP has provided funding to this amount.
As regards the organisations under the aegis of my Department the following table outlines capital works carried out in 2023.
|
Project Description |
Cost (€) |
|
Citizens Information Board (CIB) - Refurbishment of leasehold premises at 4 The Parade, Kilkenny |
287,145 |
1602. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the annual spend on external consultants by his Department and its agencies in each of the past three years; the number of consultancy contracts, the largest individual consultancy engagements by value, and whether internal capacity-building or cost-benefit assessments were undertaken prior to engaging external consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/26]
View answerConsultancy is defined by the Department of Finance as where a person or organisation provides intellectual or knowledge-based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc., that contribute to decision making or policy development.
The procurement of consultancy services is essential to support my Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. All expenditure is closely monitored, and companies are only engaged for essential work, following a rigorous assessment of need and where the required competencies do not exist in-house.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to expenditure on consultancy and the purpose of such spending is published on the Gov.ie website at [gov.ie - Department of Social Protection Policy on Procurement (www.gov.ie)].
Note: Payments are inclusive of VAT where appropriate.
Details from aegis of the Department are set out below.
Pensions Council
The Pensions Council’s sole function is to advise the Minister for Social Protection on pensions related matters. Expenditure incurred by the Pensions Council for consultancy is included in figures published by my Department.
Pensions Authority
|
Year |
Number of Contracts |
Largest Individual Consultancy Engagement by Value |
Annual Spend |
|
2025 |
8 |
Eversheds Sutherland |
€264,512 |
|
2024 |
11 |
A&L Goodbody |
€407,660 |
|
2023 |
13 |
A&L Goodbody |
€460,618 |
Citizens Information Board (CIB)
|
Year |
Number of Contracts |
Largest Individual Consultancy Engagement by Value |
Annual Spend |
|
2025 |
13 |
The 4OC Limited |
€501,735 |
|
2024 |
13 |
Indecon |
€376,944 |
|
2023 |
8 |
Innovative Procurement Solutions |
€93,272 |
Nil reply from National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA).
Nil reply from Social Welfare Tribunal.
1603. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list, for each of the past three years, of the top ten projects per annum delivered by his Department or its agencies, which were completed late and over the originally approved budget; the project name, location, original approved completion date, actual completion date, original approved budget, final outturn cost, cost overrun expressed in euro and percentage terms, and the delivery body for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2472/26]
View answerThe Department has a robust governance process in place to assure the proper control of projects and expenditure, which has ensured delivery in accordance with the approved budgets and agreed timeframes.
Aside from standard operating costs related to the day to day delivery of welfare and employment schemes and services the Department's capital development programmes fall into two categories - accommodation and facilities which are managed and accounted for by the Office of Public Works, and IT Systems and Development which are in the control of the Department itself.
With regard to the latter the Department plans, designs, builds and operates its own IT platforms and services using a mix of inhouse and contracted staff. All of this work is categorised into workstreams/programmes some of which relate to ongoing operations and production support and some of which relate to new development projects. All expenditure must undergo an assessment of need and receive the approval of the Department’s Project Governance Committee (PGC), which is chaired by the Secretary General.
Expenditure on IT operations and development projects is undertaken in accordance with the Public Spending Code and any modification to projects are reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General in the 40/02 annual return and in accordance with the EU Directives. Each project is assigned a Project Manager and a Project Board which reports regularly to a Programme Board. A project status report is provided by the Programme Board to the PGC which meet every six weeks. This governance process ensures there is a robust ongoing monitoring of projects and provides a mechanism for early identification of any issues that are emerging. Expenditure on IT operations and developments is subject to an annual budget allocation which is monitored throughout the year by the PGC with operations and development activity prioritised to fit within the budget envelope. This governance process has ensured that, in the past three years the Department has remained within the approved budget allocation provided by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation.
My Department also has mechanisms in place to ensure that projects commissioned or undertaken by agencies under the aegis of the Department are closely monitored in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Sponsored Bodies and that expenditure remains within the budgets allocated via my Department.
I am satisfied that the governance processes in place provide close monitoring of all projects.
1604. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing times for each social protection payment, for the year 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/26]
View answerThe following table details the average processing time for each social protection payment for the year 2025. Please note the figures are based on January to the end of November 2025 as December 2025 and annual figures are still being compiled.
|
Scheme |
Average weeks to award Jan - Nov 2025 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
3 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
9 |
|
Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
2 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
2 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
6 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
5 |
|
Disability Allowance |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
6 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
7 |
|
Child Benefit (Dom & FRA) |
1 |
|
Working Family Payment |
9 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
1605. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing times for social protection payment appeals, for the year 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2516/26]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that appeal applications are processed and appeal decisions are made as quickly as possible.
In 2024, the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons made almost 3.4 million decisions. Of these, 174,000 claims were disallowed or rejected (representing 5% of all decisions). 40,684 appeals were registered in 2025 which represents just over 1% of the overall total decisions and contrasts with appeal volumes of just over 20,000 in previous years.
The increase in appeal volumes is believed to be attributable to two factors - first demographic factors leading to higher demand for pensions, disability and carer's payments and second the introduction of a simple to use online appeals process.
The Chief Appeals Officer has put in place measures to deal with the increase in appeals registered and considerable progress has since been made with over 52,000 appeals finalised in 2025, compared to 28,702 finalised in 2024. This represents an increase of over 80%. As a result, pending appeals volumes have been more than halved from over 22,000 in January 2024 to about 9,500 currently and are continuing to fall.
Inevitably as the office clears a backlog reported processing times increase. Nevertheless, the average time to process an appeal at the end of 2025 of 21.2 weeks which is lower than the average of 23.5 weeks for 2024. Processing times are continuing to fall.
New Social Welfare Appeals Regulations (S.I. No. 744 of 2024) came into effect from Monday, 28 April 2025. The purpose of these regulations is to modernise and streamline the social welfare appeals process, providing greater clarity, improved consistency, and more defined timeframes. It is expected that this will further reduce the number of appeals on hand and the length of time it takes for appeals to be processed and decided.
An Appeals Modernisation Project to develop and implement a new appeals business process, including the manner in which the appeals process interacts with the Department was completed in 2025. The project’s purpose is to streamline and enhance the end-to-end appeals process for the customer. The new system provides online capabilities to provide a more efficient and streamlined service for people availing of services and functionality on MyWelfare for making appeals. This change supports the end-to-end electronic processing of appeals. It provides a secure, comprehensive, online appeals service for customers. It is improving the customer experience by offering an additional online channel, facilitating 24/7 access to view their current appeal status which has helped improve communications with appellants during the appeals process.
The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor the number of appeals on hand and the appeal processing times, and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1606. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government can reconcile the “Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All” campaign with an amnesty that forgives employer welfare fraud. [2904/26]
View answerThe “Welfare cheats cheat us all” publicity campaign by the Department of Social Protection was designed to::
promote discussion on the topic of social welfare fraud and challenge the perceptions of those who see it as a victimless crime;
demonstrate that the Government and Department take the issue of social welfare fraud very seriously and it will be investigated and prosecuted where this is found to be warranted; and
demonstrate that the Department is very conscious of its obligations, as one of the largest spending Departments in the State, and the importance of protecting the integrity of the social welfare system.
My Department does not provide an amnesty for employer welfare fraud.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1607. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of English language students enrolled in a facility (details supplied) who are currently in Ireland on a study visa (Stamp 2); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2154/26]
View answerInternational students from outside the EU/EEA are granted a permission on Stamp 2 conditions where they have enrolled on, and commenced a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), or eligible programmes offered by providers with authorisation to use the new TrustEd Education mark awarded by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
Information regarding the number of people registered at a particular educational institution cannot be provided as this could be considered commercially sensitive.
I can advise the Deputy that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how the Government intends to meet the demands and opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade. My Department is currently working with other Government Departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish it this year.
As part of this strategic approach, I am reviewing the area of student permissions, including with regard to English Language students. This work is aimed at ensuring that the system remains robust and rules-based, supports high-quality education providers, and continues to offer a positive experience for genuine students coming to Ireland.
1608. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on measures being considered by his Department to address retail crime, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2478/26]
View answer1609. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s efforts to fulfil the programme for Government commitments regarding taking steps to reduce retail crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/26]
View answer1724. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the retail crime strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1274/26]
View answer1752. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department is developing or implementing a specific strategy to address the recent increase in retail break-ins and vandalism, particularly those targeting small and independent businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1964/26]
View answer1753. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the supports and measures available to small businesses impacted by retail crime and break-ins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1967/26]
View answer1754. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department plans during the lifetime of this Government to increase the supports and measures available to small businesses impacted by retail crime and break-ins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1969/26]
View answer1774. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the progress of the retail crime strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2390/26]
View answer1776. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures being considered by his Department to improve data sharing between retailers and Garda, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2392/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1608, 1609, 1724, 1752 to 1754, inclusive, and 1774 and 1776 together.
This Government takes any risk to retailers and retail staff very seriously. As Minister, I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, shop workers, and communities. I recognise that shoplifting and organised retail crime pose a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish retailers and that retail theft is not a victimless crime.
The Programme for Government commits to publishing a Retail Crime Strategy with targeted actions to reduce retail crime and support affected businesses. Work has already commenced on preparing this Strategy.
Supports for members affected by retail crime falls under my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke. The Department of Enterprise holds a Retail Forum on a quarterly basis with retailers and representative bodies, which provides an opportunity to discuss key issues of importance with stakeholders in the sector. An Garda Síochána provide an update on retail crime matters at each forum.
I met the Retail Forum in May 2025 and heard from members regarding their experiences of retail crime and how it can inform work on the Retail Crime Strategy. My officials are considering their suggestions in the context of the development of this Strategy. I plan to finalise the Strategy in the first quarter of 2026.
My Department organised a targeted stakeholder engagement event with members of the Retail Forum on the Retail Crime Strategy at the start of October 2025. This event centred on discussions around what the strategy may contain and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to inform the ongoing development of a new Retail Crime Strategy.
My Department has also undertaken some research into how other jurisdictions are tackling retail crime to see if we can learn from best practice elsewhere.
A coordinated approach across sectors will be required if strong, tangible actions are to be identified, implemented and achieved within the context of the Retail Crime Strategy.
The Programme for Government also makes a number of other commitments in relation to retail crime, many of which will be examined in the context of the Retail Crime Strategy. These include:
Support Garda Operations to tackle retail crime including through the use of organised crime and proceeds of crime legislation;
Examine the introduction of a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker;
Tackle the practice of “retail defamation”;
Improve data sharing between retailers and Gardaí;
Introduce a new grant scheme for anti-theft and prevention measures;
Expand the use of community sanctions for retail crime; and
Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender to be excluded from a retail premises for a certain period of time.
There are also a number of ongoing initiatives to address the issue of retail crime and these include:
Supporting and resourcing ‘Operation Táirge’ which is a dedicated Garda operation aimed at detecting and preventing organised retail crime; and
Supporting An Garda Síochána: Budget 2026 provides a record allocation of €2.74 billion to An Garda Síochána which will support the continued recruitment of Gardaí and staff.
1610. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the breakdown of the 18.4% calculation for the former Garda Commissioner (details supplied) in respect of pension contributions. [73874/25]
View answerThe former Commissioner had the option of joining the Single Public Service Pension Scheme or having a pension contribution equivalent to 18.4% of salary made to a pension scheme nominated by him.
The former Commissioner chose not to avail of either option and waived his right to the pension entitlements available to him. Therefore, the former Commissioner received no retirement gratuity on his retirement and is not in receipt of any pension in respect of his seven years of service as Garda Commissioner.
Officials in my Department were provided at the time of the Commissioner’s appointment in 2018 with the pension contribution rate of 18.4% by officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department had no role in calculating the rate but I am informed that the rate is calculated at the equivalent of three times the employee contribution of a Single Pension Scheme member. Any further questions on the calculation of employer contributions should be directed to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
1611. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of gardaí in the State at present; the total number who are permitted to retain a firearm in their personal possession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73914/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 and is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of the 30 November 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of Gardaí in the State was 14,462.
As of December 2025 the number of Gardaí with ‘personal issue’ firearms is 1,816 Gardaí.
1612. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of members of a community (details supplied) on delays in processing visa applications; the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73955/25]
View answer1691. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish citizenship applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75161/25]
View answer1696. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75186/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1612, 1691 and 1696 together.
I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has submitted an application for naturalisation that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
It is important to note, however, 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, such as international checks, can take a considerable amount of time and these 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 cannot be guaranteed in the case of applications made in any specific year.
Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to improve the process for applicants. These include introducing an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are reducing 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:
https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
1613. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to situations where victims of domestic violence face losing their home and the steps he will take, including through the introduction or amendment of legislation, to protect the victims of domestic violence from the risk of losing their homes on foot of court decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73972/25]
View answer1614. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is he aware of situations where victims of domestic violence face losing their home and-or being forced by the courts to sell and share the proceeds of the sale of the home with the perpetrator on foot of the perpetrator refusing to pay maintenance for children, ceasing contributions to mortgage repayments, or serving the victim with an equity civil bill demanding sale of the home; the steps he will take, including through the introduction or amendment of legislation, to protect the victims of domestic violence from such risks to their housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73973/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1613 and 1614 together.
Section 32(2) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 provides that while the exercise of a person’s right to occupy a place is suspended by virtue of a barring order, that order shall not affect any estate or interest in that place of the person against whom the order was made, or any other person. The Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 and the Family Law Act 1995 provide for the making by the courts of orders relating to property, including the family home, in divorce or judicial separation proceedings, and such orders can include orders for the sale of property. The question of whether such an order should be made in any particular case will be a matter for the court to decide, having considered the circumstances of the case. Section 4 of the Family Home Protection Act 1976, allows a court, in certain circumstances, to dispense with the consent of a spouse to the sale of the family home.
The Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, completed by officials in my Department, was published on 8 January 2024. It was one of the actions contained in the “Supporting Children” goal of the Family Justice Strategy. The Review put forward 26 recommendations focused on generating maximum compliance with child maintenance orders, to ensure security and stability for children and to aid poverty prevention. The key recommendations of the review include
Development of a set of child maintenance guidelines;
Introduction of mandatory mediation information sessions;
Strengthening attachment of earnings orders and exploring the possibility of attaching an order to a PPS number rather than employing entities, so that orders do not lapse when there is a change in employer;
Introduction of a single enforcement procedure when the receiving parent makes an enforcement application, allowing the judge to choose the most appropriate enforcement option based on the circumstances of the case;
Simplification of the bench warrant process;
Placing the onus on paying parents to pay costs associated with enforcement proceedings; and
Allowing for deductions from social welfare, the paying parent’s bank accounts, from Government grants and subsidies and allowing for the recovery of arrears from tax refunds.
The Programme for Government has committed to enhancing the enforcement mechanisms for Child Maintenance orders to ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents. Building on the Review’s recommendations, consideration of legislative amendments to give effect to the Programme’s commitment is under way.
For completeness, the Deputy will be aware that in line the Programme for Government and Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, I am determined to ensure that victims and survivors are further protected and supported by removing the legal barriers that can prevent individuals experiencing violence remaining at home where it is safe to do so. My Department is examining proposals to develop a policy on removal orders to take offenders out of the home in high-risk cases, subject to legal considerations, so that the burden of leaving the family home does not fall on those experiencing abuse.
1615. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if, following recent calls for the establishment of a national register of wills, his plans to establish it; if there are any plans to progress with the legislation necessary to put it in place; the reasons the Bill proposed in 2011, again in 2016, and again in 2021 was never progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73982/25]
View answer1734. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has considered the establishment of a central register of wills; if he will provide an update on any analysis, consultation or scoping work undertaken to date on the feasibility, legal implications and potential benefits of such a register; and his plans to progress the creation of a national system to record the existence and location of wills in order to support families, legal practitioners and the administration of estates. [1359/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1615 and 1734 together.
The establishment of a register of the nature referred to by the Deputy has been suggested on a number of occasions, including in a number of Private Members Bills. Consultations with stakeholders, including the Law Society, have identified a number of important practical and legal obstacles to establishing such a mechanism.
Firstly, registration of a will would not guarantee its validity. For example, under Part VII of the Succession Act 1965, there are statutory requirements regarding the signing and witnessing of a will. The registration of the existence of the will would not prove that the will had been properly executed, or that the testator had sufficient capacity, or not been subject to undue influence or duress.
Secondly, a register could not guarantee or offer conclusive proof that a registered will was the last will of the testator, because a new will could have been made by the testator at any time before a testator dies. A register would not confer any priority over later wills if they were not registered, nor would it provide any guarantee that a registered will had not been revoked, or replaced by a later will.
Accordingly, I have no plans at present to establish a national wills register.
