Written Answers Nos. 699-718
699. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given by his Department to increasing the upper age limit for domiciliary care allowance eligibility from 16 to 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5908/26]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child.
There are currently almost 62,500 families in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of just over 71,000 children. The estimated spend on this payment in 2026 is almost €359 million.
In Budget 2026, I provided for the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance to increase by €20 to €380 from this month.
Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases when a child reaches 16 years of age. This aligns with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to have a disability that significantly impacts their daily life, they can then apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own right. Applications for Disability Allowance can be made within 3 months before the child’s 16th birthday to ensure continuity of support. If their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care they can then retain, or apply for, a carer's payment.
My department published the Green Paper on Disability Reform in September 2023. One of the key proposals in the Green Paper on Disability Reform was to extend the upper age limit for Domiciliary Care Allowance and the lower age limit for Disability Allowance to 18 years of age. The Green Paper was a consultation document and was withdrawn following feedback from disability stakeholders.
Any future reform of disability or carers payments, including Domiciliary Care Allowance, will be considered in the context of our commitments in the Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
700. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5946/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. The Government is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent support measures.
That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people which will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context. We are currently at the start of that five-year programme but our actions in Budget 2026 indicate our commitment to delivering what we promised.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people, including:
• A €10, or 4.1%, increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from this month.
• A €5 increase or 15% increase in the Fuel Allowance, bringing it to €38 per week or €1,064 per annum from this month.
Both of these increases were ahead of cost increases. They compare to a general inflation rate reported by the Central Statistics Office of 3.2% in the year to the end of November 2025 and an energy costs increase of about 3.5% for the same period.
In addition Budget 2026 provided for:
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, paid in December 2025.
• The highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment – an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and of €8 to €58 for children under 12.
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years.
• People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment and moving off those payments.
• Expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment from January.
• Significant increases in the rate of payment of the Wage Subsidy Scheme of up to 19% from April.
The Government also allocated €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, including funding for Community Based Specialist Disability Services.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment. In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, my Department is leading a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability. While it is led by my Department, it includes other Government departments in this cross-government endeavour. This work which will include disabled people and their advocates, will inform the approach to be taken in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment. I have asked my officials to prioritise this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of this year.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. A Heating Supplement is also available. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and are available to anyone who needs them and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment or a Heating Supplement is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications for Additional Needs Payments can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
701. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the review into the nutritional standards of the of the school meals programme has concluded; the outcomes of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6055/26]
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 Nutritional Standards for School Meals have been in place since its inception and were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:
• Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE,
• Safefood, and
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on gov.ie.
I have directed that a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards be undertaken. The review is being finalised by a Department of Health dietitian funded by the Department of Social Protection. The dietitian is being supported by both expert technical and advisory groups. In the meantime food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, was removed from the school menu from September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted, as an option, once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.
As stipulated in the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
702. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the metrics or KPIs currently in place to assess meal quality, student satisfaction, and effectiveness of the school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6056/26]
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.
An independent evaluation was published in 2023 to assess the effectiveness of the School Meals Programme and inform future policy direction. The report indicated strong support for extending the School Meals Programme and recommended universal provision by 2030.
The report sets out the positive impact the Programme is having in terms of children’s education and wellbeing. Of the respondent parents surveyed 83% agreed that the programme was positive. Similarly, 83% wanted the School Meals Programme extended to all schools, with a further 82% supporting the universal provision of hot meals.
The Department of Education and Youth with the support of the Interdepartmental Working Group on School Meals developed standardised procurement documentation for the Hot School Meals Programme. Food quality is a requirement throughout the Request for Tender document and therefore a contractual obligation. In addition, specific KPIs are set out in the procurement documentation regarding, Customer Service, Food Ordering and Delivery, Staff, Cleaning and Waste Management, Food and Compliance. As part of these template documents there is a requirement for the contractor to perform regular customer satisfaction surveys.
Under the School Meals Programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier. If there is any issue with food quality this should be brought to the schools attention so they can raise it with the supplier to address the issue.
Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals by carrying out nutritional audits, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
703. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if any analysis has been undertaken to understand the causes of food waste under the school meals programme, given its implications for nutrition, public expenditure, and climate impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6057/26]
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.
My department does not collect nor does it have access to details of the amount of wastage from school meals; this is managed at school level in accordance with the relevant contract.
However, my Department in conjunction with the Department funded dietician will be looking at portion sizes. It is also important that meals are ordered for the days the child is in school and cancelled otherwise.
In terms of packaging and waste, under tender documentation, and as stipulated by the Department of Education and Youth's Schools Procurement’s Unit, the school meal supplier is responsible for operating policies which progressively address environmental considerations such as waste and packaging. Depending on the school size and school meal requirements, the school will decide on the method and logistics that best meets their needs in line with environmental standards.
In addition, under tender documentation requirements, the school is committed to the principles of environmental management in its activities, and it encourages the implementation of sustainability principles in its procurement practices. The supplier should make all reasonable efforts to minimise adverse environmental impact in the methods of services delivery and in materials used.
Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
704. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the improvements being introduced in regard to the carer’s allowance; when the means test will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6058/26]
View answerI want to assure the Deputy that I, and this Government, fully recognise and value the role that carers play in our society.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers. Expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2026 is estimated at over €1.4 billion.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to people whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because they cannot work full-time due to their caring responsibilities.
The Programme for Government has set out a timeframe which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government. This is a major change to the Carer's Allowance, and to the Irish social welfare system generally.
This process is well underway. For example, from last July the amount of weekly earnings disregarded was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple.
More recently, as part of Budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced in July this year. The weekly income disregard will increase by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple.
Since June 2022, there have been cumulative increases to the disregards of over 200%.
The changes to the means test announced in Budget 2026 are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance. In addition, many carers on a reduced rate will see their payments increase.
For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
In addition, as part of Budget 2026 and with effect this month, the personal rate of Carer's Allowance increased to €270 for a carer under age 66 and €308 for a carer aged 66 or over. A recipient caring for more than one person and in receipt of the maximum rate will now receive a personal rate of €405 per week if aged under 66 or €462 per week if aged 66 or over.
These improvements are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitments to further support carers over our term. We will continue to do so in a progressive manner, in light of the prevailing budgetary conditions.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
705. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the new national child poverty target, which he recently announced. [3793/26]
View answerReducing child poverty is a key priority for this Government and a central commitment under the Programme for Government.
In September 2025, the Government agreed a new national Child Poverty Target - to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3 per cent or less by 2030. This is an ambitious goal, representing a reduction of 5.5 percentage points – almost 60 per cent – from the current rate of 8.5 per cent. This target will guide cross-Government policy and investment over the lifetime of this Government, ensuring that resources are directed towards families with children who are most in need.
To support this work, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach is collating a Dashboard of Indicators, which will provide a more holistic view of child poverty and wellbeing, allowing progress to be tracked across a broader range of outcomes over time.
Significant investment has already been made to work towards the target. The social welfare package in Budget 2026 included an investment of €320 million specifically to address child poverty within my Department. This includes the largest increases to Child Support Payments in the history of the State, higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and expanded eligibility for both the Fuel Allowance and the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. More broadly, the Government will invest €28.9 billion in social welfare in 2026, including significant across-the-board increases in primary weekly rates and over €1.15 billion in targeted measures to assist households.
These measures build on a wide range of other actions already in place across Government, including free school meals, free schoolbooks, free GP visit cards, and enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme and Early Childhood Care and Education programme.
Recognising that child poverty is multi-dimensional, delivery of the target requires a whole-of-Government approach that goes beyond income supports alone. My Department is currently developing a successor to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, which will be published in the first half of 2026, and will outline cross-Government actions to reduce child poverty and support the delivery of our new target.
706. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider broadening the scope of Catherine's Law to cover all scholarships to third level education (details supplied); if he will provide clarity on how his Department distinguishes between the various scholarships for exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6366/26]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people aged 16 to 66 whose disability is expected to last at least one year. Entitlement is based on a medical assessment, habitual residence, and an assessment of means.
The Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 3 December 2025 regarding a €6,900 payment under the Miriam Cotter Scholarship. The person was in receipt of the maximum weekly rate of DA.
Following a review, this new payment was assessed as means of €146.80 per week, together with €78 from savings, giving total assessable weekly means of €224.80. The Miriam Cotter Scholarship not exempt from the DA means test. The disregard introduced in 2021 applies only to stipends granted for PhD (Level 10) studies.
The person was notified of this decision on 8 January 2026 and advised of their right to seek a review or to appeal. Once the scholarship ends, they may provide updated financial evidence for reassessment of the weekly rate of DA.
I recognise the financial and educational challenges faced by people with disabilities pursuing further study. I have asked my Department to examine how our schemes can best support such participation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
707. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the winter supports currently available to people with disabilities; whether additional targeted measures are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6386/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures.
That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people which will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one. Government had been very clear that there would be no once-off measures in Budget 2026.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people, including:
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, paid in December 2025.
• A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from this month.
• The highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment – an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and of €8 to €58 for children under 12.
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from this month.
• A €20 increase in the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance payment bringing the payment to €380 per month from this month.
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years.
• People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment and moving off those payments.
• Expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit.
• Increasing the rates paid under the Wage Subsidy Scheme from April.
Both the increases to personal rates of payment and the Fuel Allowance were ahead of the general inflation rate reported by the Central Statistics Office of 3.2% in the year to the end of November 2025, and an energy cost increase of approximately 3.5% for the same period.
The Government also allocated €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, including funding for Community Based Specialist Disability Services to ensure people with disabilities receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. This represents a 20% increase year on year and represents an overall increase since 2020 of €1.8 billion.
These measures clearly demonstrate the Governments commitment to support disabled people by introducing permanent changes rather than relying on once-off measures.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 my Department will lead a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability.
This work which includes disabled people and their advocates, will inform the approach to be taken in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment. I have asked my officials to expedite this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of the year. Officials have held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
Furthermore, under the scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Heating Supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the full year.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment or a Heating Supplement is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications for Additional Needs Payments can be made online via [www.mywelfare.ie].
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
708. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the domiciliary care allowance ceasing when a child reaches 16 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6436/26]
View answer709. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has examined the impact on families of requiring children who turn 16 years to transition from domiciliary care allowance to disability allowance, including the need for a new medical assessment during a critical stage of secondary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6437/26]
View answer710. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he has considered extending eligibility for the domiciliary care allowance to age 18 years or for the duration of full-time secondary education, in line with other child related supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6438/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 708, 709 and 710 together.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child.
There are currently almost 62,500 families in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of just over 71,000 children. The estimated spend on this payment in 2026 is almost €359 million.
In Budget 2026, I provided for the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance to increase by €20 to €380 from this month.
Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases when a child reaches 16 years of age. This aligns with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to have a disability that significantly impacts their daily life, they can then apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own right.
Disability Allowance is a weekly means-tested income support payment for people aged 16 or over whose illness or disability means that they are substantially restricted from doing work that would be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications. It is worth noting that the parent’s income is not assessed in the means test for Disability Allowance.
The two schemes are designed for different purposes and have different eligibility criteria and therefore require separate applications.
Applications for Disability Allowance can be made within 3 months before the child’s 16th birthday to ensure continuity of support. If their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care they can then retain, or apply for, a carer's payment.
Improvements to the application form and the planned move to online application for Disability Allowance will make the application process easier for applicants.
My department published the Green Paper on Disability Reform in September 2023 in which one of the key proposals was to extend the upper age limit for Domiciliary Care Allowance and the lower age limit for Disability Allowance to 18 years of age. The Green Paper was a consultation document and was withdrawn following feedback from disability stakeholders.
Any future reform of disability or carers payments, including Domiciliary Care Allowance, will be considered in the context of our commitments in the Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
711. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the progress made towards a material reduction in rates of child poverty. [7091/26]
View answerReducing child poverty is a key priority for this Government, as set out in the Programme for Government. In September 2025, the Government agreed a new Child Poverty Target to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3% or less by 2030, representing a reduction of nearly 60% from the current rate of 8.5%. This target is guiding action and investment across government.
To support this work, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach is developing a series of relevant statistical measures, a Dashboard of Indicators to track progress in a more holistic way. Poverty in Ireland is measured on a relative basis, and our consistent poverty indicator which is unique to Ireland, captures both low income and material deprivation. This ensures that supports are targeted towards families with the greatest needs.
Budget 2026 reflects the Government’s continued commitment to tackling child poverty, with €320 million allocated by my Department specifically for this purpose. Key measures include the largest ever increases to Child Support Payments, higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, expanded access to the Fuel Allowance and Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. This additional investment supplements cross government initiatives already underway such as free school meals, free school books, the free GP visit card, and enhancements to Early Childhood Care and Education schemes.
Recent CSO data show a welcome reduction in the child enforced deprivation rate in 2025, demonstrating the impact of Government measures to date. Further updated figures from the 2025 Survey on Income and Living Conditions, are expected in March 2026, will provide a clearer picture of emerging trends.
Given the multi-dimensional nature of child poverty, this work requires a whole-of-Government approach across income supports, housing, employment, childcare and public services.
712. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if she can prioritise ending the direct provision system as, for over 26 years, direct provision has been condemned by all UN human-rights bodies as harmful and incompatible with human dignity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6173/26]
View answerDirect provision at its core is the provision of accommodation and other basic supports for people who have come to Ireland to seek international protection. It is important to note that there is no mandatory requirement for any international protection applicant to reside within State provided accommodation if they do not wish to. It is, however, a legal obligation of the State to provide this accommodation and other basic supports to people seeking international protection. The health and wellbeing of people who have applied for international protection is a priority for the Department.
There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process re-engineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity. This allows cases to be reviewed more efficiently, and means that people who are granted international protection can progress to rebuild their lives here. It also ensures faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) meets the need for accommodation on behalf of the state, providing basic shelter and accommodation in communal type centres. Residents are entitled to food, toiletries and other basic needs, and they can also access other State Services, including healthcare and education services, during their application.
The legal basis for this work is the Material Reception Conditions Directive, and the future legal framework will be the Migration Pact, scheduled for implementation across EU member states in June 2026.
My Department is currently focusing on preparing for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in advance of June 2026. The EU Pact has been designed to establish a common approach to migration and asylum that is based on solidarity, responsibility, and, importantly, respect for human rights.
At the same time, my Department has implemented significant improvements in how accommodation is managed, with a focus on improving value for money, and a move toward ensuring we provide more State-owned accommodation. This work has shown good progress in 2025 and is set to continue in the current year and beyond.
713. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will outline the legislation which underpins Ireland’s visa waiver programmes;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5439/26]
View answerVisa requirements and visa waiver arrangements in the State are provided for in secondary legislation made under the Immigration Act 2004.
I can advise the deputy that the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme allows nationals of certain countries, who have entered the UK on foot of certain UK short stay visas, to travel to Ireland without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa. They instead may use the time remaining on their current leave to remain in the UK. Full details and conditions of this programme are available on my Department's website at the following link:
[www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/short-stay-visa-waiver-programme/] .
The Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme is underpinned by S.I. No. 473/2014 - Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2014, as amended, which can be accessed at: [www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/si/473/made/en/print] .
Schedule 2 in this legalisation covers waivers such a diplomatic waiver while schedule 3 covers the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme.
714. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the instances in which a visa order has been issued on the basis of national security or public order in the years 2010 to date; the basis upon which such an order was made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/26]
View answerI understand the Deputy has clarified that his question relates to the number of refusals of an Irish entry visa on the grounds of national security or public order and the number of immigration permissions revoked on the grounds of national security or public order.
It is a central priority for me as Minister of State that Ireland's immigration system is robust and rules based.
Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. These are important screening processes, designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system. Each visa application is assessed on its own merits, taking all relevant information into consideration at that time.
My Department does not collate statistics on the numbers of visas refused due to issues relating to national security.
It is also the case that any person granted an immigration permission can have that permission revoked if they fail to obey the laws of the State, become involved in criminal activity, if the conditions attached to such a permission are breached, and if information provided at registration is inaccurate or fraudulent.
Further information on the process of revoking an immigration permission is available on my Department's Immigration Service website at the following link: (www.irishimmigration.ie/information-on-revocation-of-registered-irish-residence-permissions/).
The information sought regarding the overall number of immigration permissions revoked is not collated in the manner requested by the Deputy. Applications, renewals and revocations of immigration permissions are considered on a case-by-case basis and can be refused, revoked or not renewed on a number of grounds, such as those listed in the link provided.
715. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of an application for an IRP renewal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5485/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the application cited was refused and cannot be progressed any further at this stage. The Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department have outlined the reasons for refusal directly with the person concerned.
It is open to the applicant cited to submit a new online renewal application and should be advised that any application must be accompanied by all required supporting documentation, including a valid proof of address in the State, and the appropriate fee.
Further information on the renewal process can be found on the ISD website here: [www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/required-documents/]
Applicants can also directly check the status and submit queries in relation to 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.
716. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount his Department has spent on legal fees for each of the years 2020-2025, in tabular form. [5541/26]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested within the timeline provided. I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
717. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 12 November 2025, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to answer this PQ. [5557/26]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
718. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of cases dealt by Garda National Economic Crime Bureau in 2024 and 2025; and the top six categories of offences dealt with by bureau in each of the years in question. [5558/26]
View answerThe Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) is a specialist bureau that investigates fraud-related crime involving complex issues of criminal law or procedure. The bureau investigates serious and complex cases of commercial fraud, cheque and payment card fraud, counterfeit currency, money laundering, computer crime and breaches of the Companies Acts and the Competition Act.
Under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the GNECB.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of cases taken on by the Bureau is an operational activity of GNECB that is not disclosed.
