Written Answers Nos. 171-195
171. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the merits of developing more inclusive and targeted support models for children and adolescents that would help deter involvement in anti-social behaviour; if he will consider expanding and diversifying funding streams for community-based projects working with young people (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6171/26]
View answerThe Government’s focus on youth diversion and interventions is a keystone in the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027. The strategy emphasises early intervention, prevention, family support, and community engagement. It is aimed at promoting positive behavioural change and targeting this behaviour so that we can break the cycle of offending by young people. To support this end, the budget allocation for Youth Justice measures has increased by 144% from 2020 to 2026 with a significant allocation of €7.3 million in additional core exchequer funding for Youth Justice measures announced as part of Budget 2026.
An essential pillar of the Government’s child-focused approach is the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. Under this Programme, any child between the ages of 12 and 17 who commits a criminal offence is considered for admission to a local Youth Diversion Programme (YDP). Assessment of each case is done by the Director of the Garda Diversion Programme (Garda Superintendent) in the Garda Division.
The operation of this programme includes informal and formal Garda warnings, delivered in the presence of parents or guardians, as well as provision for supervision by a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer.
YDPs are community-based and multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives. There are currently 94 YDPs in operation providing nationwide coverage across the State. The programmes offered by YDPs provide participants with suitable activities to facilitate their personal development, promote civic responsibility, encourage pro-social behaviour in their communities and improve their educational outcomes and long-term employability prospects.
My Department, in collaboration with the Probation Service, also operates a number of initiatives distinctly designed to address serious and prolific youth offending. These are the Greentown Programme, the Youth Justice Agency Response to Crime (YJARC), and targeted interventions for children who are harder to reach in terms of addressing prolific and serious offending.
In addition, from 1 January this year, management of the Bail Supervision Scheme (BSS) transferred from my Department to the Probation Service. BSS offers courts an alternative option to detaining a young person who comes before them by offering them the possibility of granting bail with intensive supervision.
The BSS scheme currently serves the Children Courts in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. The scheme uses Multisystemic Therapy (MST) to support families of young people to stick to their conditions prior to subsequent court appearances.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the Community Safety Fund (CSF), first launched in April 2021, is an annual grant fund that supports short to medium term projects which?allows for the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána, to be directed back into communities, in order to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. Initially called the Community Safety Innovation Fund and launched in?2022,?it has supported 127 community safety projects to date.
Over successive years, the CSF has expanded in both reach and impact, supporting projects addressing youth engagement, domestic and gender-based violence, restorative justice, substance misuse and antisocial behaviour.
172. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the security infrastructure that has been put in place for the events in relation to the upcoming EU presidency being hosted here. [72481/25]
View answerIreland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December this year. This will involve an extensive programme of meetings and events in Dublin and across the country, including a number of major summits.
My Department is committed to ensuring a successful Irish Presidency and is working closely with other Departments and State agencies in the planning and delivery of Ireland’s programme. Central to the Irish Presidency is the vital role of An Garda Síochána, which is charged with supporting the safe and secure delivery of the Presidency.
A dedicated Garda operation, Operation Brehon, is in place and detailed planning is taking place through a dedicated EU Presidency Coordination Office established to oversee all aspects of operational planning, logistics, and interagency engagement. This work is led by Deputy Commissioner, Policing Operations, and supported by a High-Level Working Group comprising members of the Garda Senior Leadership Team. The Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service will also play a central role.
Key strands of Operation Brehon include:
• assessment of security and policing requirements across all planned venues and events;
• engagement with national and international partners on threat and risk analysis;
• development of operational and resourcing plans; and
• planning for VIP protection, venue security, transport management, cyber resilience, and public order contingencies.
Planning is informed by current best practice in large-scale event security and interagency coordination. Preparations have escalated over the past year, particularly as regards training and procurement, and I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that operational planning is underway across all policing and enabling functions.
Gardaí continue to liaise with national and international partners, and have visited countries which have recently held the Presidency to observe and learn from their experiences.
Oversight and reporting structures are in place to ensure alignment with the broader Government planning process led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. There is ongoing interdepartmental engagement through established coordination forums, as well as regular bilateral meetings with key Departments and State agencies.
The Deputy will appreciate for security reasons it is not appropriate to comment further on operational details. However I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is committed to ensuring that the 2026 Presidency is delivered safely, efficiently, and in full partnership with other State agencies.
173. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the efforts he undertook in 2025 to increase Garda numbers; his plan for same in 2026; and when he expects the next passing out ceremony in Templemore will take place. [6212/26]
View answerGetting 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, with Budget 2026 providing unprecedented funding of over €2.7 billion.
At the end of November, the total Garda workforce strength stood at over 18,200, which included 14,462 Gardaí, 3,486 Garda Staff, and 308 Reserves.
Overall, just under 800 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018.
There were two Garda recruitment competitions held last year. There was significant interest in both competitions, with over 11,000 people applying to join An Garda Síochána. This demonstrates that there is a strong and sustained interest in a career as a Garda amongst the public.
The number of Gardaí will continue to increase over the coming months as trainees currently in Templemore complete their training and attest from the Garda College, with the next attestation in early February.
There are four intakes planned for 2026 with the first of these also planned for early February.
174. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the work of Cuan, including progress to date on its mandate; the current programmes in operation, staffing and budget allocations; the planned developments for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5984/26]
View answerCuan, the national Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) Agency, is responsible for coordinating, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of Zero Tolerance – the Third National Strategy on DSGBV.
Cuan’s budget has increased substantially, rising from approximately €59 million in 2024 to €67 million in 2025, with a further increase to almost €80 million in 2026. This funding will support continued service expansion, accommodation delivery and implementation of the Zero Tolerance Strategy. Cuan’s budget includes 39 staff members and I am advised that the agency is continuing to build and grow its complement of staff.
In June 2025, I published the final Implementation Plan covering the remaining period of the Strategy (2025–2026). The plan sets out 95 actions across four pillars—Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Coordination—with 22 implementation partners responsible for delivery. For the first time, the plan includes specific performance measures for each action, supported by a bespoke monitoring and reporting framework designed to enhance transparency, accountability and delivery. The next progress report is due in the first half of 2026.
Significant progress has been made in expanding emergency accommodation:
• In 2025, domestic violence refuge capacity increased by 13 units, bringing the total to 172.
• A further 9 units in Dublin 22 are due to become operational early this year and Cuan has a target to increase the number of refuge units to 193 by the end of 2026.
• Safe Home provision increased to 60 units in 2025, with a target of 94 by the end of 2026. This will bring total safe accommodation to 287 by the end of 2026.
• Cuan is also working towards having 50 new refuge units under construction nationally over the course of this year.
In 2025, Cuan allocated over €57 million to 78 organisations providing specialised DSGBV supports. This includes €45.3 million for 63 domestic violence services, €35.3 million of which supports emergency accommodation. It is projected that these services will have supported approximately 44,000 individuals in 2025, including 1,500 households accessing refuge or Safe Home accommodation.
Cuan continues to fund and support national helplines and specialist organisations such as Women’s Aid, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Men’s Development Network, Ruhama, Akidwa and Pavee Point. Two 24/7 Freephone helplines are available nationwide, alongside a dedicated helpline for male victims. Funding has been increased to improve accessibility, including online and web-text supports for young people.
Cuan is strengthening inter-agency cooperation, particularly with the Departments of Housing and Social Protection, to prevent homelessness arising from domestic violence. This includes engagement on rent supplement protocols, housing prioritisation guidelines and the Programme for Government commitment to improve social protection supports for those fleeing abuse.
In prevention and education, Cuan is supporting reforms to the SPHE curriculum and rolling out the Consent Education Programme nationally, with an expected reach of up to 40,000 students. Public awareness campaigns—including Hardest Stories, Always Here and Let’s Have the Consent Conversation—continue to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking.
175. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of people who applied for asylum or refugee status in Ireland in 2025; the country of origin of the applicants; the location where the applicant first presented for asylum; the number of those applicants that have had their pre-appeal application fully determined in 2025; and the number of those applications where the applicant met the criteria for refugee status, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6181/26]
View answerI am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust, and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
The number of International Protection applications rose between 2022 and 2024, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately a third.
There has been a significantly increased investment into the international protection system to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
In 2025, the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared to approximately 14,100 in 2024: a 44% increase. While the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) more than doubled the number of appeals closed from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,300 in 2025.
My Department also continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU including standardised processing times for decisions: six months for a standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures and two months for processing applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in Europe.
The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact was approved by Government on 29 April 2025. The Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme. The Bill was published last week, enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026.
The tables requested by the deputy are detailed below.
The table below details the nationalities of International Protection applicants in 2025.
|
Somalia |
2,021 |
|
Nigeria |
1,940 |
|
Pakistan |
1,680 |
|
Afghanistan |
1,290 |
|
Georgia |
925 |
|
Viet Nam |
679 |
|
Bangladesh |
662 |
|
Ukraine |
312 |
|
Zimbabwe |
224 |
|
Sudan |
202 |
|
Brazil |
200 |
|
Albania |
190 |
|
Palestine |
173 |
|
India |
167 |
|
Egypt |
137 |
|
Algeria |
136 |
|
China |
104 |
|
Eswatini |
99 |
|
Iraq |
99 |
|
United States Of America |
94 |
|
El Salvador |
93 |
|
Jordan |
89 |
|
Democratic Republic of The Congo |
86 |
|
South Africa |
73 |
|
Syrian Arab Republic |
71 |
|
Nicaragua |
65 |
|
Ghana |
63 |
|
Iran |
63 |
|
Sierra Leone |
63 |
|
Cameroon |
61 |
|
Kenya |
58 |
|
Malawi |
58 |
|
Botswana |
57 |
|
Ethiopia |
54 |
|
Morocco |
54 |
|
Eritrea |
46 |
|
Angola |
42 |
|
Bolivia |
41 |
|
Yemen |
38 |
|
Myanmar |
37 |
|
Nepal |
33 |
|
Sri Lanka |
32 |
|
Mexico |
31 |
|
Kuwait |
29 |
|
Turkey |
28 |
|
Guatemala |
23 |
|
Liberia |
22 |
|
Guinea |
21 |
|
Russian Federation |
21 |
|
Stateless |
21 |
|
Venezuela |
20 |
|
Togo |
19 |
|
Mauritius |
18 |
|
Uganda |
15 |
|
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
14 |
|
Malaysia |
14 |
|
Tunisia |
14 |
|
Tanzania |
13 |
|
Mongolia |
12 |
|
Gambia |
9 |
|
Lesotho |
9 |
|
Namibia |
9 |
|
Philippines |
9 |
|
Republic of The Congo |
9 |
|
United Kingdom |
9 |
|
Zambia |
9 |
|
Argentina |
7 |
|
Costa Rica |
7 |
|
Israel |
7 |
|
Mauritania |
7 |
|
Colombia |
6 |
|
Kosovo |
6 |
|
Lebanon |
6 |
|
Tajikistan |
6 |
|
Australia |
5 |
|
Azerbaijan |
5 |
|
Bahrain |
5 |
|
Belarus |
5 |
|
Benin |
5 |
|
Burkina Faso |
5 |
|
Burundi |
5 |
|
Cambodia |
5 |
|
Canada |
5 |
|
Chad |
5 |
|
Chile |
5 |
|
Cote D'Ivoire |
5 |
|
Cuba |
5 |
|
Djibouti |
5 |
|
Dominica |
5 |
|
Dominican Republic |
5 |
|
Finland |
5 |
|
Grenada |
5 |
|
Guyana |
5 |
|
Honduras |
5 |
|
Indonesia |
5 |
|
Jamaica |
5 |
|
Mali |
5 |
|
Mozambique |
5 |
|
New Zealand |
5 |
|
Niger |
5 |
|
North Korea |
5 |
|
Oman |
5 |
|
Panama |
5 |
|
Paraguay |
5 |
|
Rwanda |
5 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
5 |
|
Senegal |
5 |
|
Seychelles |
5 |
|
South Korea |
5 |
|
South Sudan |
5 |
|
Swaziland |
5 |
|
Trinidad And Tobago |
5 |
|
Uruguay |
5 |
|
Uzbekistan |
5 |
|
Total |
13,160 |
*The Department does not generally release numbers where there are less than 5 in individuals may be identifiable by releasing such information.
The table below details the location where applicants made an application for international protection.
|
Place of Application |
IPO |
% |
Airports |
% |
Ports |
% |
Other |
% |
Total |
|
2025 |
11,574 |
87.97% |
1,509 |
11.46% |
32 |
0.24% |
45 |
0.34% |
13,160 |
The table below details IPO First Instance Decisions made in 2025.
|
First Instance Decision 2025 |
|
|
|
Granted (Refugee Status, Subsidiary Protection, Permission To Remain) |
3,737 |
18.61% |
|
Refused (Refugee Status, Subsidiary Protection and Permission To Remain, or Withdrew/ deemed inadmissible) |
16,343 |
81.39% |
Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Please note a decision made in 2025 may relate to an application made in an earlier year.
176. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the proposals there are to amend section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 in regard to the time limit for initiating proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6176/26]
View answerSection 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) 1851 Act sets out the time limit allowed for a summons to be issued for any offences to be dealt with in the District Courts (summary offences). Under the 1851 Act, this time limit is no longer than six months from the date of the offence to application for a summons to the District Court by Gardaí. These limits do not apply to indictable offences that are to be heard in the Circuit Court.
There are some exceptions to the six-month timeframe, such as section 7 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, which allows that summary proceedings for an offence under that Act may be instituted at any time within two years from the date on which the offence was committed.
Other than in exceptional cases, such as the aforementioned Act, there are no plans to change the time limit for the summary prosecution of the generality of offences.
177. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which his Department ensures there is value-for-money for the State in IPAS contracts given the rising costs and continuing capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6179/26]
View answerMy Department is taking action across all aspects of the international protection accommodation system to move toward greater State-owned provision, to improve value for money, and to strengthen governance, compliance, and integration supports.
Following unprecedented increases in applications for international protection from 2022 to 2024, a crisis response was required from the State to source accommodation at pace, and under pressure. Much of the accommodation now in use within the IPAS system was sourced during this period and under these circumstances, parallel to the State also accommodating a huge number of people fleeing the war in Ukraine, and ongoing pressures in the housing market.
Applications for international protection have reduced during 2025, though they remain high compared to pre-2022 levels.
This reduction has allowed department officials to put in place greater controls over the IPAS accommodation portfolio after the unprecedented increase in arrivals in recent years, which necessitated a crisis response to source accommodation.
A range of updated systems and procedures have been put in place and are already having an impact. IPAS has put improved processes in place for appraisal, validation, contracting and payments.
The introduction of a new rate card model is driving costs down for new and renewed contracts, and I am pleased to note this has already saved approximately €77 million in 2025. This reform within the accommodation system has laid the basis for continued process improvement and costs savings in 2026.
There has been a significant increase in compliance checks and inspections, with over 420 inspections completed in 2025, compared to 268 in the previous year. Inspections where non-compliance is noted can lead to improvement plans, or can lead to contracts ending. A total of 22 IPAS contracts ended in 2025.
My Department is developing more State-owned accommodation from a range of sources, including using State-owned sites for temporary accommodation. State-owned accommodation offers significantly improved value for money compared to commercial accommodation in this sector.
A key milestone was the State's purchase of Citywest in 2025, which has increased the overall State-owned bed numbers from 900 spaces in early 2024 to over 4,000 today.
Developing more State-owned options will allow us to move away from the current degree of reliance on commercial provision. While commissioning emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be necessary in the short to medium term, it is being contracted on a short-term basis, which will enable the State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates.
An overall reform of the international protection system is underway that is already working to speed up the processing of applications and should reduce the need for constant growth in the accommodation system, such as was experienced in recent years.
178. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of community organisations seeking to support vulnerable people under the community sponsorship framework of the Humanitarian Admissions Programme; if he believes that the level of communication with these groups is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5994/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Humanitarian Admissions Programme prioritises at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary, and journalists, for admission to Ireland as programme refugees.
This is managed within the remit of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in the Department. Over 700 people from Afghanistan have been admitted to Ireland under this programme since its inception in 2021.
In accordance with the terms of the scheme the number of admissions available under the 2025 Programme was set at 50, and as the number of applications received exceeded that not all applications were successful. All applications submitted to the Department for consideration under the programme were subject to review by officials to ensure a fair process.
All unsuccessful applicants were notified of the position by the designated partner organisation, which for 2025 was The Open Community. The Open Community offered feedback to those representing the unsuccessful applicants from both phases of the 2025 Programme, and engaged intensively with all those who attended these online sessions.
I am satisfied that the partner organisation ensured that there was clear communication with applicants and their representatives at all stages of the process. This engagement was aimed at somewhat mitigating the natural disappointment of applicants and their prospective sponsors in that regard.
The 2025 Programme is now complete, and arrangements are being made by department officials to facilitate the arrivals of the remaining successful applicants.
I am committed to admitting 50 applicants under humanitarian admissions for both 2026 and 2027. Further information on the programme for 2026 will be made available in due course.
179. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the Garda strength. [6211/26]
View answerAt the end of November 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,200, which included 14,462 Gardaí, 3,486 Garda Staff, and 308 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 Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána to recruit 5,000 members across the next five years. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs and Budget 2026 provides unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
It is clear that recruitment into An Garda Síochána is now gathering real momentum. I was delighted to see just under 800 Gardaí enter Templemore last year, the highest number since 2018 and I am looking forward to seeing this momentum carry on to this year.
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 nationwide and a breakdown of Garda strength.
This can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/
The Deputy should select the most recently available date and then select the file titled ‘Garda members by Division District Station to the most recent date" to access a breakdown of Garda members assigned by Division. The Deputy can select the file titled 'Garda Workforce Strength to the most recent date' to access a breakdown of the Garda Strength.
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.
180. 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. [6078/26]
View answer182. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his assessment of the rapid increase in retail crime, including theft, organised shoplifting and associated antisocial behaviour; the financial and operational impact this is having on small and family-owned retail businesses, which form the backbone of local economies and town centres; the supports, protections or targeted measures his Department is putting in place to assist retailers facing rising security costs, higher insurance premiums and staff safety concerns; the engagement is taking place with retailers’ representative bodies and other Departments, including justice and policing authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1441/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 182 together.
This Government takes any risk to retailers and retail staff very seriously. 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 on preparing this Strategy is well underway. My officials are considering suggestions made for this strategy following my engagement with the retail community and they are also researching how other jurisdictions are tackling these matters.
In October 2025, my Department organised a targeted stakeholder engagement event with members of the Retail Forum which focused on discussions about what the strategy may contain and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to inform its ongoing development.
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.
• 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;
• 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.
Supports for retailers 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 also provide an update on retail crime matters at each forum.
181. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which the Rural Safety Plan 2025–2027 is being implemented to address the rise in burglaries and theft of farm equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5962/26]
View answerThis Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities across the country. Rural crime covers a range of issues that cause concern for people living in rural communities, ranging from burglary and theft, to animal crime and road traffic offences. An Garda Síochána are committed to tackling all crime, including crime that occurs in our rural communities.
Rural safety and community safety is not about policing alone of course – it requires a multi-agency, multi-sectoral and a whole-of-Government response.
The Rural Safety Plan 2025-2027 brings together and strengthens all of the various strands of work being carried out in relation to rural safety. It has been developed by my Department, in conjunction with the National Rural Safety Forum.
The Plan’s vision is to ensure people and communities in rural Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, places of work, and their local environments. It does this by identifying four key priority areas that we will focus on to achieve the overall goal. These areas are: Community Safety & Engagement, Property Crime, Roads Policing, and Animal & Wildlife Crime.
A number of Garda operations are already supporting the plan, such as Operations Thor and Táirige, which tackle burglaries and thefts from homes, and retail crime respectively.
Operation Thor was launched in 2015 and actively targets organised crime groups through coordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends. ‘Lock Up Light Up’ is An Garda Síochána's anti-burglary awareness campaign which encourages homeowners to protect their property from would-be criminals. In the 10 years since Operation Thor was introduced, burglary and related offences have significantly declined.
I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the table below provides statistics in relation to the number of reported incidents of ‘Theft of Farm Equipment’. Similar to Burglary related data, the below figures demonstrate a significant decline in these incidents.
|
Year |
Theft of Farming Equipment Incidents |
|
2025 |
132 |
|
2024 |
214 |
|
2023 |
228 |
|
Total |
574 |
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that crime prevention advices are shared with members of the farming community by Crime Prevention Officers, local Gardaí and through Garda Social Media Platforms. These advices relate to the securing of farms and the property located on site.
183. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe in which refuges will open in both Cavan and Monaghan. [6175/26]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Cuan, the national Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) Agency, is responsible for coordinating, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the 'Zero Tolerance' Third National Strategy on DSGBV. A key goal of the Strategy is ensuring that anyone who needs safe accommodation can access it, regardless of where they are.
The Capital Assistance Scheme Stage 1 application for a refuge site in Monaghan was approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage last October. Cuan has advised that work is ongoing towards submitting a Stage 2 application, which will include further detail and costings on the full extent of works that will be required. I am informed that the CAS process takes on average 75 weeks with construction typically taking 15 – 18 months. Safe Ireland is the lead Approved Housing Body on this development and is also committed to exploring other options of accommodation development including the potential development of interim refuges in County Monaghan. In addition I welcome the commitments from both Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council to allocating three units from their social housing stock, which will deliver an additional six Safe Homes across the two counties. Cuan is working with Safe Ireland to finalise the associated operational and staffing costs and all six units are expected to become operational this year. Safe Ireland is working with the stakeholder group to create a solid infrastructure and a coherent connected response across both counties.
184. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline his proposed changes to the rules around family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6203/26]
View answer193. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will reconsider the introduction of stricter rules for family reunification of refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6187/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 193 together.
As Minister, I know and understand the importance of migration for Ireland. Migration benefits our economy, our public services, our infrastructure and has contributed to making contemporary Ireland a dynamic and successful society. For those who are granted international protection, I appreciate how important reuniting with their family is.
I want to enable a family reunification system for sponsors who are beneficiaries of international protection that reflects the reality that we do not have unlimited resources, that Government is required to control immigration in the interests of the economic and social wellbeing of the country, and the importance of encouraging independence and self-sufficiency from an integration perspective. I will introduce family reunification provisions into the International Protection Bill at Committee Stage that reflect those aims and that will more closely align with other EU Member States.
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. I also propose to include provision that adults who are beneficiaries of international protection will not be entitled to seek family reunification for a certain period following their grant of international protection.
This approach reflects the Government's objective of promoting effective integration outcomes for both sponsors and their family members. In that context, my Department invests in a range of measures related to integration, including community led initiatives, to support the inclusion of migrants and their families in Irish society.
185. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason, in the proposed Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026, Gardaí are being given powers to seize and search journalists’ phones and electronic devices without absolute protection of journalistic sources; and if he will commit to amending the Bill to explicitly guarantee that journalists’ confidential sources cannot be accessed without prior judicial determination, and only in circumstances of imminent risk to life or public safety. [6124/26]
View answerThe need for legislation in relation to search powers was recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland in its seminal report published in September 2018.
The Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026 which I published recently will modernise and consolidate the statutory basis for certain Garda powers and introduce greater protections for journalists and their sources.
The Bill does not provide absolute privilege for journalistic material because, as set out by the Supreme Court in Emmett Corcoran v The Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and DPP, journalistic privilege is not absolute. The Court emphasised that safeguards must balance the protection of sources with compelling public interests, such as imminent threats to life or public safety.
It should also be noted that this Bill strengthens protection for journalists in response to the Corcoran judgment. It makes specific provision for tailored search warrants authorising the seizure and search of electronic devices and for the assessment of claims of privilege.
This legislation addresses previous deficiencies by requiring Gardaí to notify the court of any known issues relating to journalistic privilege, ensuring potential claims are flagged early and considered, allowing a fully informed decision. It clarifies and strengthens safeguards by ensuring that electronic devices cannot be accessed without prior judicial authorisation, including when devices are seized as part of a stop-and-search. In addition, judges may request further information before deciding and may grant authorisation in full, in part, or refuse it entirely, ensuring any access is proportionate and tailored to the circumstances.
Importantly, where privilege arises, the device owner may assert a claim, which will be determined by the High Court or resolved by agreement between the parties. Material which is determined to be privileged is generally not examined or accessed. Access to material which is subject to qualified privilege is only to be permitted in exceptional circumstances, such as to protect life, personal safety, or critical infrastructure, and always under judicial supervision.
This approach aligns with the Supreme Court’s judgment in Corcoran, which emphasised the fundamental importance of judicial oversight in protecting journalistic privilege while recognising that such privilege is not absolute and must be balanced against compelling public interests.
Through this legislation, I am responding to recent judgments in the courts to ensure our search warrant regime is robust and future-proof, with the relevant safeguards in place. I am also introducing clear statutory procedures for dealing with privileged material, which recognise the fundamental nature of these principles in areas such as the legal profession and journalism.
186. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of people issued with a deportation order and the number of persons deported by the State, respectively, in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6082/26]
View answerIt is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.
Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. A person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued and I have increased resources into this programme to enable individuals who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.
If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed, and my Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals.
The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024.
In 2024, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.). In 2025, 2,111 people had their departure confirmed through these pathways, an increase of 88% compared to 2024.
In 2025, six charter flight operations removed 205 people from the State. Of these, five operations to non-EU destinations removed 182 people who were subject to deportation orders and one operation removed 23 EU citizens on grounds of criminality.
The tables below detail the number of deportation orders signed and effected from 2020 to 2025.
Table 1. Deportation orders signed from 2020 to 2025
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Deportation orders signed |
598 |
33 |
549 |
859 |
2,403 |
4,700 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Table 2. Deportation Enforcement 2020 to 2025
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Enforced Deportations |
42 |
5 |
24 |
51 |
134 |
185 |
|
Removed by Charter |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
182 |
|
Otherwise Confirmed Deportation (1) |
97 |
33 |
93 |
28 |
28 |
67 |
|
Total Deportations |
139 |
38 |
117 |
79 |
162 |
434 |
|
Other Removals (2) |
40 |
46 |
39 |
24 |
26 |
61 |
|
Number of Voluntary Returns |
201 |
132 |
91 |
215 |
934 |
1,616 |
|
Total Removed |
380 |
216 |
247 |
318 |
1,122 |
2,111 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
** During the COVID- 19 Pandemic there was a moratorium on deportations. This was effective during the latter part of 2020, 2021 and for the first 8 months of 2022. During the moratorium only people who whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest were deported. This moratorium was lifted in July 2022.
1. Otherwise confirmed deportations is where it has been confirmed a person has left the state following receipt of a deportation order without being escorted.
2. Other removals include Dublin III Transfer Orders of International Protection applicants to another EU State and EU Removal Orders for the return of EU Citizens under the Free Movement Regulations (these orders are made on grounds of criminality) and people who are deemed inadmissible under the International Protection Act.
As Ireland does not operate routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to confirm in all instances that a person has departed the State. A person is only recorded as being deported when their deportation has been enforced by An Garda Síochána or when officials have been provided with evidence that they have left Ireland.
While over 300 of the people subject to deportation orders above have confirmed they have left the State independently since 2020, it is the case that a significantly larger number of individuals who were subject to Deportation Orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities.
I am informed that the Garda National Immigration Bureau has reviewed a large sample of cases of people subject to deportation orders; their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.
187. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on his plans for a new prison in the Glen in Cork. [6195/26]
View answerI am acutely aware of the capacity constraints in our prisons and the resulting challenges faced by those who work and live within them. This Government is pursuing a dual approach to address the issue of prison capacity, by increasing physical capacity and pursuing further measures to support non-custodial sanctions.
Over 440 prison spaces have been constructed since 2022 with the majority of these already in use within the Prison Estate. On conclusion of the NDP Review in July, there was a record capital investment of €67.9 million agreed for 2026, as part of a total investment of €527 million from 2026 to 2030.
€495 million is to be invested in infrastructural projects and in line with the Programme for Government, includes an overall target of delivering over 1,500 spaces by 2031. This will be the largest ever building programme in the prison estate and will include a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old decommissioned Cork Prison, as well as a new block in Wheatfield, an additional block extension at Midlands prison, and additional spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Portlaoise, Limerick and the Dóchas Centre. It will also fund planning and commencement of the construction of a new prison at the Thornton site in North County Dublin.
Planning for the Old Cork Prison project remains at a very early stage and engagement will take place with the local community in due course.
188. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014, which has been repeatedly recommended as needed to legislate for alternatives to imprisonment, will be published; and the specific timeline the Government has set to ensure this legislation is enacted to alleviate the prison overcrowding crisis. [6123/26]
View answerThe Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014 is intended to update the Probation of Offenders Act 1907, with modern provisions dealing with community sanctions and to facilitate the effective and efficient use of same by the judiciary.
To meet the demands of an ever-evolving criminal justice system, a policy review of the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014 has been conducted to update the Probation Act 1907. The policy review recommends changes to the 2014 General Scheme, to reflect developments in Irish penal policy since 2014. My Department is currently considering the policy review recommendations, with a view to updating the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014 in due course.
189. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide funding to family resource centres to employ support workers to support people fleeing domestic violence situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73426/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me.
Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency, is investing significant resources into supporting people fleeing domestic violence situations. Cuan directly funds 78 DSGBV organisations around the country, providing support and assistance to victims and survivors of DSGBV, including to parents and families who have fled domestic violence situations. In 2025 Cuan disbursed a total of approximately €58.4 million to DSGBV services.
Cuan’s 2026 budget allocation represents an increase of 18% on 2025, and this increased budget will significantly strengthen Cuan’s ability to support the provision of DSGBV services, particularly the expansion of safe accommodation capacity.
The expansion of safe accommodation capacity is a core target of the Zero Tolerance Strategy. Cuan has a target to increase the number of refuge units in 2026 to 193, and to increase safe homes to 94, bringing total safe accommodation units in Ireland to 287 by the end of 2026. In addition, Cuan is aiming to have 50 new refuge units under construction across multiple sites nationally in 2026.
The provision of wraparound and ancillary services – such as therapeutic spaces and family rooms – is a central part of the planning, development and expansion of refuge capacity. This is in order to ensure that people fleeing domestic violence situations not only have a safe place to stay, but access to the wide range of supports they need.
I am advised that Family Resource Centres are supported through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency’s Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme. Resourcing and support for the staffing of these centres is, therefore, primarily a matter for Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are plans to introduce a national asylum seeker integration strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6186/26]
View answer209. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when his Department will publish a new migration strategy for the country; the Government Departments is he consulting with; if he is consulting with State agencies; the scope for public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6202/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 209 together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how Government intends to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade.
My Department is currently working collaboratively with a wide range of other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy later this year.
To that end, a Strategic Migration Policy Group (SMPG) was established in December 2024 to support that work which now consists of ten Government Departments meeting at senior official level.
The ten Departments represented on the SMPG are:
• Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Chairing)
• Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Department of Finance
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of an Taoiseach
• Department of Health
• Department of Education and Youth
• Department of Rural and Cultural Development and the Gaeltacht
Each Department represents the interests of the agencies under their remit which have also provided inputs to the Group as required.
The SMPG and its working group has now met on 13 occasions for detailed discussions on different aspects of the Strategy.
Following a transfer of functions in May 2025, migrant integration policy moved from the former Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) to my Department.
Preparatory work completed by the former DCEDIY to develop a successor to the 2017 Migrant Integration Strategy included a detailed two-phase consultation process with migrants and stakeholders. The first phase of consultation consisted of a public survey, stakeholder submissions, and stakeholder workshops to gather insights into the needs, challenges, and opportunities for supporting migrant integration.
The second phase targeted migrant communities who were underrepresented in phase one and consisted of focus groups with participants recruited through migrant organisations. In addition to this, focus groups were held with the Local Authority Integration Teams.
The insights gained from these contributions are supporting my Department's development of the Strategy.
The key objective of the Strategy and the SMPG is to develop a whole-of-government approach to migration policy that is coherent across Departments and responsive in seeking to address Ireland’s current and future demographic, economic and social policy needs.
191. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of checkpoints conducted in each Garda division and/or district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5963/26]
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, which includes all operational policing matters. I play no role in these independent functions.
Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.
The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of checkpoints performed in 2025 and 2026 per checkpoint type from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 to 14 January 2026.
|
Year |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Mandatory Intoxicant Testing Checkpoints |
51104 |
1726 |
|
Other Checkpoints |
51638 |
1830 |
|
Truck/HGV Checkpoints (Incl. TISPOL) |
1175 |
43 |
|
Grand Total |
103917 |
3599 |
The below table, also provided by the Garda authorities, provides a further breakdown by division from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 to 14 January 2026.
|
Year |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Clare/Tipperary |
7052 |
192 |
|
Cork City |
4370 |
155 |
|
Cork County |
10065 |
430 |
|
DMR East |
1182 |
51 |
|
DMR North Central |
2803 |
119 |
|
DMR North |
1876 |
112 |
|
DMR South Central |
2487 |
101 |
|
DMR South |
4350 |
138 |
|
DMR West |
1580 |
51 |
|
Donegal |
4547 |
130 |
|
Galway |
5970 |
203 |
|
Kerry |
4180 |
130 |
|
Kildare/Carlow |
7735 |
272 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
4471 |
186 |
|
Limerick |
3075 |
78 |
|
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan |
3459 |
129 |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford |
8767 |
248 |
|
Meath/Westmeath |
3729 |
87 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
2730 |
93 |
|
Waterford/Kilkenny |
10471 |
354 |
|
Wexford/Wicklow |
9018 |
340 |
|
Grand Total |
103917 |
3599 |
The Government and the Garda Commissioner take road safety very seriously. The whole of Government response in this area is led by the Department of Transport and I continue to engage with colleagues across Government to ensure that every effort is made to increase safety on our roads.
192. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way threats to the security of the State will be defined under proposed legislation to create additional covert surveillance and interception powers; the safeguards which will be put in place to protect individual freedoms and privacy rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6018/26]
View answerI recently announced that the Government had approved my proposals for a new Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill which will update and replace the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993.
This legislation is essential to ensure that the law in this area is as up-to-date as possible and can yield intelligence that is vital for dealing more effectively with serious and organised crime, terrorism and threats to the security of the State.
Generally speaking, the definition of key legal terms will be addressed as work proceeds on the General Scheme.
With regard to the interpretation of 'national security', I can say that, for good reason, it is the long established view that there is a need for flexibility to allow the Courts to interpret this term in the context of the law and the Constitution generally in particular cases. This approach recognises the continually evolving nature of threats to the security of the State. The European Court of Human Rights, in the 2010 case of Kennedy v the United Kingdom, made a number of observations, in considering the requirement for foreseeability of the law, on the nature of threats to national security including the observation that such threats may be unanticipated or difficult to define in advance.
I am committed to including robust legal safeguards and I therefore proposed to Government that the Bill should include a new requirement for judicial authorisation of requests for interception. I also propose to include a requirement that agencies making an interception application will have to outline any issues with regard to privileged material.
The General Scheme which is being drafted will also confirm the role of the Independent Examiner for Security Legislation in providing ongoing monitoring and oversight. There will also be an independent complaints procedure.
194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5366/26]
View answerI am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy.
The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.74 billion for this year which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publish information in relation to the number of available members by Division and Station which is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/garda-strength-breakdown-2025.html.
The Deputy should select the file titled “Garda Members by Division District Station 2009 to 30 November” for a breakdown of available members of An Garda Síochána in the Meath/Westmeath Division and in stations in Co. Meath.
While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I regularly engage with him to ensure An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to deliver an effective police service.
I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide. Local and national crime trends and workloads are also considered along with local population and trends, geographical area and size.
195. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in respect of each of the 15 recommendations recommended in the report on the operation of bail in Ireland prepared by Senior Counsel Lorcan Staines, entitled ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’, whether he accepts the recommendation; the status of work to implement the recommendation; the timeframe envisaged to implement the recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6081/26]
View answerWhile bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive, I am committed to ensuring they are fit for purpose while ensuring fundamental rights principles are adhered to. Last year, I appointed a Senior Counsel, Lorcan Staines, to undertake an assessment of the current operation of bail in Ireland, both legal and practical.
The commissioning of the report arose from concerns regarding bail processes and their applicability to recidivist offenders. These concerns were acknowledged in my apology to the family of the late Shane O’Farrell, who was tragically killed in August 2011, when struck by a car driven by a person who was on bail for a series of offences at the time.
Mr Staines’s report ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’ was published by my Department in November 2025. I would like to express my thanks to Lorcan Staines for his work in compiling this comprehensive report.
This examination of our bail laws and subsequent proposals underlines the need for additional actions to be taken to ensure the criminal justice system effectively mitigates against risks that may be associated with individuals on bail.
A number of the recommendations are under active consideration or in progress by my Department. It is proposed that a further Memorandum for the Government will be brought on any further implementation of the recommendations in due course.
The table below lays out all of the recommendations in the report and notes consideration and progress associated with each one.
|
Recommendation |
Current position |
|
Significant and immediate investment should be made in the information sharing systems for both An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service. The accurate recording and sharing of information between these bodies should be prioritised. |
This is a long-term recommendation. There are currently a number of projects taking place across the sector which will contribute to an improvement in the information sharing systems for both An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service, along with the system overall. The Courts Service is undertaking a major initiative to implement a Unified Case Management System (UCMS) for criminal matters, as part of their ten-year Modernisation Programme. Under the Modernisation Programme, the Unified Case Management System (UCMS) is to replace all civil and criminal case systems within the Courts Service with one modern case management system that will enable end to end digital journeys, streamlining of processes and further data sharing with justice sector bodies. Other notable projects in this sphere include the project to codify the criminal offence codes used by criminal justice agencies in the sector. The Department is currently reviewing what further work may be required to fully implement a recommendation such as this. |
|
The responsibility for the prosecution of offences should be removed from the Gardaí and all future Court proceedings should be conducted by legal professionals. I note that a Summary Prosecution Reform Steering Committee led by the Depart of the Taoiseach is currently considering this issue. |
This was previously recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI). It was accepted in principle by the Government subject to a further evaluation of the implications, including resources. A subsequent evaluation undertaken by the ‘High-Level Review Group’ (HLRG) concluded that the CoFPI change was not appropriate and recommended the implementation of what they termed the “Reform Model”. The Summary Prosecution Reform Steering Committee was then established to drive forward the detailed design and implementation of the Reform Model. Under the Reform Model, the HLRG recommended that AGS retain responsibility for the conduct of prosecutions in court. The HLRG also recommended that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions be supported in substantially enhancing quality assurance of the prosecution functions by AGS in the name of the DPP. |
|
An amendment should be made to the District Court Rules to provide that fine-only matters shall proceed in the absence of the accused where: i. The Court is satisfied that the accused was duly served or made aware of the time and place of the proceedings; ii. There are no exceptional circumstances which would result in inordinate unfairness to the accused. An accused person may later make an application to have any determination of the Court set aside on the basis that they were not been served with the proceedings or were not aware of the time and date of the proceedings. |
This recommendation is not currently subject to legislative proposals or administrative consideration. However, the Department will engage with the District Court Rules Committee on this proposal. |
|
Legislation should be introduced providing for house arrest (i) limited to cases where bail would otherwise be refused, (ii) including a proportionality test and (iii) allowing any party to apply for its imposition as a bail condition. |
This recommendation is not currently subject to legislative proposals or administrative consideration but will be given consideration. |
|
Legislation should be introduced allowing the member in charge of a Garda station to grant bail to an accused who has taken a bench warrant where there is no Garda objection to bail. |
Previously, the Department raised concerns as to the appropriateness of legislating to allow station bail to be granted to a person who is the subject of an outstanding bench warrant. The Department engaged with An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Attorney General on the proposal. While the proposal was not taken forward at that time, the Department considers there may be an alternative solution via a greater application of section 8 by the courts. |
|
Legislation should be introduced allowing the member in charge of a Garda station to attach conditions to a station bail bond. This legislation should set out the factors which must be considered by the member in charge in deciding whether to grant station bail. |
The specifics of this recommendation are currently under active consideration. |
|
A legislative provision should be introduced to allow the prosecution to appeal against the granting of bail in the Circuit Court. |
While there is no current consideration of this proposal being undertaken, consideration will be given to this recommendation. |
|
Current bail legislation should be amended to significantly expand the conditions which may be attached to the granting of bail to include positive obligations such as the attendance at counselling, addiction or employment services where same are available. Positive obligations should only be imposed where an evidential basis exists for their imposition and consent of the accused should be sought. |
This recommendation is not currently subject to legislative proposals or administrative consideration. However, it will be considered. |
|
The Bail Act 1997 should be amended to provide that a member of Garda Síochána who reasonably suspects that a person has breached a condition of their bail bond may arrest them without warrant in order to bring them before the Court forthwith for the purposes of an application for the revocation of bail or the amendment of bail conditions. |
This was previously considered with advice from the Office of the Attorney General sought in 2015. A decision was made not to pursue this legislative change as it was considered that a general power of arrest without warrant for conduct (or indeed anticipated conduct) that is not ordinarily criminal would amount to a “disproportionate interference” with Constitutional rights. However, consideration will be given to whether there is scope to expand the power of arrest for serious breaches of bail conditions, for example to prevent an individual absconding from the jurisdiction. |
|
The following offence should be amended to increase the maximum penalty on conviction to 5 years imprisonment if tried on indictment and should thereafter be added as a scheduled offence to the Bail Act 1997: Section 33 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 - breach of a domestic violence court order. |
An identical proposal is currently under consideration in the context of a private members’ bill, the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was initiated and is currently at Report Stage in the Seanad. This proposal requires careful consideration, as increasing the penalty for this offence may have the unintended consequence of making it more difficult to obtain orders under the 2018 Act. This was considered by the Law Reform Commission 2013 Report on Aspects of Domestic Violence. At that stage, the Commission recommended against increasing the penalty for breach of a domestic violence order under the law as it then stood on this basis. Advice is awaited to inform deliberations in the context of the Bill. |
|
The following offences should be added as scheduled offences to the Bail Act 1997: i. Section 38 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 – forced marriage. ii. Section 39 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 – coercive control. iii. Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 – intimidation of witnesses and jurors. iv. Section 12(1) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 – Breach of notification requirements by a sex offender |
The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 was published on 9 January 2026. Section 31 of the Bill provides for the offences itemised at (i) and (ii) to be added to the Schedule to the Bail Act 1997. Consideration is being given to further amending the Schedule to include the offences itemised at (iii) and (iv). |
|
An adult bail supervision scheme should be implemented, incorporating a wrap-around scheme with the necessary supports and services to ensure the proper management of recidivist offenders. |
Initial work has commenced within the Department on a bail support scheme specifically designed for women. Extending this to encompass a broader cohort will be considered. |
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Further consideration should be given to the manner in which the system of electronic tagging is intended to operate and whether such a system would survive judicial scrutiny. If such a system is to be implemented the current legislation providing for electronic tagging should be amended to (i) limit its application to cases where bail would otherwise be refused, (ii) include a proportionality test and (iii) allow any party to apply for its imposition as a bail condition. |
The Programme for Government commits to implement electronic tagging for appropriate categories of prisoner. 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. The Department is leading a cross-agency pilot project to introduce electronic monitoring (EM) for specific categories of individuals, and in line with existing legal provisions. The pilot will focus on individuals on temporary release nationally and those admitted to bail in a pilot area. It is proposed to utilise up to 50 electronic tags during this phase. 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 EM system. The pilot will provide the evidence necessary to assess value for money, cost, operational impacts and outcomes in advance of any decisions on wider implementation. Additionally, all new projects undertaken by the Department are assessed for overall viability before being given permission to proceed. €2.1m of funding was secured in Budget 2026 for the project to allow for staffing, procurement, and other set up costs. |
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Guidelines should be developed with the judiciary in relation to the processing of bail applications, particularly where they relate to the execution of bench warrants and the fixing of recognisance. |
This recommendation will be considered. |
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Further discussion and analysis should take place between the judiciary, the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice in relation to the manner in which cash bail is utilised as a condition of bail and whether it should be abolished. |
The utilisation of cash bail as a condition of bail has been previously considered by the Department and relevant criminal justice agencies and involves significant complex issues. Consideration will be given to how this can be progressed. |
