Written Answers Nos. 455-474
455. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); and if she will provide support to resolve these situations in future. [11245/26]
View answerMy Department is responsible for providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to persons who have fled the war and received temporary protection in Ireland. Of over 124,000 persons who have arrived in Ireland, over 94,000 have been assisted in this way. I would like to acknowledge the very significant part played by all hosts who have provided a home for those fleeing the war.
From 14 March 2024 a timebound accommodation policy was introduced in order to ensure Ireland could continue to provide accommodation for those most in need fleeing the war in Ukraine in a sustainable manner. Under this policy new arrivals were entitled to 90 days of accommodation in a Designated Accommodation Centre (DAC). While in a DAC residents received food, laundry and integration supports to assist with securing independent accommodation and employment. Due to a significant increase in arrivals and pressure on the DAC system, the period of accommodation was reduced to 30 days from 10 November 2025.
To complement this approach to State-contracted commercial accommodation, since September 2025, people with temporary protection who arrived in Ireland before March 2024, and who are not already in State-contracted commercial accommodation, are not eligible to take up new State-contracted commercial accommodation. This means that people who may have been in accommodation but have since left cannot avail of a second offer of State-contracted commercial accommodation. This also applies to people who arrived before March 2024 and did not take up State-contracted commercial accommodation to date.
In the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, the people in question would not be able to access commercial accommodation contracted by my Department. However, a range of measures have been provided to support temporary protection beneficiaries to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for their duration of their Temporary Protection. This includes supports for those engaged in hosting arrangements, such as the Accommodation Recognition Payment.
Hosting arrangements are a private matter between the host and the temporary protection beneficiaries living in the accommodation. Hosting arrangements can be terminated at any stage by either party if the arrangements are no longer satisfactory.
Where hosting arrangements are coming to an end, temporary protection beneficiaries are entitled to make their own private arrangements for accommodation through their own means, using supports provided by the Department of Social Protection (e.g. Rent Supplement), or by asking their Local Authority or Irish Red Cross for alternative hosted accommodation. Those wishing to avail of hosted accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross.
456. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí, by county, to date in 2026, in tabular form. [11161/26]
View answerAs of 31 December 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, the total Garda workforce countrywide stood at over 18,000 which comprised of 14,219 Gardaí, 3,505 Garda staff and 308 Garda Reserves.
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.
An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí nationally. This includes a breakdown of Gardaí by division. 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 can select the file titled 'Garda Members by Division District Station to the most recent date'. It should be noted that An Garda Síochána is not structured according to county boundaries.
457. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11186/26]
View answerI can confirm that my Department does not have any form of serviced canteen facilities for employees or members of the public in its headquarters and does not, therefore, procure beef or beef products.
458. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will outline the rationale and guidelines applied by immigration officers when questioning Irish passport holders on arrival at Irish airports; whether his Department is aware of cases where Irish citizens, including retired individuals with long-standing family or property connections in the State, are subject to repeated questioning on entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11222/26]
View answerThe Border Management Unit (BMU) is responsible for frontline immigration functions at Dublin Airport. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of An Garda Síochána.
Dublin Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe and handled over 18 million arriving passengers in 2025. There is significant pressure to ensure consistent delivery of service at all points of entry, in particular Dublin airport which accounts for approximately 85% of all air passenger arrivals into the State.
Immigration officers are responsible for carrying out border management functions in order to protect the integrity of the State’s immigration system and ensure compliance with immigration law. In performing these functions, officers may briefly question passengers, including Irish citizens, for the purpose of confirming identity, nationality, and travel history, and to establish the circumstances of their arrival, where necessary. Such checks are routine and form part of standard operational procedures and are intended solely to support the safe and efficient management of the border.
While Irish citizens have an unrestricted right to enter the State, all persons arriving at the border are required to engage with immigration officers and comply with reasonable requests made in the course of these checks.
All these measures ensure that border controls operate fairly, consistently and efficiently for all passengers.
The BMU welcomes customer service feedback and will facilitate improvements in the provision of service where this is deemed to be necessary. Further information regarding the Border Management Unit’s customer feedback procedure can be found on the Immigration Service Delivery website at www.irishimmigration.ie/at-the-border/bmu-customer-service-feedback/.
459. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a dataset regarding the number of individuals that have become naturalised Irish citizens in the past ten years, broken down by nationality/country of origin; the number now resident in Ireland; the number that hold dual or multiple nationalities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/26]
View answerAll applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually based on the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family, or holiday purposes.
Table 1 below shows the number of certificates of naturalisation that were issued in the last 10 years.
In the attached document, the countries of origin of those issued a certificate are outlined. Any country of origin that is less than 10 has been amalgamated into "Rest of the World", this is to avoid possibly identifying any person.
I can inform the Deputy that it is not possible to provide statistics on the number of naturalised Irish citizens who are currently resident in Ireland or who hold dual or multiple nationalities, as this information is not collected or maintained by my Department.
Table 1: Certificates of Naturalisation issued 2016-2025.
|
Year |
Certificates Issued |
|
2016 |
10,002 |
|
2017 |
8,178 |
|
2018 |
8,208 |
|
2019 |
5,778 |
|
2020 |
5,465 |
|
2021 |
9,766 |
|
2022 |
13,596 |
|
2023 |
18,265 |
|
2024 |
24,068 |
|
2025 |
31,244 |
* Please note, all tables and figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing
460. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current legislation dealing with individuals that make false criminal accusations against others; the penalties that can be applied in such cases; if he proposes to introduce any amending legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11240/26]
View answerUnder the Criminal Law Act 1976 (Section 12), it is an offence to knowingly make a false report or statement to the Gardaí alleging an offence has been committed.
On summary conviction, it is punishable by a fine up to €4,000 or 12 months imprisonment. On conviction on indictment, penalties include up to 5 years in prison.
Under the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021, it is an offence to knowingly give a false material statement under oath in a judicial or other proceeding. It also covers fabricating evidence with the intent to mislead proceedings.
Penalties include up to 10 years imprisonment and/or fines up to €100,000.
I am satisfied that these penalties are appropriate and have no plans to change them. Sentencing is, of course, a matter for the trial judge in any particular case.
461. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of people that applied to join An Garda Síochána in 2025; the number that commenced training in 2025; the number attested in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11241/26]
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 €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
Recruitment into An Garda Síochána is now gathering real momentum. I am determined to ensure that we maintain a strong pipeline of recruits to Templemore. To that end, and for the first time ever, there were two Garda recruitment competitions held in 2025. There was significant interest in both competitions, with over 11,100 people applying to join An Garda Síochána. This demonstrates the strong interest in a career in An Garda Síochána.
I am informed by Garda authorities that 794 trainees commenced training in 2025, the highest number since 2018. This includes 223 recruits who entered Templemore in December, the largest single intake in over a decade.
619 Gardaí attested in 2025 in four attestation ceremonies. 151 attested in March 2025, 120 in June 2025, 154 in August 2025 and 194 in November 2025.
The Programme for Government commits to recruiting at least 5,000 new Gardaí over the term of this Government and I remain fully committed to achieving that goal.
462. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of community Gardaí, per division at present and the correspondence figure for year end in each of the years 2020-2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11242/26]
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 the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act and, as Minister, I have no role in decisions related to the distribution of Garda members or their assignment to units/duties.
An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí nationally. This includes a breakdown of Gardaí assigned to community policing by division for the periods requested. 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 'Community Garda by division to the most recent date' to access a breakdown of community Garda by division.
It should also be noted that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.
463. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the proposed deportation of a family (details supplied); if any appeal mechanism is available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11264/26]
View answer464. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will engage with a family facing a deportation order (details supplied) in relation to any appeal mechanism available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11265/26]
View answer465. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the significant community support for a family facing a deportation order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11266/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 464 and 465 together.
At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual cases.
My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
People can apply for international protection in Ireland if they have come to escape persecution in their own country or if they cannot return to their country because they have a well-founded fear for their safety.
Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) are fully independent in deciding whether or not to grant international protection. Each application is examined individually on its own merits, in line with national and international asylum law.
People who have been refused international protection and have exhausted the appeals avenues through the IPAT are entitled to submit a request to review their permission to remain where their circumstances have changed since their initial application. If successful, they will be granted permission to remain in Ireland. If the permission to remain review is refused, the person concerned will have the option of voluntary return. This is the preferred option and my Department runs a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to a deportation order issuing.
If a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State, they must do so.
Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) provides for the revocation of a Deportation order. Where a person makes representations seeking that their deportation order is revoked under Section 3(11), consideration is given to whether there is compelling new information or material change in circumstances which were not previously put forward, nor capable of being put forward, when the original decision was made. It should be noted that such a request does not suspend the enforcement of a deportation order.
466. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount spent on vehicle recovery services within Wexford division in 2023 to date in 2026, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11304/26]
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 the use of Garda resources throughout the State.
The table below has been provided to me by Garda authorities and outlines the amount spent on vehicle recovery services in the Wicklow/Wexford Garda Division in the period 2023 to 2025.
|
- |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Total |
€140,624.67 |
€183,216.54 |
€202,541.06 |
I am informed that figures for 2026 are not yet available.
467. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the number of prosecutions in the past five years specifically related to sulky racing and related offenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11321/26]
View answerSulky racing and related issues are primarily animal welfare-related. Matters relating to legislation concerning animal welfare and its implementation fall within the remit of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
With regard to any criminality related to sulky racing, including road traffic and safety violations, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the direction and control of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters, which incorporates road traffic enforcement. In this regard I encourage anyone who has knowledge of a criminal act, or believes that a criminal act may have occurred, to contact their local/nearest Garda station to report this.
Under law, criminal investigations are carried out by An Garda Síochána, who submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP decides whether a prosecution should proceed, and what crime will be prosecuted
The DPP is fully independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). The Office of the DPP is not an agency or body under my remit. As Minister for Justice and I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Office of the Director. As such I am unable to provide any statistics related to the work of the DPP.
468. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11356/26]
View answerMy Department and the agencies under its aegis carry out public awareness campaigns, where appropriate, in order to increase public understanding of key issues in the justice sector. Public information campaigns have also been undertaken from time to time to highlight career opportunities recruitment campaigns in the Justice sector.
The information requested in relation to the amount expended by my Department and agencies within my Department’s Vote (Vote 24), in relation to public information campaigns and communications companies or consultants is provided in the table below. Expected costs for 2026 are not available at this time.
|
Vote 24 |
Expenditure 2025* |
|
Department of Justice and Vote 24 Agencies |
€6,404,342 |
Information relating to the amount expended by agencies in the Justice Vote Group is provided below. Where expected costs for 2026 are available, these have also been provided.
|
Courts Service (Vote 22) |
Expenditure |
|
2025 |
€156,496 |
|
2026 (Expected Cost) |
- |
|
Data Protection Commission (Vote 44) |
Expenditure |
|
2025 |
€623,292 |
|
2026 (Expected Cost) |
- |
|
Fiosrú (Vote 46) |
Expenditure |
|
2025 |
€20,670 |
|
2026 (Expected Cost) |
€170,000** |
|
Irish Prison Service (Vote 21) |
Expenditure |
|
2025 |
€80,086 |
|
2026 (Expected Cost) |
€70,000 |
|
Policing and Community Safety Authority (Vote 41) |
Expenditure |
|
2025 |
€12,942 |
|
2026 (Expected Cost) |
€12,000 |
*Please note that the appropriation accounts for 2025 have not yet been finalised and this data may be subject to minor revisions.
**Fiosrú expects expenditure to increase significantly in 2026 due to public information outreach events, materials and services and recruitment events and advertising.
It has not been possible for An Garda Síochána to collate the information requested in the timeline provided. I will forward this information directly to the Deputy when it is available.
469. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, in the awarding, renewal, or continuation of contracts or payments under the International Protection Accommodation Services, his Department assesses company-law compliance at group level, including the compliance status of any parent or holding company of a contracting entity; and if he will outline the governance checks applied. [11421/26]
View answer470. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether failure by a parent or holding company of an International Protection Accommodation Services contractor to file annual returns with the Companies Registration Office within statutory timeframes is treated as a material governance or compliance risk by his Department; and if he will detail how such risks are evaluated. [11422/26]
View answer471. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether State payments under International Protection Accommodation Services contracts may continue to be made to a subsidiary company where a parent or holding company is non-compliant with Companies Registration Office filing obligations; and what safeguards or conditions apply in such circumstances. [11423/26]
View answer472. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the oversight, escalation, or remedial measures available to his Department where group-level governance or compliance issues arise in respect of International Protection Accommodation Services contractors; and whether corrective action is required prior to the continuation of payments. [11424/26]
View answer473. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has reviewed the governance and compliance framework applied to International Protection Accommodation Services providers in light of increased public scrutiny of accommodation contracts; and if he will outline any changes made or under consideration to strengthen assurance on the use of public funds. [11425/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 470, 471, 472 and 473 together.
The Department is taking action across all aspects of the international protection accommodation system to improve value for money, strengthen governance and compliance, and renegotiate contracts with providers.
These actions have been escalated since 2025, when the steep increase in applications seen since 2022 began to reduce. While application numbers remain well above pre-2022 norms, the Department has taken action across all these dimensions to regain greater control of the IPAS accommodation system.
This is happening is parallel to the increase in State-owned beds in the system, which over time will allow the Department to continue to reduce reliance on commercial provision.
The Department receives offers of international protection accommodation on an ongoing basis from external commercial providers. All offers are reviewed by the Department under a standardised appraisal procedure.
A dedicated team appraises each offer to accommodate people seeking international protection, and the Department carries out due diligence on the provider who is offering the accommodation service.
This includes checks on the provider offering the service to the Department via the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to ensure compliance with CRO requirements.
Providers must be registered in Ireland. Providers may be part of wider commercial groups and may also be operating in other EU member states, in line with EU principles of free movement of goods, services, and works. The Department carries out its appraisals on the providers making the submission, and does not appraise wider commercial entities which may be associated with providers.
Since 2024, each new or renewing provider of accommodation services must provide a declaration of their personal circumstances. This declaration, which must be notarised, confirms that they are tax compliant, free of any convictions for corruption, fraud or being a member of a criminal organisation. It also confirms that they are solvent and have no history of failing to meet terms of public service contracts, among other requirements.
The introduction of a new rate card model in May 2025 is driving costs down for new and renewed contracts, already saving over €76 million up to December last year. It is being applied to each contract as it comes up for renewal.
All provider payments are published on a quarterly basis by the Department, and a provider's tax compliance is verified at each payment by way of a Tax Clearance Certificate.
In relation to contracts ending, IPAS regularly engages with centres to ensure compliance with contracts and standards, with a dual eye on safety and welfare of residents, while also ensuring value for money and compliance by providers.
Developing more State-owned options will allow us to move away from the current degree of reliance on commercial provision. The purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre in 2025 was an important milestone in this strategy, and increased State-owned beds to 4,000 in 2025, compared to 700 in early 2024.
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 State-owned beds increase, contracts expire or demand fluctuates.
474. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of incidents reported to An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years concerning alleged animal cruelty offences; the number of investigations commenced; the number of animals seized; the number of files submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. [11427/26]
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.
