Written Answers Nos. 732-751
732. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether capital or reform funding allocated to justice-sector digital modernisation projects includes performance, reporting or data standardisation conditions; and, if so, to provide details of those conditions [14600/26]
View answer733. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has undertaken any governance, reform, or value-for-money review of data interoperability and reporting standards across justice-sector bodies, including the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána and the Central Statistics Office, for the purpose of structured reporting on economically significant offences such as insurance fraud; and if so, to outline the findings [14609/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 733 together.
The Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a common identification number for individuals in the criminal justice system. My Department is currently considering the legislative and technological updates required to introduce a unique identifier. The development of a single unique identifier will support a more joined-up, efficient and transparent criminal justice system. It will be particularly beneficial in the areas of data accuracy, enhanced data management and integrity, allowing more seamless information sharing and enhanced collection. This will ultimately support research and help to inform both policy and service development.
The Criminal Justice Operational Hub (CJOH) is a programme of work with relevant agencies under the aegis of my Department to deliver improved data interoperability and efficiency. This programme supports a growing series of data exchanges between agencies across the criminal justice system, providing a secure area to exchange information. Data privacy, minimisation and security are key design principles of the programme which is underpinned by detailed Data Sharing Agreements and Data Protection processes to ensure appropriate data privacy is maintained. Further, the project follows my Department's established project governance framework. To date, secure data exchanges have been implemented between the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service.
All capital digital modernisation projects follow my Department’s established project governance framework. This framework requires each project to demonstrate a clear business case, strategic alignment with Departmental and Governmental priorities, expected benefits, and business outcomes. All projects are subject to regular performance monitoring and structured reporting through programme level and departmental governance forums.
The P3 Oversight Committee, a management board subgroup, keeps all existing projects and programmes under review to ensure they are delivering the expected outcomes within the agreed budget, time, and scope. In addition to this, my Department also complies with its requirements under the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Circular 14/2021 (for Digital & ICT Projects), including submission to the Digital Governance Oversight Unit for prior approval and the establishment of a dedicated peer review process where total project costs are likely to exceed €2 million.
734. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the visitor visa refusal of a person (details supplied) given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14740/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the visa application referred to has been refused. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 18 February 2026.
All visa applicants are advised that the responsibility is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. People that carefully follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision.
It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order. A decision will be issued to the applicant as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their visa appeal on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
735. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the recent annual corruption perceptions index rankings by an organisation (details supplied); his views on their opinion that the flow of illicit ‘dark’ money through Dublin poses a threat “to social cohesion, as well as economic integrity and democratic resilience”; the action is he taking to mitigate this risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14802/26]
View answerTransparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2025 was published on 10 February 2026. Ireland scored 76 out of 100 and is ranked 12 out of 181 countries which demonstrates a strong international reputation for fighting public-sector corruption.
Corruption negatively impacts society, individuals and business. It undermines democracy and the rule of law; allows organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish; distorts markets and drives away investment; increases inequality; damages the environment; denies access to basic services; provides the wrong incentives and undermines innovation.
Responsibility for the development and implementation of anti-corruption policies in Ireland does not rest with any one body. A number of Departments, agencies and bodies have roles and responsibilities in this area. The competence to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute corruption is spread across An Garda Síochána and a number of other agencies with a mandate to tackle corruption.
The Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 consolidated existing offences into one Act and created a number of new offences such as trading in influence and intimidation. Most offences carry a penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine upon conviction. Irish corruption law has a global reach and is applicable to Irish nationals, Irish companies and persons ordinarily resident in Ireland when abroad.
In December 2020, my Department published a cross-government report which examines how best to tackle economic crime and corruption in Ireland, the “Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption”, also known as the Hamilton review. An all-of-government implementation plan to progress the recommendations in the review was published in April 2021.
One of the key recommendations made in the Hamilton Review was the establishment of an Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption. This Advisory Council was established in 2022 and is chaired by a former Director of Public Prosecutions with considerable anti-corruption expertise. In addition to representatives of various public sector bodies, there are two academics, two business representatives, and two civil society representatives on the Council. The Advisory Council advises and makes proposals on strategic and policy responses and is responsible for developing a multi-annual strategy to combat economic crime and corruption.
Ireland is also party to a number of anti-corruption international instruments. These are the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the Council of Europe instruments monitored by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). As such, Ireland is subject to the evaluation processes and monitoring arrangements associated with these instruments.
736. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of buildings leased by his Department, or bodies or agencies under its aegis, during 2025; the total cumulative sum paid under these leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14024/26]
View answerMy Department conducts its operations predominantly in buildings which are either State owned or rented or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, as property owners and building agents for An Garda Síochána, the OPW either owns or leases properties on behalf of An Garda Síochána. Details of all such properties that are leased or owned are held by the OPW. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
Details regarding the total number of buildings leased by my Department and the agencies under its aegis are provided in the tables below. Totals are provided inclusive of VAT.
|
- |
Number of Properties Leased |
Total Paid (2025) (Cumulative) |
|
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
2 |
€528,699 |
|
Agency/Body |
Number of Properties Leased |
Total Paid (2025)(Cumulative) |
|
Courts Service |
18 |
€5,165,000 |
|
Cuan |
1 |
€442,800 |
|
Data Protection Commission |
1 |
€1,214,817 |
|
Dublin District Coroners Court |
1 |
€286,064 |
|
Fiosrú |
2 |
€1,234,010 |
|
Irish Prison Service |
1 |
€236,000 |
|
Legal Aid Board* |
39 |
€3,123,988 |
|
Legal Services Regulatory Authority** |
2 |
€237,645 |
|
Office of the Independent Examiner |
1 |
€110,700 |
|
Office of the Inspector of Prisons |
1 |
€186,817 |
|
Parole Board |
1 |
€209,100 |
|
Probation Service*** |
3 |
€467,485 |
*The Courts Service and Legal Aid Board rental costs not only provide office accommodation for staff but delivery of front line services.
** Includes office accommodation for the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (LPDT) which is funded by the LSRA.
*** Three building leases are funded by the Probation Service, two of which are for Community Based Organisations providing key services.
737. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update regarding an application for naturalisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14052/26]
View answerA detailed response in this matter was provided to the Deputy via the Oireachtas Mail service.
I can advise the Deputy that the naturalisation application referred to was deemed ineligible and closed, as it was incomplete and the requested documentation was not provided.
It is open to the person cited to make a new application at any time. There is no time limit within which they can make a new application, nor is there any maximum limit on the number of applications.
To maintain the integrity of the file on record, Citizenship Division do not return documentation submitted. However, should applicants wish to lodge a new application, they may request all relevant documents previously submitted to be associated with the new application.
My Department has produced a comprehensive guidance document for all potential applicants, outlining all the documents required for an application. This document is published on my Department's Immigration website and is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Citizenship-Guidance-Document-April-2024.pdf
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
738. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the level of oversight his Department has over the operations of, and decisions made by the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14079/26]
View answerSection 2 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 provides that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) shall be independent in the performance of their functions. Therefore the Office is not an agency or body under my Department's remit and funding is provided centrally through Vote 5 – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, for which the Department of the Taoiseach is responsible.
The Director is completely independent and as such I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of her Office.
739. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he intends to establish a formal review or inquiry into the recent prosecution of a number of Gardaí in the Limerick area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14081/26]
View answerThe Director of Public Prosecutions is independent under the Prosecution of Offences Act, 1974 (as amended). The courts are also independent under the Constitution and the law, and the judiciary forms a separate branch of government. Additionally, An Garda Síochána, as the national police service, are operationally independent under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
These are cornerstone principles of our criminal justice system and it is important that all the key elements of the system, from investigators, to prosecutors to judges and juries, are independent of the Government in the exercise of their functions.
It is also important to recall that all persons accused of offences before the courts are innocent until proven guilty. That principle is at the heart of our criminal justice system. The fact that a case ends with an acquittal does not indicate a failure of the system. Instead, it serves to underscore that it is robust, fair and impartial.
In this particular case, the serving Gardaí and retired Garda superintendent were all acquitted and the serving members of An Garda Síochána involved in this case have had their suspensions lifted by the Garda Commissioner.
740. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025 applications processed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14137/26]
View answer744. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure on the Community Safety Fund in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14141/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 740 and 744 together.
The Community Safety Fund re-directs the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána, 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 all across Ireland.
In 2025, €4.4 million was allocated through the Community Safety Fund to 42 community safety projects nationwide. This represented a 33% increase on the €3 million awarded in 2024. I secured a further increase in funding to €4.75 million for 2026, which is reflective of the continued success of An Garda Síochána and CAB.
Putting this money back into the community is a tangible way of showing that there can be a direct link between the activities of law enforcement and building stronger, safer communities.
Since first being launched in 2022, the Community Safety Fund has received 443 applications. The below table provides a breakdown of these applications by year.
|
Year |
Number of applications |
|
2022 |
122 |
|
2023 |
61 |
|
2024 |
96 |
|
2025 |
164 |
|
Total |
443 |
The below table outlines the total expenditure to date on the Community Safety Fund in 2024 and 2025.
|
Year |
CSF Expenditure |
|
2024 |
€3,170,274.28 |
|
2025 |
€3,623,920.30 |
|
Total |
€6,794,194.58 |
741. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the impact of the Greentown Programme extension on disrupting child criminal networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14138/26]
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.
When young people come to the attention of An Garda Síochána, the Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau will refer those suitable to Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) who will then engage with vulnerable young people presenting with complex backgrounds.
The Department also fund specialised Youth Justice Projects catering to Harder-to-Reach, serious and prolific young offenders.
One of these is the Greentown Programme, established in 2020, which aims to disrupt the grooming of children into network-related criminal activity by adults and provides children with meaningful and practical routes out of these networks.
The Greentown Programme is made up of four strands – an intensive family programme to help with parenting and general family functioning, providing young people with pro-social opportunities, supporting communities to withstand gang and network influences, and targeting groomers and disrupting their networks.
The first Greentown Programme progress report from 2023 found that there have been notable improvements in reducing the influence of criminal networks in the trial site communities, including that children and families are better enabled to withstand the powerful attraction of network membership and to make pro-social choices.
The Greentown Programme has been in place in two trial sites and was extended for a further three years in 2023. Each trial site has an annual budget of over €600,000 and the intervention is managed by a qualified community based organisation with Department funding.
The specified goals for the programme are:
• To reduce the influence of criminal networks on children at risk of involvement
• To improve the likelihood of extrication and pro-social outcomes for children who are already involved in criminal networks.
Support is provided from An Garda Síochána and expert youth justice services specialising in family support and engaging with hard-to-reach young people. Individuals who are considered Harder-to-Reach are engaged in prolific serious offending and may also be engaging in network-related criminal activity.
The extension of the programme has reduced the influence of criminal networks on children at risk of involvement in crime and improved the likelihood of pro-social outcomes for children who are already involved in criminal networks and learnings from this Programme will be disseminated across the YDP network in the future.
742. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of body-worn camera incidents reviewed by An Garda Síochána in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14139/26]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the operational use of body-worn cameras by members of An Garda Síochána.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that, up to the end of 2024, a total of 5,923 individual body-worn camera recordings were reviewed as part of the ongoing proof-of-concept phase.
|
Location |
Cameras Live from |
Number of Recordings |
|
Dublin |
31 May 2024 |
3,918 |
|
Limerick |
1 August 2024 |
1,083 |
|
Waterford |
5 September 2024 |
922 |
|
Total |
|
5,923 |
The body-worn camera proof-of-concept commenced in Dublin with 200 cameras on 31 May 2024 across Store Street, Kevin Street and Pearse Street Garda Stations. The proof-of-concept continued in Limerick going live on 1 August 2024 and subsequently in Waterford on 5 September 2024.
The purpose of the proof of concept is to assess how body-worn cameras and digital evidence management systems will be used operationally and to inform the technical design, required infrastructure and procurement process for a national roll out.
A programme team has been established within An Garda Síochána to support the national rollout of body-worn cameras, and an updated draft Code of Practice is being developed to support their operational use in line with the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023.
In December 2025, An Garda Síochána launched a public consultation process on the use of body-worn cameras to inform the development of the Code of Practice and to ensure that their use reflects best practice in policing and respects the rights of members of the public.
The consultation process will support the future rollout of body-worn cameras to frontline Garda members as part of the modernisation of policing tools and technologies.
743. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the Independent Examiner of Security Legislation's review; if it includes recommendations for tougher border controls to prevent exploitation of Ireland's asylum system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14140/26]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the office of the Independent Examiner of Security Legislation was formally established on the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 on 2 April 2025. Mr Justice George Birmingham, former President of the Court of Appeal, is the current office holder.
The Independent Examiner is an entirely new role and represents a significant development in enhancing independent oversight by reviewing the use of legal powers in the area of security, the delivery of security services and the effectiveness of our national legislation.
The primary function of the Independent Examiner is to examine and keep under review the operation of legislation relating to the security of the State and the prevention and investigation of terrorism. The office is intended to help promote public confidence in national security measures by assessing whether security legislation is necessary, proportionate and effective in protecting the security of the State while containing the appropriate human rights safeguards.
The Independent Examiner is independent in the performance of his functions. He reports annually to Taoiseach on the use of security powers, and the performance of his functions generally. He is also empowered to produce other subject matter reports on his own initiative or at the request of the Taoiseach.
745. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of foreign nationals naturalised in 2024 who had prior criminal convictions abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14142/26]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act, including the requirement that applicants satisfy the good character criterion under Section 15.
As part of the naturalisation application, an applicant is required to detail all offences, regardless of where an incident occurred, or how long ago, including “spent” convictions. The Act does not provide that a criminal offence in itself precludes the granting of naturalisation.
All adult applicants must undertake An Garda Síochána vetting processes as deemed necessary. As part of the good character assessment, An Garda Síochána is requested to make enquiries into the applicant’s background, the detail and extent of which is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
My Department does not collate statistics on the number of people granted Irish citizenship through naturalisation whose application included a report of a criminal conviction abroad. Accordingly, the specific information requested is not available.
I recently received Government approval to make legislative change in this area and among the measures I will be taking is to to clearly define what constitutes “good character” in the naturalisation process. This will clarify the application process for applicants, and the decision-making process for officials.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available on my Department’s Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/[]
746. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of immigration permissions renewed online following the transfer of functions from An Garda Síochána to his Department; the safeguards in place to prevent abuse by individuals with criminal records or failed asylum claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14143/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that, since 13 January 2025, all nationwide first-time registrations of Irish immigration residence permissions are the responsibility of the Registration Office of Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department. Furthermore, since November 2024, all renewals of immigration permissions transferred to ISD and are done using my Department’s online platform, meaning that applicants from across the country no longer have to attend in person at their local Garda Station.
This implemented the recommendation regarding civilianisation of the Garda administrative immigration functions made in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Prior to this transfer, over 100 Gardaí were assigned to immigration duties.
Building on this, and in keeping with the Government commitment to significantly enhance the delivery of public services digitally, phase one of my Department's Immigration Customer Service Portal also went live in 2024. The Portal is a self-service portal that enables applicants to check their immigration application status, book first-time registration appointments, and submit queries.
120,393 immigration permissions were renewed online in 2023. 173,954 permissions were renewed online in 2024, and 232,520 immigration permissions were renewed online in 2025. These figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
I can assure the Deputy that there is, and always has been, robust verification measures in place for online registration renewals.
Based on an applicants immigration stamp type, they are required to supply a comprehensive list of documentation, as well as pay a €300 registration fee in most cases.
All documents submitted are checked and validated by officials in my Department for each online renewal application. If there are concerns regarding a renewal application, officials may arrange for an in-person renewal to assess original copies of documents before completing the application.
If ISD become aware that someone has presented fraudulent documentation relating to their online renewal, then ISD will investigate each individual case accordingly.
Further information on the renewal process as well as the list of documents required for each stamp type are available on the ISD website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/required-documents/
747. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of carriers fined under the increased penalty of €5,000 for failing to ensure proper travel documentation, as enacted in 2024 and 2025; and if he will provide data on enforcement actions taken to deter illegal migration routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14144/26]
View answerImplementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me, and the Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security.
An Garda Síochána has responsibility for issuing carrier liability notices and warnings, and for the imposition of carrier liability fines on carriers who permit a non-national to travel with their airline or ferry without the necessary documentation i.e. no documents, false document, no visa or improper use of genuine documents.
The fines payable by carriers in such instances were increased by way of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024. The effect of these changes is to increase the fines payable by carriers on summary conviction to a maximum of €5,000 from the previous maximum of €3,000. The Act also provides that carriers which make a payment of €2,500 within 28 days will avoid prosecution for an offence under the Act, which was an increase from the previous payment of €1,500; in practice many carriers avail of this option.
A total of 910 fines were issued in 2024 and 768 fines were issued in 2025; the 2025 figures may change arising from any appeals from carriers. I have requested from the Garda Commissioner the number of carriers in respect of which the increased level of fine applied and will provide it to the Deputy on receipt.
The visa requirements to travel to Ireland have been strengthened and remain under review by my Department. Additional resources have also been assigned in the Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department to facilitate documentation inspections at the point of disembarkation in Dublin Airport. BMU and Garda National Immigration Bureau have an ongoing intelligence-led programme of operations at airplanes to detect passengers who destroyed documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers.
Both 2025 and 2024 saw a reduction of more than 50% in the number of people arriving at Dublin Airport without documentation compared with 2022. 2022 was a peak year with almost 5,000 people refused leave to land in the State on that basis.
748. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prosecutions secured under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 for grooming and recruiting children into crime; the average sentence imposed to ensure these measures are a genuine deterrent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14145/26]
View answerThe Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 makes it an offence for an adult to either force or encourage children to engage in any criminal activity. Those found guilty of these offences may face imprisonment of up to 12 months on summary conviction and up to five years on indictment.
This legislation recognises the life-long impact and harm done to a child by drawing them into criminal activity, and is one of a set of holistic measures being progressed by my Department under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027.
The collation of data on convictions is a function of the courts.
The management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
To be of assistance I have referred this question to the Courts Service for their direct reply to the Deputy on the number of convictions.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
749. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration following the increase of knife crime penalties to seven years on recorded incidents in 2024 and 2025, to provide the number of charges related to knife crime that have been prosecuted from 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14146/26]
View answerI strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. I am assured that Gardaí will continue with their proactive measures to tackle this issue, including their assault reduction strategy, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public, including use of knives and other weapons. This strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early investigation, and proactive high-visibility approach.
I am informed that An Garda Síochána's report on Knife Related Crime for 2015-2024 is publicly available on the Garda website and will be updated later in 2026. The report can be viewed at the below link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/knife-related-crime-2015-to-2024.pdf
Statistics on proceedings are available on page 11 of the report.
750. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for section 60 licences for school transport, by county. [14153/26]
View answerI have been advised by the Garda authorities that the average processing time for a Section 60 Licences for school transport is approximately two weeks, once a complete and valid application has been received.
The Garda authorities have indicated that processing times are consistent nationally and do not materially differ between regions.
751. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of section 60 licences issued in Cork in 2025, the number of applications made and the longest time from application to approval. [14156/26]
View answerI have been advised by the Garda authorities that there were 52 licences issued under Article 60 of S.I No. 191/1963 – Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 1963, within the Cork City Garda Division in 2025.
During this period, all completed and valid applications were processed and any incorrect or duplicated applications were returned to Bus Eireann for further clarification.
I am informed by Garda authorities that once a complete and valid application is received, they are processed and the licence issued within 14 days.
