Written Answers Nos. 198-215
198. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the number of employees in his Department at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22880/26]
View answer199. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of employees in each of the agencies under his Department's remit at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22900/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.
The staffing breakdown as of the end of December 2025, as requested by the Deputy can be found at the link below. The staffing numbers are broken into two tabs. The first tab accounts for my Department and the agencies within the Justice Vote (Vote 24) for which my Department provides HR services. The second tab accounts for the remaining agencies in Vote 24 and agencies that make up the wider Justice Vote.
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.
I am informed that, as of 31 December 2025, the overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, civilian staff and Reserves was 18,032. This included 14,425 Garda members, 3,505 staff and 308 Reserves.
Further information, including a breakdown of Garda personnel assigned by Division and Station, is published online here: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2026/garda-strength-breakdown-2026.html
Department and Vote 24 HR agencies and Justice Vote agencies
200. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the changes he proposes to bring to the criminal legal aid scheme, including all elements of the revised fee structure, whether any changes will require amendments to legislation or be enacted by regulation; the proposed timeframe for implementation of each change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22917/26]
View answer201. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, as part of the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, it is intended to introduce a flat-fee model for District Court criminal legal aid work; and if so, the proposed level of that fee and the work it is intended to cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22918/26]
View answer202. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, under the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, fees payable to solicitors will vary based on case complexity, number of charges, number of accused persons or duration of proceedings, or any other consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22919/26]
View answer203. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will publish the analysis and evidence underpinning the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, including any review of District Court cases used to inform the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22920/26]
View answer204. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the evidence he has received which supports the assertion that the current criminal legal aid scheme incentivises unnecessary adjournments or inefficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22921/26]
View answer205. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projected annual savings arising from the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme; the details of any cost-benefit analysis undertaken, including potential downstream costs such as delays, appeals or retrials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22923/26]
View answer206. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the proposed fee structure under the revised criminal legal aid scheme represents an increase or decrease in effective remuneration for solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work, including any modelling carried out in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22924/26]
View answer207. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessments that have been carried out on the potential impact of the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme on access to legal representation and the constitutional right to a fair trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22925/26]
View answer208. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any assessment has been made of the risk that the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme could result in reduced participation by solicitors in criminal legal aid work; the implications of any such reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22926/26]
View answer209. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of solicitors currently participating in the criminal legal aid scheme, the trends in participation in recent years; the workforce impact assessment conducted in relation to the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22927/26]
View answer210. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the consultation process undertaken in relation to the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme; the stakeholders consulted; the nature of that consultation and the way in which feedback has informed the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22932/26]
View answer211. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme align with commitments in the Programme for Government to restore criminal legal aid fees; the basis for any assertion that the proposals constitute a restoration rather than a reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22933/26]
View answer212. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the meetings that he or his officials held with the Law Society in respect of the criminal legal aid scheme since he took office and prior to the announcement of proposed changes to the fee structure under the scheme; whether any proposed meetings were cancelled or postponed by his Department; whether there are further meetings planned in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22934/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 212, inclusive, together.
I fully recognise the crucial role played by the legal professions in the effective administration of criminal justice, and equally that the Criminal Legal Aid scheme is fundamental to upholding the constitutional and human right to a legal defence.
It is important to note that the Programme for Government contains three commitments in relation to Criminal Legal Aid. The first is to reform the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. The second is to restore criminal legal aid fees, and the third is to enact the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill. It is my intention to fulfil all three commitments.
In considering the need for reform, it is worth recalling that while criminal case volumes in the District Court have decreased, expenditure on criminal legal aid in the District Court has nearly doubled, from €19 million in 2015 to €37 million in 2024.
As part of the review, my Department reviewed more than 350,000 District Court cases which took place during 2022 and 2023. The review identified specific structural issues in the administration of criminal legal aid, namely:
• Payment per appearance which incentivises additional adjournments.
• Multiple certificates granted for related cases increase costs and complexity.
• Multiple solicitors assigned in the same firm for related charges.
• A highly complex payment processing system creating a significant administrative burden.
The review also found:
• Cases with criminal legal aid take an average of 313 calendar days to complete, compared to 133 days for cases without.
• The weighted average appearances for cases with Criminal Legal Aid is 5, while the weighted average appearances without Criminal Legal Aid is just over 3.
• While cases with Criminal Legal Aid take significantly longer than those without, the outcomes are similar.
As the Deputy will appreciate, while the findings of the Review have been shared with the professional bodies, the data analysed contains personal information and therefore the Department is not in a position to publish it.
It is important to state that this proposed reform will not affect the ability of legal professionals to engage in criminal legal aid work. Neither is it intended to reduce the cost to the State of providing criminal legal aid. Rather, it will improve efficiencies, reduce unnecessary adjournments, simplify the administration of criminal legal aid, speed up case resolution and enable faster payments to practitioners. Furthermore, the new flat fee will be set at a rate that provides for full restoration of the so-called FEMPI cuts in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
For cases in the District Court, regardless of the number of appearances, a set fee will be payable to solicitors, replacing the current appearance-based sliding scale. The new structure will also provide for a full separate set fee for each defendant in court on a given day. This reform will be a major improvement on the current fee structure.
As the Deputy is aware, “complexity” of cases is not a factor in the existing fee structure, as the current appearance fees do not vary based on the complexity of the charges. However, as each adjournment attracts a fee, the fee structure itself has the potential to incentivise adjournments.
My Department has been engaging extensively with relevant stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and Courts Service on the review and proposed changes to the scheme. Officials from my Department also met with the Bar Council and Law Society together in May, July and October 2025, and both bodies were invited to make submissions on the findings of the review by November 2025. An initial submission from the Law Society was received on 14 November 2025, the details of which were considered before the report was finalised. Correspondence was also received from the Bar Council.
A meeting which was scheduled to take place in December with both the Bar Council and Law Society was postponed, however I can assure the Deputy that my officials have had ongoing engagement with the professional bodies and most recently met with the Law Society and the Bar Council in early March. Further submissions from both bodies are awaited, and my Department will continue this engagement in advance of the introduction of the new arrangements on 1 July.
I can further advise the Deputy that the table below sets out the number of solicitors and barristers assigned to the Criminal Legal Aid Panel from the years 2021 to 2025.
|
Year |
Number of Solicitors |
Number of Barristers |
|
2021 |
933 |
812 |
|
2022 |
867 |
760 |
|
2023 |
672 |
740 |
|
2024 |
695 |
712 |
|
2025 |
825 |
760 |
Finally, the changes to the fee structure for Criminal Legal Aid will be made by Regulation.
213. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the criteria used in the determination of the allocation of Gardaí will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23012/26]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the allocation and deployment of resources available to him, under section 33 of the Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
The Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions under section 34 of the Act.
As Minister, I do not direct the Commissioner in the allocation of policing resources or the deployment of Garda personnel as these matters are reserved to him by law. I am also unable to direct the Commissioner regarding the publication of internal Garda policies or procedures.
I am assured that the Garda Commissioner and his senior management team keep the distribution of resources under ongoing review and I understand 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.
The requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide must be taken into account when allocating Garda personnel, which include but are not limited to:
• Local and national crime trends and workloads;
• Policing arrangements and operational strategies;
• Minimum establishment statistics;
• Local population and trends, geographical area and size;
• Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns.
It is also worth noting that An Garda Síochána police on a divisional basis and not a station basis, viewing their station buildings as locations within communities where the public can attend, and where resources are based but not constrained within. I am assured that policing for an area is delivered using all the resources in a particular Community Engagement area, supported by both divisional and national resources and units, as appropriate.
214. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024 and associated Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 as mentioned in the Spring 2026 Government Legislation Programme will be prioritised in the next Government Legislation Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23034/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws and in keeping with that commitment, the legislation will be advanced in due course.
As the Deputy is aware, the publication of the Spring Legislative Programme, on 13 January, set out the 30 Bills that have been prioritised for publication, and 34 Bills for drafting, in the current Dáil session. Other legislative projects, including work on intoxicating liquor legislation, as the Deputy will appreciate, will be taken forward in subsequent iterations of the legislative programme, to be determined by Government in due course.
215. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider Kildare as a priority one area for refuge development as a matter of urgency given the immediate need for additional domestic violence refuges within the growing population of the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23060/26]
View answer216. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide funding for a development worker for Kildare to assist with domestic violence prevention, education and reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23061/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.
This Government has taken unprecedented actions to confront the scourge of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV). This includes increasing funding to almost €80 million under Budget 2026, to support Cuan and services working to tackle DSGBV and the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Strategy. The increased funding for Cuan and community organisations that support victims and survivors will accelerate the delivery of safe accommodation, while also providing stronger supports for victims.
Cuan is collaborating with various stakeholders, including domestic violence services, Approved Housing Bodies, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and Local Authorities to facilitate local action and support service development and delivery of safe accommodation and ancillary services.
I am informed by Cuan that in 2025 the number of domestic violence refuge units increased by 13, four in Louth and nine in Dublin, bringing the total number to 172. Additionally, another nine units have been developed in Dublin 22 and will be operational in a matter of weeks. A 12-unit refuge located in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council area is scheduled to be completed and become operational later this year. This will bring the total number of refuge spaces to 193. Furthermore, Cuan is working towards having a minimum of 50 new refuge units under construction across multiple sites nationally this year.
Last year, the number of Safe Homes increased by 8, which increased total Safe Home capacity to 60. Cuan is working to increase that capacity to 94 this year. This means by the end of 2026, the number of safe accommodation spaces, which include refuges and safe homes, will be increased to 287.
Teach Tearmainn currently leads the provision of refuge and Safe Home accommodation, as well as children’s supports, outreach, and court accompaniment in Kildare. It currently operates four refuge units and there are also two safe home accommodation units in the county.
While Kildare has not been identified as a priority location for new refuge construction in the current phase, I am advised that Cuan is considering it as a location for future refuge development programmes and is supportive of ensuring Kildare is on the priority list for phase 2 development.
Regarding the Deputy's query around the provision of funding for a development worker for Kildare to assist with domestic violence prevention, as this matter falls under the remit of Cuan, I have referred it to the Agency for direct response.
