Written Answers Nos. 349-368
349. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on an application as per correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23149/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the persons referred to created visa applications on 8 October 2025. However, the application forms and payment have not been received by the relevant Visa Office to date. As substantial time has passed, these applications have since been closed.
It is open to the applicants to make new visa applications. Once they are satisfied with their application they should click “submit” and print a copy of the summary sheet. This contains some of the information the applicants have entered and also instructions on what they are required to do next to submit their application, supporting documentation, and the application fee (if one is payable). Only upon receipt of all the necessary documentation and fees, can the visa applications be processed further.
More information on Join Family visas, including the documentation requirements for applicants depending on each situation, is available at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:
https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
A step-by-step guide to making a visa application is available at the following link:
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/giving-your-details-on-avats-for-a-visa-preclearance-application/
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.
350. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will issue a document required for renewal of Stamp 3 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23150/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the person concerned can apply to renew their immigration permission in the normal way using my Departments online renewal portal. They can submit their renewal application up to 12 weeks prior to the expiry of their current permission, to allow sufficient time for the application to be reached and processed prior to their current permission expiring.
When submitting their application they should provide proof of address, copy of medical insurance, a copy of their current Irish Residence Permit, and a copy of the biometric page of their passport and their sponsors passport.
Further information on how to submit an application is available on the Immigration Service Delivery website at the following link: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/
As an Oireachtas member, the Deputy 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.
351. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of properties currently in receipt of the accommodation recognition payment, per county; the number of hosts in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23152/26]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €600 available to those providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
Since the scheme launched in July 2022 to 22 March 2026, over €438m has been paid to over 28,000 recipients in respect of hosting over 64,500 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 22 March 2026, over 17,500 hosts are accommodating over 42,000 temporary protection beneficiaries in over 23,500 properties supported by the ARP.
A statistical summary of claim activity by county is provided in the attached marterial.
I am unable to provide a county breakdown of the current number of hosts associated with active claims as this does not form part of the Department's regular reporting. Instead, I include a county breakdown of the cumulative number of hosts awarded an ARP claim since the scheme launched.
352. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of properties participating in the accommodation recognition payment scheme at the end of each quarter since its establishment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23153/26]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €600 available to those providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
Since the scheme launched in July 2022 to 22 March 2026, over €438m has been paid to over 28,000 recipients in respect of hosting over 64,500 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 22 March 2026, over 17,500 hosts are accommodating over 42,000 temporary protection beneficiaries in over 23,500 properties supported by the ARP.
A quarterly breakdown of properties participating in the ARP scheme since 2022 is provided in the attached document.
353. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of beneficiaries accommodated under the ARP scheme, by county; the average occupancy per property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23154/26]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €600 available to those providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
Since the ARP scheme launched in July 2022 to 22 March 2026, it has supported the accommodation of over 64,500 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 22 March 2026, over 17,500 hosts are accommodating over 42,000 temporary protection beneficiaries in over 23,500 properties supported by the ARP. The average occupancy is 1.8 persons per property.
A statistical summary of the current number of beneficiaries connected to active claims by county is provided below.
354. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure on the accommodation recognition payment scheme for each month since its introduction, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23155/26]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €600 available to those providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive
Since the scheme launched in July 2022 to 22 March 2026, over €438m has been paid to over 28,000 recipients in respect of hosting over 64,500 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 22 March 2026, over 17,500 hosts are accommodating over 42,000 temporary protection beneficiaries in over 23,500 properties supported by the ARP
The table attached below provides the total expenditure on the ARP scheme for each month since the scheme’s introduction.
355. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeline for any proposed changes to the accommodation recognition payment, including any planned reduction in payment rates; when a final decision will be made; when it is intended that any such changes will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23156/26]
View answer363. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will publish any briefing documents, memos or submissions prepared for him regarding the future of the accommodation recognition payment scheme since 1 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 363 together.
The Deputy will be aware that, in accordance with the requirements of the governing legislation, I have received Oireachtas approval to extend the ARP scheme by Ministerial Order to 31 March 2027. This mirrors the extension of the application of the EU's Temporary Protection Directive to the war in Ukraine. It will also provide certainty not only to hosts, but also to those accommodated in hosted arrangements.
It is my intention to plan for a phased and orderly exit from the scheme as part of a wider planning for the end of temporary protection. It is also my intention to reduce the monthly payment rate to €400 later this year, returning it to its original rate set when the scheme was launched in 2022. However, before doing so, I will complete the necessary statutory tasks to obtain the consent of the Ministers for Social Protection and for Public Expenditure and to again seek Oireachtas approval to make the required order. My objective is to enable an orderly and gradual winding down the scheme with due regard to all those involved.
356. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any analysis has been carried out by or received by his Department on the impact of the accommodation recognition payment on the private rental market, including any distortionary effects on supply or pricing; and if he will provide copies or summaries of such analysis. [23157/26]
View answer357. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has provided analysis or advice regarding the impact of the accommodation recognition payment on housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23158/26]
View answer358. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any comparison has been undertaken between the accommodation recognition payment and other State-supported accommodation schemes in terms of cost-effectiveness and market impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23159/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 357 and 358 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that research has been undertaken for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the impact of the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme on the private rental market. My Department had facilitated the transfer of anonymised ARP data to assist in that research.
A copy of the analysis, which was carried out by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for the Minister for Housing, has been shared with my Department. The analysis suggests some diversion of accommodation from the private rental sector to ARP. It is difficult to reach any definitive conclusions on the matter, given wider issues impacting housing supply.
Given constraints on the availability of private rental sector accommodation, the Government approved amendments to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 in July 2025 to limit eligibility for the ARP scheme to properties that had not previously been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The changes to the scheme’s eligibility criteria were introduced under Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026. From 3 March 2026, new applications for properties that have been registered with the RTB at any time since 4 March 2022 will no longer meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. Tenants in rental properties are also no longer eligible to make new applications for the scheme.
The question of the release of the analysis in question or summaries of its findings, is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Insofar as the question of comparative costs of providing accommodation for persons who fled the war in Ukraine and received temporary protection in Ireland is concerned, the cost of the ARP compares very favourably with the cost of providing such persons with accommodation contracted commercially by the state for that purpose. I am not aware of any comparisons undertaken in this regard.
It should be noted that the ARP is paid in recognition of the generosity of those who host. It is not a rent subsidy, and it is not comparable to housing support payments, such as those offered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
359. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of complaints received regarding hosts seeking additional or “top-up” payments from beneficiaries of the accommodation recognition payment; the number of investigations initiated; the outcomes of such investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23160/26]
View answer360. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the enforcement mechanisms in place to prevent inappropriate additional charges under the accommodation recognition payment; the number of inspections or audits carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23161/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced to recognise the contribution of members of the public who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to people displaced by the war in Ukraine. The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf.
A person providing accommodation on a commercial basis to a person or persons granted temporary protection is ineligible to participate in the ARP scheme. The ARP is not a rent subsidy, and it is not payable where there is a rental agreement in place between the host and the temporary protection beneficiary residing in the property. The payment does not create any obligation for the beneficiaries in the accommodation, such as payment of rent or provision of services, however, the beneficiaries may agree to contribute towards the cost of utilities.
The ARP does not create a landlord and tenant relationship between the accommodation host who has qualified for the financial contribution and a temporary protection beneficiary living in the accommodation, and it does not give a person residing in the property an automatic right to tenancy.
I am aware of concerns that have been raised in relation to additional payments, described as "top ups", being made by people granted temporary protection to ARP applicants. The legislation is silent in relation to such matters. If such payments are being made, that is a matter between the parties concerned. My Department does not track complaints in relation to such matters and it has not initiated any investigations or audits such as those described by the Deputy.
The Government continues to keep the operation of the ARP scheme under review.
361. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of hosts removed from the accommodation recognition payment scheme due to non-compliance, including the reasons for such removals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/26]
View answer362. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the systems used to administer and track payments under the accommodation recognition payment scheme; and whether these systems allow for real-time monitoring of occupancy and compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23163/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme is provided for in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. The scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) on my behalf and the systems of that Department are used. A bespoke application process was developed in 2022. DSP successfully administers the scheme in accordance with the statutory requirements.
The system is not intended to monitor real-time occupancy. A host is eligible for payment for a calendar month where they have accommodated one or more people granted temporary protection and where they satisfy the scheme’s eligibility requirements. As a result, when people granted temporary protection move on from a hosting arrangement, the ARP case will be closed. A new ARP claim may open in respect of the same property if another person granted temporary protection avails of the hosted accommodation and the host again meets the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
DSP carries out a range of control measures. These include checks both at the award stage and subsequent reviews. Control reviews include data matching with departmental and other records, seeking confirmation of ongoing eligibility from claimants, and home visits by Social Welfare Inspectors where this is considered necessary.
My Department is satisfied that appropriate control measures are applied to maximise compliance with the terms of the scheme.
364. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the arrangements in place for individuals (details supplied) whose current employment permit expires while a renewal or new application is still under consideration; whether such individuals are permitted to continue working and travelling during this period; the immigration status that applies in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23185/26]
View answerThe Registration Office of my Department is currently experiencing an exceptionally high demand for immigration permission renewal applications. I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I can assure the Deputy that my Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible and to increase processing capacity. The Registration Office is already open seven days a week to facilitate customers, with the team also working overtime to assist with the volume.
Further measures to reduce processing times are currently being implemented with additional staff being assigned to this work. I expect that this will address the delays currently being experienced.
I can advise the Deputy that if a person's previous immigration permission allowed them to work in the State prior to submitting their renewal application, and they have applied for renewal prior to their permission expiring, they can continue to work in accordance with the employment conditions of that permission.
If, however, their current permission did not allow employment or their permission expired prior to applying for renewal, they are considered out of permission and cannot work in the State.
The Registration Office has also issued a notice to employers regarding the legality of employing someone awaiting renewal. This notice can be found here: www.irishimmigration.ie/notice-to-employers-regarding-employees-awaiting-renewal-of-their-irp-card/
If a person's Irish Residence Permit (IRP) has expired and they are unable to obtain a new one by the expiry date of their current IRP card, they are still legally permitted to remain in the State on their existing IRP card for a maximum of 12 weeks. This 12 week provision is subject to a person providing proof that they have applied to renew their permission, including when changing stamp category, prior to their current IRP card expiring.
If a renewal application is approved, applicants can expect to receive their new IRP card within the following 10-15 working days.
All immigration permission renewals in Ireland are processed online, and applicants are issued with a receipt of application detailing the date of application and a unique application number (OREG number). Once the online renewal application has been approved, an e-mail is sent to the applicant which can be used as proof of registration while the applicant awaits the delivery of their new IRP card.
As an Oireachtas member, the Deputy 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.
The application referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration.
365. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will address an issue with an IRP which is impacting a person’s ability to avail of housing (details supplied). [23189/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that officials in my Department will contact the person concerned directly regarding the matters raised.
As an Oireachtas member, the Deputy 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.
366. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a person (details supplied) holds Irish citizenship. [23208/26]
View answerI regret that it has not been possible to collate the relevant information in the time available. I will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand.
367. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of reports received from the Office of Inspector Prisons since 2020; the date report was received by the Minister; the date the report was published by the Minister; and for any reports not yet published the reason the report was not published, in tabular form. [23237/26]
View answerThe Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) was established under the Prisons Act 2007 and is independent in how it carries out its functions.
The role of the Inspector of Prisons is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. As part of this work, the Inspector of Prisons carries out inspections comprising General Inspections and Thematic Inspections (ie. inspection of a specific operational area across the whole prison estate).
In addition, all deaths in custody and deaths that occur within one month of temporary release are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.
Inspector of Prisons reports are published on the OIP website following review by my Department. Submission dates to the Department and publication dates are also provided. These publications which include the period requested, can be accessed at: https://www.oip.ie/publications/.
The tables below set out information related to reports received by my Department from the Inspector of Prisons which are yet to be published, and the status of those reports.
Death in Custody reports received by the Minister
|
Date Received |
Report |
Status |
|
25/10/2024 |
Mr J 2022 |
Reports are being prepared for publication following receipt of relevant legal advice. |
|
18/07/2025 |
Mr A 2022 |
Reports are being prepared for publication following receipt of relevant legal advice. |
|
22/12/2025 |
Mr D 2021 |
Reports are being prepared for publication following receipt of relevant legal advice. |
Section 31(2) Reports
|
Date received |
Report |
Status |
|
February 2022 |
Section 31(2) report on the Dóchas Centre - Report arising from an Inspector of Prisons Investigation, pursuant to Section 31(2) of the Prisons Act 2007. |
Legal advice received from the Attorney General’s Office is under consideration. |
|
July 2022 |
Review arising from the foregoing report – Initial assessment of material gathered by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons during the course of a Section 31(2) investigation in the Dóchas Centre and from other relevant reports. |
Legal advice received from the Attorney General’s Office is under consideration. |
368. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether an up-to-date Irish residence permit card is necessary in conjunction with a temporary protection certificate (yellow paper) for Ukrainians who have been given temporary protection in Ireland when they are entering the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23274/26]
View answer369. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Irish residence permit cards that have been given to Ukrainians who are in Ireland under the temporary protection directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23275/26]
View answer370. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average waiting time for a Ukrainian person, in Ireland under the temporary protection directive, to receive an Irish residence permit card once they have applied for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23276/26]
View answer371. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the advice that is being given to Irish immigration officials regarding how to treat a Ukrainian person who has been granted temporary protection in Ireland and who has their temporary protection certificate (yellow paper) but who does not have an Irish residence permit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23277/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369, 370 and 371 together.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection hold a temporary permission to remain in Ireland, renewable annually for as long as the Directive remains in force.
On 15 July 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council extended Temporary Protection by a year until March 2027, providing certainty for beneficiaries who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides.
All temporary protection certificates valid up to 4 March 2026 are now valid until 4 March 2027 and as such can be used when applying for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.
An valid IRP card is not a requirement for a person previously granted temporary protection to re-enter the state. However, when a non-EEA national presents at a border, an Immigration Officer must determine whether that person should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State.
In performing these functions, officers may question passengers for the purpose of confirming identity, nationality, travel history and to establish the intended purpose of their arrival in the State, where necessary. Such checks are routine and form part of standard operational procedures. All people arriving at the border are required to engage with immigration officers and comply with reasonable requests made in the course of these checks.
People granted Temporary Protection have been invited by my Department to register and receive an IRP card. An IRP card is a small wallet-sized card that shows a person is legally in the State and the type of immigration permission they hold.
Once registered, a person can expect to receive their new IRP card within the following 10-15 working days.
For renewal applications the Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery of my Department is currently processing applications submitted from 1 January 2026.
A person awaiting an IRP card can now directly check the status of their application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
The table below shows the number of IRP cards that have been issued to Ukrainians who are in Ireland from 2022 to 2025.
|
2022 |
11,042 |
|
2023 |
27,608 |
|
2024 |
47,940 |
|
2025 |
57,353 |
* the statistics contained in the table reflect registrations and renewals of all Ukrainian nationals across all stamp categories, not just people that have been granted Temporary Protection.
