Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
641. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of interim protection orders granted under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 in each of the past five years, broken down by court area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32506/26]
View answer642. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average duration for which interim protection orders remain in place pending a full hearing; whether his Department has assessed the impact of prolonged interim periods on parties to such proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32507/26]
View answer643. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department intends to review the operation of interim protection orders under the Domestic Violence Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32508/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 641, 642 and 643 together.
Management of the courts and operational matters are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution.
The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
To be of assistance, I have contacted the Courts Service which has supplied the following information in response to the Deputy’s question.
The attached table below includes data on protection orders granted in the District Family Court from 2021 to 2025. Figures for Q.1 2026 are currently being finalised and are not available for publication.
Please note, statistics are recorded by the administrative office that manage District Courts. As such, it is not possible to provide a break down by court area.
The Courts Service has further advised that it is currently unable to provide average duration times for protection orders. It recently began to roll out its Unified Case Management System (UCMS) Family module to District Court offices, a multiple year programme that will not finish until 2027.
Provision of enhanced statistical collection is part of this programme and greater visibility of processing times will be included in this system in due course.
The Domestic Violence Act 2018 provides for applications to be made to court which range from temporary emergency orders to longer-term safety and barring orders. Each order has specific conditions attached and are tailored to the level of risk and urgency faced by the victim. Orders include:
Safety order: Can last up to 5 years. Prevents the accused from being violent or making threats. The respondent can stay in the home, but if living separately to the applicant, they must not approach, watch, follow, or contact the applicant or dependents.
Protection order: The respondent may remain in the home but must not be violent, threatening, or make contact with the applicant (including electronic communication). It is a temporary order, put in place until the full hearing for a safety, or barring, order takes place.
Barring order: Requires the respondent to leave the home and stay away. Also bans violence, threats, proximity, and contact. Can last up to 3 years.
Interim barring order: A short-term barring order (up to 8 days) granted before a full hearing, can be granted on an ex-parte basis (without the respondent present).
Emergency barring order: Also removes the respondent from the home for up to 8 working days. Unlike other orders, the applicant does not need ownership or tenancy rights. A second order within a month will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Legislation under the remit of the Department is kept under constant review.
