Written Answers Nos. 394-410
394. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of expected attestations of new Gardaí in 2026; the date for each of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33892/26]
View answerGetting more Gardaí on our streets 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 over €2.74 billion.
The second of four intakes planned for 2026 entered the Garda training College on Monday 4 May. Intake 262 saw 201 recruits enter Templemore, making it the fourth intake in a row with 200 or more recruits entering the college. The dates of future intakes will coincide with the attestation of intakes that are currently undergoing training.
The following data for intakes to the college which will result in attestations across 2026 has been provided to me by Garda authorities:
|
|
Intake Date |
Intake Number |
Attestation Date |
Attestation number |
|
Intake 252 |
09-Jun-25 |
170 |
6 Feb 2026 |
167 |
|
Intake 253 |
25-Aug-25 |
200 |
1 May 2026 |
193 |
|
Intake 254 |
17-Nov-25 |
223 |
24 Jul 2026 |
TBC |
|
Intake 261 |
09-Feb-26 |
215 |
16 Oct 26 |
TBC |
|
Intake 262 |
04-May-26 |
201 |
TBC |
TBC |
There are many circumstances under which a Garda trainee may not complete training with their initial intake including, but not limited to, reversion to another intake due to injury/medical issues, maternity leave or academic suspension.
The Deputy will also be aware that like in any other career, an individual may choose to leave the training program if they decide it is not right for them, however, the numbers who do not complete training are low.
395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the status of a citizenship application (details supplied) in view that it is over seven months since the application was first submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33915/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the naturalisation application referred to is at the registration stage.
I expect that going forward, the majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year, however, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process.
My Department has taken a significant number of steps to speed the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are reducing processing times.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://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.
396. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application for an Irish passport (naturalisation) will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33928/26]
View answerImmigration officials of my Department have checked their records and advised that they cannot locate any applications for the person cited with the details supplied by the Deputy.
However, if the Deputy can provide any additional information, such as an application reference number, via my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service, I will arrange for a further response to the Deputy.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at:
[https://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.
397. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of civil and public servants employed by his Department in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [33956/26]
View answerThe staffing breakdown requested by the Deputy, for the years 2016 to 2026, can be found in the attached appendix. The information is broken into two tables. Table 1 accounts for my Department and the agencies within the Justice Vote (Vote 24) for which my Department provides HR services. Table 2 accounts for the remaining agencies in the Justice Vote.
Please note that during the timeframe in question there have been occasional transfers of function and agency name changes, for which explanatory notes are provided.
398. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to give favourable consideration to a TB valuation appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33482/26]
View answerThe On Farm Market Valuation scheme provides compensation to affected herdowners up to the market value that each individual animal would have attained on the open market had it not been affected by disease, subject to scheme ceilings.
When a herd goes down with TB, the herdowner selects a valuer from an independent panel of livestock experts who visit the holding to value the animals on farm using up to date market values. Each week my Department issues ‘Summary Market Prices’ which are compiled of sales data collected nationally from marts by my Department and accurately reflect current values for each category of animal, ensuring that affected farmers receive appropriate value for their animal(s).
My Department does not have any role or influence in the process of valuing animals under the scheme, this process is wholly independent. My Department is given the right to appeal valuations just as affected herdowner/keepers have such a right.
The On-Farm Market Value arbitration process is used when a herdowner or my Department disagree with the appeal valuation of the animals that are due to be removed because of TB. An independent expert panel will review the case and decide on the final value.
Whichever party rejected the appeal valuation may subsequently choose not to proceed with arbitration. Payment of OFMV will then be made on the basis of the appeal valuation (subject to the other party having accepted the appeal valuation).
In the case referred to, the 1st Valuation for four animals was carried out on the 30/05/2025. This valuation was rejected by my Department. The animals then received a 2nd valuation on 12/06/2025. This 2nd valuation was rejected by the herdowner which resulted in the case going to arbitration.
The case was heard at arbitration on the 9th of December 2025 to have a valuation pursuant to the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme determined by the Arbitration Panel.
The panel is constrained by the terms and conditions of the scheme which provides that the compensation payable is the market value of the animals subject to the scheme ceilings.
In light of the above, the panel found that the market value of the four animals in reference, taking into account the scheme ceilings which apply, to be €15,850.
The herdowner was informed of this decision by the panel and outstanding OFMV payments have been completed.
Arbitrations are conducted pursuant to the Arbitration Acts, 1954 to 1998 as amended, with the decision of the Arbitration Panel final and binding on both parties.
399. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total annual revenue generated by Coillte in each of the years 2020 to 2025, broken down by timber production, land transactions, renewable energy partnerships, and other commercial activities; and whether his Department has assessed the balance between commercial return and delivery of national climate and biodiversity objectives. [33484/26]
View answer400. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost to the State, whether direct or indirect, of increasing the proportion of Coillte lands managed for biodiversity from 20% to 30% and the projected cost of achieving the long-term target of 50%; and the funding sources identified to support this transition. [33485/26]
View answer404. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current breakdown of land managed by Coillte by category, including commercial forestry, land managed primarily for biodiversity, recreational use, and other uses; and whether this breakdown is reviewed annually at Departmental level. [33489/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 399, 400 and 404 together.
Coillte was established as a commercial state company with private limited status under the Forestry Act, 1988, to become custodian and manager of the national forest estate. The company is currently managing 440,000 hectares of land (7% of the total area of the Republic of Ireland), and its day-to-day operations, such as the management of land use types within the estate, preparation of financial statements, and management of costs are a matter for the company.
Relevant legislation and the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies 2016 require the annual report including the audited financial statements of Coillte to be noted by Government and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I have directed the specific questions raised to Coillte for direct reply to the Deputy.
401. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any binding or enforceable targets have been set by his Department in respect of biodiversity outcomes, native woodland expansion, or land-use change on Coillte-managed lands; and if so, the nature of those targets and any consequences for non-compliance. [33486/26]
View answer403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the formal oversight mechanisms his Department applies to monitor the performance of Coillte in delivering national forestry policy objectives; and whether such oversight includes regular reporting, performance metrics, or compliance assessments. [33488/26]
View answer405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has set specific targets for increasing the proportion of native tree species within the Coillte estate; and the timeline and policy instruments in place to achieve any such targets. [33490/26]
View answer407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the updated Shareholder Letter of Expectation for Coillte will be finalised; whether it will include specific, measurable environmental and biodiversity performance indicators; and if it will be published. [33492/26]
View answer408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted any formal assessment of the potential conflict between Coillte's commercial mandate under the Forestry Act 1988 and its expanding role in delivering climate and biodiversity objectives; and if so, to provide details of that assessment. [33493/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 403, 405, 407 and 408 together.
In accordance with the Forestry Act, 1988, Coillte’s mandate is primarily to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis. Coillte's role has evolved in accordance with Government policy to include the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the forestry sector and our rural economy.
The Shareholder Letter of Expectation is the written oversight agreement between the State body and the relevant Ministers. The latest letter which issued to Coillte in 2022, is monitored and reviewed regularly. This letter specifies the shareholders expectations in relation to balancing Coillte’s commercial remit with our national environmental objectives. The letters are published on my Department’s website and discussions on an updated Shareholder Letter of Expectation have started. I would like to assure the Deputy that the focus of this new letter will continue to be on balancing Coillte’s commercial remit with our national environmental objectives and will be published when finalised.
Coillte's Strategic Vision for Our Future Forest Estate sets out its high-level ambitions to 2050 to balance and deliver the multiple benefits of forests for climate action, biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood product industry.
A guiding principle of delivering on this ambition is to increase the area of its forest estate being managed for nature from 20% to 50% in the long term. As of 2025 Coillte achieved its ambition to manage 30% of its estate primarily for nature and biodiversity.
Any afforestation undertaken by Coillte needs to be in accordance with the requirements set out in the National Forestry Programme 2023-2027 which includes an ambitious annual target for broadleaf planting of 50% of total annual planting, a 20% minimum of broadleaf planting as mandatory for all mixed forest types and 15% of the total area to be afforested to be set aside for Areas of Biodiversity Enhancement.
402. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any independent audit, review, or evaluation has been conducted since 2020 in respect of environmental, biodiversity, or climate-related claims made by Coillte; if so, to provide details of such audits and their findings; and if not, the reason for same. [33487/26]
View answerThe Coillte Board has adopted the Climate Action Framework for the Commercial Semi State Sector which refers to the fifth element of Action 147 of the Climate Action Plan 2019, which was carried forward to the Climate Action Plan 2021 under Action 55: ‘Develop a framework for the commercial semi-State sector to address climate action objectives’.
The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and NewERA are key stakeholders in the delivery of this action, with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment the assigned lead under Action 55.
The framework consists of five commitments and Coillte provides annual reports to NewERA on its progress.
In 2025, Coillte announced the increase in the percentage of its estate managed primarily for nature from 20% to 30%. Progress on other sustainability milestones is reported by Coillte in its annual reports.
406. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a list of the public bodies participating in the Planting on Public Lands initiative; the total hectares identified for afforestation under this initiative; and the number of hectares planted to date. [33491/26]
View answerMy Department is leading a Planting on Public Lands initiative as part of the implementation of the Forestry Programme 2023–2027. The initiative supports public bodies in identifying suitable lands for planting, navigating technical and regulatory requirements, and aligning projects with appropriate forestry schemes, including the Forest Creation on Public Lands (FT3), Native Woodland Conservation, and NeighbourWood schemes.
This provides a structured pathway for public bodies to contribute directly to national afforestation targets as well as climate action, biodiversity enhancement and community wellbeing.
Phase 1 of this initiative commenced in July 2025 with letters to 82 public bodies identified as owning land with potential for afforestation. This was followed by structured engagement with a range of public bodies over the past year, including local authorities, education and training boards (ETBs), state agencies and semi-state organisations.
To date, 33 of these bodies have formally engaged with my Department as per the table below:
|
Public Organisation |
|
Donegal ETB |
|
Meath County Council |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
|
Kerry ETB |
|
Kerry County Council |
|
Limerick City & Council |
|
Tipperary County Council |
|
Fingal County Council |
|
Land Development Agency |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
|
ESB Generations |
|
ESB Networks |
|
Department of Defence |
|
CIE |
|
University of Galway |
|
Roscommon County Council |
|
Waterford County Council |
|
Irish Water |
|
Health Service Executive |
|
Wexford County Council |
|
South Dublin County Council |
|
Wicklow County Council |
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
|
The Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine |
|
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport |
|
Carlow County Council |
|
The Minister for Justice and Equality |
|
The Minister for Health |
|
Sligo County Council |
|
Cork ETB |
|
TUS Midwest |
|
Westmeath County Council |
|
Louth County Council |
Whilst engagement with all these Public Bodies is ongoing, sixteen have either submitted, or are submitting applications representing a total area of 338 hectares.
The following have already undertaken begun planting under Forest Type 3:
|
Public Body |
Hectares Planted |
|
Public Body |
Hectares Planted |
|
Wexford County Council |
5.41 |
|
Meath County Council |
7.66 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
0.60 |
|
Irish Water |
15.93 |
|
Total |
29.60 |
Building on this success, the second phase of the Planting on Public Lands initiative is now underway, focusing on embedding afforestation within complementary climate and biodiversity frameworks, positioning forest creation on public lands as an integrated component of wider Government policy objectives.
409. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all capital projects including fishery harbour, forestry, agri-food and other infrastructure projects delivered under the remit of his Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within budget in Carlow in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33516/26]
View answer410. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all capital projects including fishery harbour, forestry, agri-food and other infrastructure projects delivered under the remit of his Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within budget in Kilkenny in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33517/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that there have been no capital projects, including fishery harbour, forestry, agri-food and other infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of my Department, in Carlow and Kilkenny, in each of the past five years. As regards the 13 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
