Written Answers Nos. 145-164
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if section 16 naturalisation via Irish associations is a route intended for people who have no other pathway to citizenship and cannot pursue the section 15 route, such as due to residency requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40367/26]
View answerAll applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually based on the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted. Section 16 of the Act gives discretion to waive the statutory conditions (including the 5 year residency requirement) in certain circumstances. This includes where the applicant is a direct descendant of someone who is or was an Irish citizen (for example, a grandparent), has a family connection to an Irish citizen (including by blood, adoption, or civil partnership), or is related by affinity, meaning a close relationship through a spouse’s family.
Last year my Department published new guidelines for applications on the basis of Irish Associations under Section 16(1)(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. They set out the factors that may be considered when deciding whether to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations. Details of the guidelines are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-an-irish-citizen-guide/.
[]Additionally, any person born outside of Ireland who has an Irish national grandparent born in Ireland may obtain Irish citizenship through registration in the Foreign Births Register which is maintained by Department of Foreign Affairs, for more information please see: www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/.
146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will confirm that concerns expressed by shotgun owners relating to inconsistencies in the interpretation and implementation of firearms licensing will be addressed in the next phase of engagement arising from the recently convened firearms meetings in Kilmainham; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40396/26]
View answer147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to his statement that stakeholder organisations have been encouraged to make submissions to the recently convened firearms meetings in Kilmainham; the reason submissions seeking discussion on concerns over inconsistencies in the interpretation and implementation of firearms licensing were ruled out of order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40397/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
Reform of the firearms licensing system has been under consideration for a number of years, and extensive consultation has been undertaken. The administration of firearms licensing is complex, governed by both national and European legislation, to which each Member State must adhere. Careful consideration must be given to the potential implications of any contemplated change.
My Department holds meetings with individual firearms organisations on request and engages with firearms stakeholders, including representative firearms organisations, in various ways. An Garda Síochána also meet with firearms stakeholder organisations in respect of relevant matters, and officials from my Department liaise regularly with the Firearms Policy Unit of An Garda Síochána on firearms-related matters.
Throughout 2025 and into this year, my Department organised a series of exploratory meetings with firearms stakeholders in Wicklow, Limerick, Carrick-on-Shannon, Mullingar, and most recently in Dublin. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a mechanism for ongoing engagement with firearms stakeholders from a broad range of areas within the firearms community, ensuring their valuable insights can be considered in any future policy and legislative changes that may arise.
I can advise the Deputy, that engagement with firearms stakeholders is ongoing; the most recent engagement took place on 28 April 2026, where more than 20 representatives of the firearms community and firearms stakeholder organisations attended a meeting with Department officials. This was the fourth in a series of meetings that have taken place; other meetings also took place on 18 September, 1 December 2025, and 29 January 2026.
These engagements have been positive and constructive. I am aware that a wide range of issues relating to the administration of firearms legislation were raised at these meetings. My Department is currently planning the next phase of stakeholder engagement which will take place over the coming months. This will focus on the issues raised by firearms representatives organisations at the recent engagements and provide an opportunity for further discussion on these important matters. I am advised that submissions on any concerns in relation to firearms licensing can be made directly to my Department as part of this ongoing engagement.
148. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 862 of 12 May 2026, if the data in the question is now available, that is, statistics on the number of firearms used in recorded crimes in each of the past ten years; and a breakdown of the assessed source of the firearms. [40404/26]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of crime statistics.
The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded by An Garda Síochána on the PULSE system and publishes regular releases on recorded crime. The most recent release includes recorded crime up to the end of 2025.
An Garda Síochána has advised that crime statistics for a wide range of incident types, including “Discharging a Firearm” and “Possession of a Firearm”, are published annually on the CSO website and are available at the following link: https://data.cso.ie/table/CJA01.
It is not possible to provide a statistical breakdown of the source of the firearms involved as data is not collated in this way.[]
149. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a schedule of contracts will be provided that his Department and bodies under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and-or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery; and if so, the details of same. [40422/26]
View answerMy Department adheres to the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts when acquiring goods and services. This is requirement of EU law in accordance with the EU Procurement Directives. Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. Procurement is also subject to internal audit within my Department.
I can confirm that my Department has not held contracts with the company referenced. I am informed that this is also the case for agencies under the aegis of my Department.
It is important to note that my Department’s records do not contain information relating to the ownership of suppliers and therefore it is not possible to determine if a supplier is a subsidiary of another.
150. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to review the operation of the Private Securities Act 2004; to examine the operation of the provisions of the Act with respect to the training and powers of private security personnel, including in relation to the safeguards regarding the use of physical restraint or disproportionate force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40428/26]
View answerThe Private Security Services Act, 2004 (as amended) provides the legal basis for the regulation and licensing of sectors of the private security industry in Ireland.
The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing and related standards such as training within the private security industry.
The Authority is a statutorily independent body operating under the aegis of my Department. There are no plans currently in place to review the operation of the Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended). The Act was amended by Part 4 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 and by the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021.
The minimum training requirements for private security personnel are specified by the Private Security Authority under S.I. 204 of 2024. The Regulations require individuals, wishing to apply for a licence in the Door Supervisor, Security Guard (Guarding) and Event Security sectors, to hold a national training qualification that is certified by QQI. The course for security guarding is a QQI Level 4 Award (Guarding Skills – 4N20604). The training covers, among other things, the role of security guards, managing conflict and aggression, the law on powers of arrest and use of reasonable force. It is designed to give the learner the knowledge to understand the law and respond correctly in retail or static guarding situations. The course does not cover physical intervention or control and restraint as there are no extra powers under the Private Security Services Acts 2004 to 2021 for security personnel to detain, restrain or physically control individuals. In that respect, security personnel are in the same position as any other person in the use of reasonable force when a crime is being committed.
151. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by Irish citizens residing abroad in obtaining official written confirmation that a child adopted overseas by an Irish citizen would be entitled to Irish citizenship under section 11 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956; if a mechanism exists through the passport service, Irish embassies, or another appropriate authority to issue such declarations or confirmations for use by foreign adoption authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40429/26]
View answerCitizenship may be obtained in a number of ways, including by birth, descent, naturalisation and, also, adoption. Section 11 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 provides for citizenship of adopted children. Section 11(1) provides as follows:
“Upon an adoption order being made, under an adoption order within the meaning of section 3 (1) of the Adoption Act 2010 or an intercountry adoption effected outside the State being recognised within the meaning of that Act in a case in which the adopter or, where the adoption is by a married couple, either spouse is an Irish citizen, the adopted child, if not already an Irish citizen, shall be an Irish citizen.”
Irish adoptive parent(s) are required to register an intercountry adoption with the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) as the adoption needs to be recognised and shown to be compliant under Irish law. More information is available on their website at: https://aai.gov.ie/en/who-we-are/inter-country.html.
Following the registration, Irish adoptive parent(s) may then apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for an Irish passport for the adopted children.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the above outlined process is not a matter for my Department and the issues raised have not come to the attention of my Department.
152. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda reserves recruited in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the areas that they have been allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40489/26]
View answer156. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will address a number of concerns with regard to Garda Reserve operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40701/26]
View answer157. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the Garda reserve strategy 2021-2025. [40704/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 156 and 157 together.
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. This includes all Garda Reserve operational matters. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act.
Established in 2006, Garda Reserves play a vital role in their communities. The position presents a unique opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and give back to their communities. It offers people from all backgrounds a policing experience. I would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by all members of the Reserve who volunteer their time for the community's benefit.
To modernise and strengthen An Garda Síochána, the Garda Commissioner developed a Garda Reserve Strategy 2021-2025, which provided a roadmap for the development of this important service. The Strategy was informed by an internal review of the Reserve, and sets out key commitments including recruitment, training and development, deployment, governance and evaluation. The Strategy aimed to ensure that members of the Reserve are fully supported by local Garda management and that the role is recognised and promoted throughout the organisation. My officials are currently engaging with An Garda Síochána regarding the development of a successor to the Strategy.
The most recent competition to recruit Garda Reserves opened in June 2024 and received over 1,800 applications. In addition, to support the development of the Reserve, the maximum stipend a Reserve member receives for voluntary service in a given year has been increased from €1,000 to €3,000.
The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána to increase the Garda Reserve and ensure new intakes annually. This is in addition to recruiting 5,000 Garda members as well as increasing Garda staff numbers. These commitments are supported by successive increases in the Garda Vote, including unprecedented funding of €2.74billion in Budget 2026.
I am advised that the first cohort of 19 successful candidates from the Garda Reserve competition entered Templemore in 2025 and 17 of these attested in November 2025. The 17 Garda Reserves were allocated as follows:
Dublin Region - 8.
Eastern Region - 1.
Southern Region - 3.
North Western Region - 5.
A further class of Garda Reserves is currently in training.
Information in relation to the allocation of Garda Reserve members by Division is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2026/march-2026.html.
153. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will meet with a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40542/26]
View answerI can confirm that my office has received correspondence from the family mentioned and officials in my Department will be in contact with them in due course to respond to their request.
154. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40628/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.
My officials and I are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential.
More generally, a person who has previously applied for international protection in Ireland is not permitted to make a subsequent application without the consent of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Section 22 of the International Protection Act 2015 provides that an International Protection Officer shall recommend that the Minister give his or her consent to the making of a subsequent application where, following a preliminary examination of an application under subsection (2), the officer is satisfied that:
• Since the determination of the previous application concerned, new elements or findings have arisen or have been presented by the person which make it significantly more likely that the person will qualify for international protection, and the person was, through no fault of the person, incapable of presenting those elements or findings for the purposes of his or her previous application, or
• Where the previous application was withdrawn or deemed withdrawn, the person was, at the time of the withdrawal or deemed withdrawal, through no fault of the person, incapable of pursuing their previous application.
Where neither of the above conditions is fulfilled, an International Protection Officer shall recommend that a subsequent application for international protection not be allowed pursuant to section 22(5) of the Act.
Applicants can appeal this recommendation at the IPAT. An appeal under section 22(8) of the Act to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal must be made within 10 working days from the date of being notified of the recommendation (Regulation 3(b) of the International Protection Act 2015 (Procedures and Periods for Appeals) Regulations 2017).
155. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to report on the delays in the processing of Irish residence permit renewals; the cause of the average processing time having been extended from three weeks to thirteen weeks; the measures he will put in place to bring this average waiting time back down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40679/26]
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 further measures to reduce processing times currently being implemented. Additional staff have been assigned to this work and further assignments are being examined. I expect that this will begin to address the delays currently being experienced.
The Registration Office provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link: []
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/#processing.
To ensure a fair and equitable service, renewals are generally processed in order of date submitted. Customers may submit their renewal applications up to 12 weeks prior to expiry of permission, to allow sufficient time for an application to be reached and processed prior to a current permission expiring.
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/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/notice-to-employers/.
If a person has any queries relating to their immigration permission or renewal, they can contact the registration office using my Departments Customer Service Portal. The Customer Service Portal can be accessed at the following link: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
Details on how to submit a query to the registration office can be found at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/submitting-registration-or-renewal-queries/.
158. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the State funding in place to support permaculture farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40483/26]
View answerPermaculture is a sustainable design system that mimics natural ecosystems to create self-sufficient and regenerative agricultural practices. It works by applying principles like observing natural patterns, using renewable resources, and integrating systems to reduce waste, support biodiversity, and promote long-term ecological balance.
Encouraging sustainable farming practices through appropriate incentives, knowledge transfer and awareness raising can facilitate broader adoption of permaculture principles among farmers.
My Department provides such support in a number of ways including through the Organic Farming Scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan. Overall this include a commitment of €256 million over the period of the Cap Strategic plan 2023-2027. Other supports which encompass permaculture practices include some of the actions under ACRES (the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) and support under certain EIP’s or European Innovation Partnerships. Inclusions in this include the Breeding Wader, Farming for Water and South East arable coast EIP's.
159. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a schedule of contracts will be provided that his Department and bodies under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery; and if so, the details of same. [40410/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has had no contracts with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries.
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.
160. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on an ACRES payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40538/26]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. All ACRES payments in respect of 2023 scheme year have been finalised for this case.
A request was submitted to my Department for the transfer of this ACRES contract to a partnership. The process of transferring ACRES contracts to a new owner, and updating the herd details across all platforms used by ACRES is complex. I can confirm that this transfer is now complete.
2024 ACRES payment validations will be run again shortly. I can also advise that once payments in respect of 2024 have been finalised, this case will then progress to 2025 pre-payment validations. As is the case with all EU co-funded schemes, ACRES payment claims must pass regulatory controls and validations before payment can issue.
ACRES pay runs are taking place weekly across all scheme years and tranches. I can assure you that everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks.
161. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding farm payments by county and year; the number of farmers awaiting payments such as ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40539/26]
View answerThe requested information is currently being complied and will be submitted directly to the Deputy when available.
162. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give urgent consideration to the introduction of grant aid for landowners to remove roadside trees that have ash dieback disease and pose a danger to public safety taking into account the substantial costs in removing such trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40541/26]
View answerSince the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, my Department has provided support to owners of grant aided forests impacted by ash dieback disease, currently through the Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 and the Climate Action Performance Payment Scheme.
In relation to roadside trees, Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road. The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal of dangerous roadside trees is the responsibility of the local authority, in its capacity as the relevant road authority.
My Department does not offer funding for the removal of roadside trees or trees outside of forests but has published guidance “A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”. This publication provides information on how to identify trees that have ash dieback and outlines specific issues related to health and safety in tree work.
To assist hedgerow management, section 19 of the Forestry Act 2014, states that trees outside a forest, within 10 metres of a public road and which in the opinion of the owner, are dangerous to persons using the public road on account of age or condition, do not require a felling licence. Therefore, roadside trees meeting these conditions, may be felled without a licence.
163. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of retired greyhounds cared for in Ireland that have not been formally rehomed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40681/26]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to that body for direct reply.
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding scheduled forestry maintenance (details supplied); when the work will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40741/26]
View answerMy Department have been in direct contact with the forest manager for the forestry property involved. From this engagement it is my understanding that works required will take place this week.
