Written Answers Nos. 480-499
484. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the grace period for a stamp 4 renewal can be extended to cover the processing period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52626/26]
View answer488. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if Stamp 4 renewals which are applied for in-time and are eligible for the 12-week grace period often exceed those 12-weeks; if he is satisfied that the grace period sufficiently covers the reality of the current processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52666/26]
View answer492. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether a grace period or other temporary arrangements will be provided for applicants who submitted their Stamp 4 renewal applications within the recommended 16-week lead time but whose applications remain pending due to processing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52697/26]
View answer523. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons who successfully renewed their visa in 2025; the number that are currently waiting in excess of 12 weeks; the number that were waiting in excess of 12 weeks in 2025; the number that have applied to renew to date in 2026; of those who were successful in their application to renew in 2026, the number that had to wait in excess of 12 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52947/26]
View answer571. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IRP renewal applications refused by his Department per month in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53532/26]
View answer587. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware that Irish banks (details supplied) are not acknowledging the right of residence permit renewal applicants who have applied in advance of current card expiry to remain lawfully resident for a 12-week period post expiry, resulting in their accounts being frozen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53667/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 484, 488, 492, 523, 571 and 587 together.
The Registration Office of my Department continues to experience an exceptionally high demand for first time registration appointments and 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 utilising every avenue available to facilitate as many applicants as quickly as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals, with significant additional staff assigned to this work. This is having an impact and wait times are reducing, and I expect times to reduce further over the summer months.
In the meantime, I can advise the Deputy that earlier this week I published an updated interim employer notice and a notice to facilitate customers travelling during the summer months to alleviate pressure on applicants while the Department continues to reduce the wait times.
Where an employee’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired and they are unable to obtain a new one by the expiry date of their current IRP card, they are still permitted to work and to remain in the State until 31 August 2026. This applies to all expired IRP cards regardless of the number of weeks elapsed, but is subject to the applicant submitting their renewal application prior to their current IRP card expiring. Further information on this notice can be found at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/minster-announces-interim-notice-to-employers-regarding-renewal-of-registration/
It is important to note that the existing Notice to Employers (www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/notice-to-employers/) will continue to apply after 31 August 2026.
Furthermore, the previous travel arrangements made for people awaiting a renewal of their IRP card who intend to travel has been reinstated until 31 August 2026. People may use their recently expired IRP card to travel until the end of August 2026, provided an application to renew their registration permission was submitted in advance of the expiry date of their IRP Card. Further information can be found on the ISD website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/isd-announces-initiative-to-facilitate-customers-travelling-during-the-summer-months/
While the Registration Office endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible, processing times for each stamp category may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and peak application periods. The objective is to reducing the timelines across all categories to more sustainable levels.
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/
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 portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department receives approximately 20,000 renewal applications per month, and over 147,000 renewal applications have been approved so far in 2026, up to 30 June. In 2025, 233,823 immigration permissions were successfully renewed.
The information requested on the number of renewal applications that are currently waiting in excess of 12 weeks, that exceeded 12 weeks in 2025, or that have been refused/withdrawn is not readily available. To source this information would require the manual examination of each individual renewal processed. Such an examination would require a disproportionate amount of time to compile and would deflect resources from processing applications.
485. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the progress of plans to reform licensing laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52629/26]
View answerNeither the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 or the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024 progressed in the lifetime of the last Government.
The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws. The Summer Legislative Programme, published on 14 April, set out the 38 Bills that have been prioritised for publication, and 26 Bills for drafting, in the current Dáil session. Other legislative projects, including work on intoxicating liquor legislation, will be taken forward in subsequent iterations of the legislative programme, to be determined by Government in due course.
Provisions in respect of the use of outdoor seating areas by licensees have been included in the Civil Law, Criminal Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. This will put these provisions on a permanent statutory footing going forward, and will give licensees, Local Authorities and An Garda Síochána the legal certainty they require for the operation of outdoor spaces.
486. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the role the Public Dance Halls Act 1935 continues to fulfil in the regulation of night-life; and his plans to repeal or amend this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52630/26]
View answerThe statutory provisions concerning the licensing of premises for the purposes of public dancing are set out in the Public Dance Halls Act 1935, as well as sections 2 to 10 and 21 of the Licensing (Combating Drug Abuse) Act 1997, in so far as they relate to public dancing licenses. The primary purpose of these statutory provisions is to ensure the welfare and safety of persons while present at events on the premises.
There are no immediate plans to amend the Public Dance Halls Act 1935, however, my Department keeps the operation of legislation under ongoing review.
487. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 663 of 16 June 2026, if the relevant information has been provided to him from the Garda authorities for the PQ to be answered. [52653/26]
View answerI understand that Parliamentary Question No 663 of 16 June sought the number of unmarked Garda vans attached to each Garda division as of 9 June 2026, in tabular form.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 30 June 2026, there were 3,810 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet.
The Garda authorities have provided the table below which provides the number of unmarked Garda vans attached to each Garda division as of 31 May 2026.
The purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources, and is reviewed on a continual basis.
Additional information to be provided by Department.
489. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will review the net income thresholds required for non-EEA family reunification, specifically for category C sponsors holding general employment permits in the health and social care sector; if he recognises the systemic barrier created when the State accepts a healthcare assistant's salary as sufficient for an essential work permit but insufficient to sponsor their minor children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52694/26]
View answer490. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider amending the non-EEA family reunification policy to grant immediate family reunification rights to general employment permit holders working in essential healthcare and home care roles, bringing their entitlements into alignment with critical skills employment permit holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52695/26]
View answer498. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the current non-EEA family reunification policy for healthcare assistants and home care assistants employed under the general employment permit system; if he will examine the impact of the current income thresholds, waiting periods and processing times on workers who remain separated from their spouses and children despite working and paying taxes in Ireland; if he will consider a more child-centred approach, greater flexibility in assessing family income and accommodation, and faster processing of applications involving minor children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52732/26]
View answer568. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the Non EEA family reunification scheme currently in place for health care assistants, home care assistants and other essential general employment permit workers who form a vital part of our health support system; his views that requiring such workers to be permanently separated from their families is not just or humane, and will have the practical result of making Ireland unattractive for such workers in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53359/26]
View answer580. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy with a view to extending more favourable family reunification arrangements to healthcare assistants and home care assistants employed under general employment permits, particularly those who have completed two years or more of lawful employment in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53562/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 489, 490, 498, 568 and 580 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, on 26 November 2025, I published the review of the non-EEA Family Reunification Policy (available at assets.gov.ie/static/documents/160c592a/Final_Report_on_the_Review_of_the_Non-EEA_Family_Reunification_Policy.pdf) which had remained largely unchanged since 2013, and sets out how Irish citizens and most non-EEA Irish residents may apply to bring non-EEA family members to live with them in Ireland. Further changes to the policy were made on 12 June 2026 based on commitments made in the review, including an annual review of financial thresholds to keep them in line with the cost of living, and to align with the new Statutory family reunification scheme under the International Protection Act 2026.
The latest version of the policy document is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Family-Reunification-Policy-12-June-2026.pdf
One of the most complex issues regarding the review into Family Reunification Policy was the level of income thresholds required for family reunification with minor children, in particular for General Employment Permit (GEP) holders. A key principle of the Policy is that sponsors should be able to support family members who join them in Ireland without recourse to State supports which is why income thresholds have historically been based on eligibility for Working Family Payment.
There was extensive stakeholder engagement during the review which focused on the situation regarding lower paid holders of GEPs, such as Health Care Assistants (HCAs), and the difficulties they have in applying for family reunification involving children, due to their lower levels of pay in relation to the income thresholds.
Following detailed consultation with other departments and civil society groups, the review concluded that the levels of income thresholds for lower paid sponsors should be considered in the context of the sustainability of wage growth, as opposed to lowering income thresholds below the level of eligibility for Working Family Payment. A range of options to reduce the financial thresholds were examined; however, the review found that lowering the thresholds would likely increase reliance on State supports, especially when also factoring in healthcare, education and other State expenditure involving children.
In January 2024, DETE increased the minimum salaries for employment permits for the first time in 18 years and introduced annual indexation against average earnings in the State to ensure wage stagnation did not continue in the future. Rationalisation of lower minimum salaries for HCAs, among other occupations, will see those minimum salaries increase more quickly so that the lower rates are phased out by 2030.
My Department will continue to engage with DETE and other stakeholders as these increases take effect and other related variables (such as the level of WFP) change in the coming years and will consider the implications for the current basis of the threshold in the Policy which we will keep under ongoing review. However, it will remain a key principle of the Policy that sponsors must be able to afford to provide for any family members who join them in Ireland without recourse to State supports. This protects the integrity of the immigration system while maximising the wider social and economic benefits of migration. The Government’s focus will remain on improving wage growth rather than increasing eligibility for social protection.
Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders are deliberately dealt with more favourably under the Policy. Occupations on the critical skills list are promoted for migration to the State, based on skills shortages, and so preferential conditions apply to attract those key skills. Immediate reunification with nuclear family members is one of those conditions, and this is in the context that CSEP roles are generally skilled professions with higher starting salaries and considerable room for salary growth and promotion so will generally not need to have recourse to social protection.
The review also reduced the effective waiting period from 24 months to 12 months for GEP holders by reducing the requirement to produce two years evidence of income. It concluded that any further reduction in the 12-month waiting period would slow the processing of applications by creating a surge.
While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications. However, applicants for join family visas will generally receive a first instance decision within the 12-month business target.
My Department will continue to keep all of these issues under ongoing review as circumstances develop and we will feed them into consideration for further updates that will be made to the Policy in 2027.
491. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current average processing time for join-family visa applications sponsored by general employment permit holders; the steps being taken by ISD to expedite applications involving minor children separated from a parent working in the Irish care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52696/26]
View answerAcross all sectors of our economy, migrants make an important contribution to Irish society, our communities and public services. My Department is currently developing a National Migration and Integration Strategy to help ensure that Ireland is well placed to meet the opportunities and challenges of migration over the coming decade.
I fully recognise that join family visa applications are very important for the people involved. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland.
My Department operates seven overseas Visa Offices, as well as the Visa Office in Dublin. In addition, certain visa applications are processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated authority from my Department.
While processing times can vary between visa offices, most visa applications receive a decision within our published target times. Some applications can take longer, depending on the circumstances.
Processing times are influenced by a number of factors, including the complexity of the application, the volume of applications received, and the quality and completeness of the information provided.
It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
The business target for Join Family visas is 12 months. In 2025 the average processing time for all types of Join Family visa applications was 113 days.
Processing times and decisions at the Visa Offices in Dublin and overseas can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions
Applications are processed in the order they were received. Expediting a visa application is usually confined to time-sensitive instances, such as, if a family member has been hospitalised, in a life-threatening situation, or in the unfortunate event of a bereavement.
In December 2025, the Immigration Service of my Department introduced online payment functionality to my Department's online visa system. This allows applicants to pay visa fees as part of the online application process. The initiative is being rolled out on a phased basis and is currently live in 40 countries, with South Africa added in January 2026. This reduces the administrative burden on Irish Missions and visa teams, and allows visa officers to dedicate more time to core application processing and decision-making, contributing to improved processing efficiency over time.
Furthermore, the ongoing Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) modernisation programme is designed to support a more efficient, transparent and accessible immigration system. The recent establishment of dedicated teams for Application Submission and Join Family Case Processing are intended to help streamline workflows, reduce duplication and strengthen expertise, thereby improving the service delivery for join family visa applications.
493. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of e-scooters, e-bikes and scramblers seized by an Garda Síochána in the Kildare, Wicklow and Meath/ Louth divisions in 2025 and to date in 2026; if he will provide a breakdown by vehicle type and numbers seized; the number of same returned to owners. [52708/26]
View answerOn 1 April, the Road Traffic (Control of Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2026, known as Grace's Law, were signed into law by the Minister for Transport. These regulations prohibit the use of an off-road motorcycle, such as a scrambler or a quadbike, in any place, except on private land. They impose a requirement of consent where restricted vehicles are used on private land and will make enforcement easier.
The seriousness with which the Government views this issue is reflected in the fact the mere use of scramblers is now explicitly an offence, assisting An Garda Síochána operationally by ensuring that members no longer have to form a reasonable belief about dangerous use of the vehicle.
Please be advised that data on the number of seizures under 'Graces Law' cannot be provided by An Garda Síochána at this point as a quarterly validation of incidents must first be completed.
Gardaí also have additional, and significant, legislative powers to combat the antisocial and dangerous misuse of scramblers, quad bikes, e-scooters and other such vehicles including under the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the Criminal Law Act 1997 and the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023.
I am assured that An Garda Síochána continues to adopt a proactive approach in addressing the illegal use of scramblers, and have been informed of a substantial increase in the seizure of these types of vehicles during the first quarter of 2026 when measured against the full year 2025.
The table below sets out the number of seizures of e-scooters, e-bikes and scramblers nationally in 2025 and to date in 2026. Data is not available at a Divisional level. Similarly data related to the number of vehicles returned to owners is not currently available.
|
Incidents when vehicles were seized or detained |
2025 |
Q1 2026 |
|
e-scooters |
931 |
754 |
|
Scramblers |
159 |
94 |
|
e-bikes |
237 |
140 |
494. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau as of 3 July 2026, in tabular form. [52720/26]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy has been requested from An Garda Síochána and I will revert directly to Deputy once it has been received.
495. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of enforcement actions, seizures or prosecutions taken by Gardaí against unlicensed gaming activities in licensed premises, such as pubs, in each of the years in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [52721/26]
View answerThe 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 all operational policing matters. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under Section 34 of the Act.
I have been advised by Garda authorities that further to a search of the PULSE database, under the incident type "Liquor License Inspection of Premises", there were 15,653 inspections carried out nationwide during 2024 and 15,807 such inspections carried out nationwide during 2025.
However, no proceedings (charge/summons) under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 were initiated during the 2024/2025 period.
496. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of competitions held in 2025 and to date in 2026 within the Dublin region for uniform Gardaí to apply to join detective units; the number of uniform Gardaí that applied for each competition, in tabular form. [52722/26]
View answerThe 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 determining the manner in which Garda personnel are distributed and stationed throughout the State.
Garda authorities have provided the below table which shows the number of competitions held in 2025 and to date in 2026 within the Dublin region for uniform Gardaí to apply to join detective units and the number of uniform Gardaí that applied for each competition.
|
Year |
No. of Competitions |
No. of Applicants |
|
2025 |
1 |
37 |
|
2026 |
7 |
597 |
497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of family reunification applications received from holders of general employment permits by country (details supplied) in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, and from 1 January to 30 June 2026; the number of such applications decided in each period; the average or median processing time for those applications, by nationality; the average period such applications spend being processed by an Irish embassy or visa office outside Ireland, where applicable; the average period they spend being processed by the Immigration Service in Ireland, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52730/26]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has agreed to limit the scope of this question to the overall figures for Join Family visa applications received and decisions made during the time period specified.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department currently operates seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. These are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated authority from my Department.
Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland. It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
While processing times can vary across the different Visa Offices and Irish Embassies, the majority of visas are processed within stated target times. In respect of join family visa applications, the majority receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target.
It should be noted that some applications can take considerably longer. Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods, such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible.
In 2025 the average processing time for all types of Join Family visa applications was 113 days.
In 2025, approximately 206,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 2% compared to 2024, with over 3,900 additional applications received. This follows a 21% increase in applications in 2024 compared to 2023. In the first six months of 2026, my Department's Visa Division received approximately 102,000 visa applications and has issued approximately 85,200 decisions.
The table below details the overall Join Family visa applications received and the first instance decisions issued for 2023 to 2026 (up to 30/06) as requested by the Deputy.
|
- |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 (to 30/06) |
|
Visa Applications Received |
19,119 |
21,858 |
19,310 |
8,467 |
|
Decisions Issued |
16,907 |
18,555 |
15,505 |
4,117 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year.
* Categories Include: Join Family (Irish nat.)(de facto partner); Join Family (Irish nat.)(other); Join Family (Irish nat.)(spouse); Join Family (Non-EEA nat.)(de facto partner); Join Family (Non-EEA nat.)(other); Join Family (Non-EEA nat.)(spouse).
499. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will undertake a review of the legislation governing the role and functions of peace commissioners, with particular regard to the range of documents they are authorised to certify and witness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52734/26]
View answerThe office of Peace Commissioner was created in accordance with section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The original intention underlying the office of Peace Commissioner was to provide a service of use to the public that was free, local and easily accessible. Peace Commissioners have traditionally been individuals who are well-known in their local areas and may also be involved in other voluntary and/or community-based work. The contribution of many Peace Commissioners to Irish society has been valuable and is appreciated.
Over the course of more than a century since the creation of the office of Peace Commissioner, there have been many changes to society and in the ways that Government delivers local services. As such, I consider it timely to undertake a review of matters relevant to the office of Peace Commissioner.
In this regard, my Department is considering a range of matters related to the office of Peace Commissioner. The main areas of focus for the review of the role of Peace Commissioner include:
• a review of existing functions and powers of Peace Commissioners;
• a review of the procedures for appointments and removals of Peace Commissioners;
• updating of the Roll of Peace Commissioners and giving consideration to making the Roll of Peace Commissioners available online;
• a review of how best to deal with complaints regarding Peace Commissioners;
• consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Good progress has been made to date with regard to updating the Roll (Register) of Peace Commissioners and efforts in this regard are continuing. The review work that remains to be done is complex and requires careful research and consideration in the overall legislative context.
