Written Answers Nos. 560-579
560. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prosecutions and convictions under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 in each of the years from 2020 to 2025 in respect of the sale or supply of nitrous oxide for its psychoactive effects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53342/26]
View answerThe Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 aims to prevent of the misuse of dangerous or otherwise harmful psychoactive substances and provides for offences relating to the sale, importation, exportation or advertisement of those substances. The Act provides that a person who sells, or who imports or exports, a psychoactive substance, including but not limited to nitrous oxide, knowing or being reckless as to whether that substance is being acquired or supplied for human consumption shall be guilty of an offence.
That legislation also provides An Garda Síochána with powers in relation to the issuing of prohibition notices to a person engaged in selling, importing, exporting, or advertising nitrous oxide, or any psychoactive substance, for human consumption. Where a person fails to comply with such a notice, a member of An Garda Síochána can apply to the District Court for a closure order. The 2010 Act also provides a member of An Garda Síochána with powers of entry, search, seizure and detention, powers to search persons and vehicles and powers of arrest for obstruction where, with reasonable cause, they suspect a person of committing an offence under the Act.
I am advised, by the Garda authorities, that nitrous oxide is not specifically captured under a structured field on the Garda PULSE system. As a result An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide the number of people who have been charged for the misuse of nitrous oxide or the number of people that have been charged specifically for the sale, importation, exportation or advertisement of nitrous oxide.
Revenue Customs Officers are responsible for monitoring and seizing importations of nitrous oxide into the State.
The HSE and An Garda Síochána remain aware of the issues surrounding nitrous oxide misuse, and the HSE continues to support awareness of the associated health risks among young people, parents and youth organisations.
The Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a function of the courts.
To be of assistance I have referred this question to the Courts Service for their direct reply to the Deputy.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
561. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has examined the approach taken in the United Kingdom, where nitrous oxide was made a class C controlled drug in November 2023, with a view to strengthening the legislative framework governing its recreational use in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53343/26]
View answer562. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the powers currently available to An Garda Síochána to seize nitrous oxide canisters from persons suspected of possessing them for recreational use; the number of such seizures recorded in each of the years from 2022 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53344/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 together.
The classification of substances under the Misuse of Drugs Acts is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health. Nitrous oxide has a number of legitimate uses, particularly in the medical and catering industries, and I am informed that it is for this reason that it is not listed under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, nor is it the intention to classify it as a substance under those Acts.
However, the challenge, as with any substance open to misuse, is to regulate its supply chain effectively without unduly penalising legitimate enterprise.
The Government is not currently intending to introduce its own legislation on this matter; however the Deputy may be interested to note that I am advised by my colleague Minister Burke at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment that from February 2027, nitrous oxide will be subject to EU classification harmonisation and will be designated as a substance that is potentially harmful to human reproductive health and the nervous system. This reclassification is not merely a technical change; it is the trigger for further regulatory action. The European Commission has also published a draft amendment to the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) that would restrict the placing on the market of nitrogen oxide for supply to the general public, subject to narrowly defined derogations.
In April 2026, the REACH Committee voted to proceed with the restriction on placing on the market of nitrous oxide based on its reprotoxic characteristics, with strict derogations for legitimate uses already approved under EU law, such as food safety law. It is expected that the final restriction Regulation will be formally adopted and published later this year and will come into force in February 2027.
I am very aware of the issues raised in connection with nitrous oxide, as well as the potential negative health implications of the misuse of this product. The health issues related to nitrous oxide are proper to the Department of Health, the HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority and I understand that the HPRA has previously issued advisories on the misuse of this substance.
I want to commend the ongoing work of the HSE and community groups in responding to the rise in nitrous oxide misuse. Through public awareness campaigns, harm reduction advice, and engagement with at-risk groups, they are working to mitigate the very real health risks. The HSE actively monitors usage trends and runs targeted awareness campaigns. A key part of this strategy includes the dissemination of a harm reduction factsheet, detailing risks, effects, and advice, to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, student unions, and at festivals. Parents are also supported with information through various formats, including the drugs.ie website. This multi-faceted approach is delivered in collaboration with Task Forces across the country, aligning with recommendations from the European drugs agency.
The Deputy may also be interested to note that the misuse of nitrous oxide is already addressed under several pieces of legislation.
The purpose of the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 includes the prevention of the misuse of dangerous or otherwise harmful psychoactive substances and the provision of offences relating to the sale, importation, exportation or advertisement of those substances. The Act provides that a person who sells, or who imports or exports, a psychoactive substance knowing, or being reckless as to whether that substance is being acquired or supplied for human consumption, shall be guilty of an offence.
That legislation also provides An Garda Síochána with powers in relation to the issuing of prohibition notices to a person engaged in selling, importing, exporting, or advertising nitrous oxide, or any psychoactive substance, for human consumption. The 2010 Act also provides a member of An Garda Síochána with powers of entry, search, seizure and detention, powers to search persons and vehicles and powers of arrest for obstruction where, with reasonable cause, they suspect a person of committing an offence under the Act.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that nitrous oxide is not specifically captured under a structured field on the Garda PULSE system. As a result, An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide the number of nitrous oxide seizures recorded in each of the years from 2022 to 2025.
Revenue Customs Officers are responsible for monitoring and seizing importations of nitrous oxide into the State, where there is a reasonable belief that its importation is not for legitimate purposes and is intended for human consumption as a psychoactive substance.
The HSE and An Garda Síochána remain aware of the issues surrounding nitrous oxide misuse, and the HSE continues to support awareness of the associated health risks among young people, parents and youth organisations.
563. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has conducted an assessment of the cost of establishing an integrated information-sharing system between An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service to ensure that courts have access to accurate and up-to-date information when making bail decisions; if he will provide details of the estimated capital and ongoing costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53349/26]
View answer564. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether funding has been allocated, or is proposed to be allocated, for the development of a digital information-sharing system between An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service; the amount of funding identified for this purpose; the anticipated timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53350/26]
View answer565. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has examined the feasibility of introducing an information-sharing system between An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service to support bail decision-making; whether comparable systems operating in other jurisdictions have been considered; if he will provide details of the estimated costs associated with establishing such a system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53351/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 563 to 565, inclusive, together.
While bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive, I am committed to ensuring they are fit for purpose while ensuring fundamental rights principles are adhered to. Last year, I appointed a Senior Counsel, Lorcan Staines, to undertake an assessment of the current operation of bail in Ireland, both legal and practical.
The commissioning of the report arose from concerns regarding bail processes and their applicability to recidivist offenders. These concerns were acknowledged in my apology to the family of the late Shane O’Farrell, who was tragically killed in August 2011, when struck by a car driven by a person who was on bail for a series of offences at the time.
Mr Staines’s report ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’ was published by my Department in November 2025. This examination of our bail laws and subsequent proposals underlines the need for additional actions to be taken to ensure the criminal justice system effectively mitigates against risks that may be associated with individuals on bail.
One of the recommendations outlined in the report was “Significant and immediate investment should be made in the information sharing systems for both An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service. The accurate recording and sharing of information between these bodies should be prioritised.” This is a long-term recommendation. There are currently a number of projects taking place across the sector which will contribute to an improvement in the information sharing systems for both An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service, along with the system overall.
The Courts Service is undertaking a major initiative to implement a Unified Case Management System (UCMS) for criminal matters, as part of their ten-year Modernisation Programme. Under the Modernisation Programme, the Unified Case Management System (UCMS) is to replace all civil and criminal case systems within the Courts Service with one modern case management system that will enable end to end digital journeys, streamlining of processes and further enabling the sharing of data with justice sector bodies.
Other notable projects in this sphere include the project to codify the criminal offence codes used by criminal justice agencies in the sector. The Department is currently reviewing what further work may be required to fully implement a recommendation such as this.
566. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the bail supervision service since its transfer from the Garda to the probation service; the yearly cost for running the service; the counties in which the service is available; the number of young people who have used the service in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53354/26]
View answerThe Bail Supervision Scheme (BSS) offers courts an alternative option to detaining a young person who comes before them. It provides for the possibility of granting bail with intensive supervision. By reducing the need for remand places, this also provides an opportunity to focus on developing successful community resources designed to prevent young people being detained in a youth justice facility and reduce the risk of them going further down the path of criminality.
The budget allocated to the BSS in 2025 is €2.1 million.
The BSS currently serves the Children Courts in Dublin, Limerick and Cork (Table 1 below refers). The scheme uses Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Janus Justice to support families of young people, who appear before the court and receive bail with conditions, to support adherence to these conditions prior to subsequent court appearances.
Following consultations with the Probation Service and other stakeholders, oversight of the Bail Supervision Scheme transferred to the Probation Service on 1 January 2026. The Probation Service already has vast experience in supervising individuals who come before the courts, and in supporting a number of Community Based Organisations in that regard.
Table 1: Bail Supervision Scheme 2025 - 2026 (1 Jan - 30 Jun)
|
Year |
2025 |
2026 (1 Jan-30 Jun) |
|
Location |
Dublin Limerick Cork |
Dublin Limerick Cork |
|
Number of young people/families |
78 |
78 |
567. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons who have been convicted under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 from 2019 to date in 2026, by year, in tabular form; the substances involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53356/26]
View answerThe management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a function of the courts.
To be of assistance I have referred this question to the Courts Service for their direct reply to the Deputy.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
569. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to give favourable consideration to a tourist visa appeal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53402/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the visa applications referred to have been refused. The reasons for these decisions were set out in the refusal letters sent to the applicants at that time. Appeals were submitted on 21 May 2026.
All visa applicants are advised that the responsibility is on them to provide as much information in support of their applications as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. People that carefully follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision.
It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order. Decisions will be issued to the applicants as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.
From 1st June 2026 the right of appeal for certain short stay (type C) visa refusals has been removed.
Under this change, applicants who are refused a short stay visa are no longer be able to appeal this decision. The measure applies to all short stay (C) visas, with the exception of applications made by third-country nationals who fall within the scope of the EU Free Movement Directive.
The people concerned can directly check the status of their visa appeals on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: 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.
570. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through his Department for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply; the purpose of each grant scheme; the eligibility criteria; the application process; the opening and closing dates for application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53421/26]
View answerMy Department provides funding to a range of organisations through funding schemes, grant programmes and financial supports. These organisations provide vital services in many areas across the justice sector including youth justice services, crime prevention, supporting victims of crime, migrant integration, and community safety.
Not all funding schemes administered by my Department run open calls for applications.
For example, funding for Youth Justice projects is generally provided on an ongoing basis to existing projects without the need to invite applications for funding. However, when new Youth Justice projects are being established, and following approval from the Minister of State, advertisements for expressions of interest are published to invite proposals from community and youth service organisations to establish new projects in the selected areas.
Similarly, each year, my Department provides funding to specific organisations that deliver support services to victims of crime. Under Budget 2026, €3.8 million was allocated to 10 specialist victim support organisations. The organisations funded include general victim support services, specialist organisations supporting particular categories of victims, and organisations providing dedicated services to victims of human trafficking. This funding supports the provision and development of services for victims of crime, including information on victims' rights, practical and emotional support, court accompaniment, advocacy and referral to other appropriate services.
Details of funding schemes administered by my Department which run open calls for applications and for which community groups are eligible to apply, are provided below.
Community Safety Fund
The Community Safety Fund (CSF) redirects proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána back into communities. Applications to the CSF are invited from community safety initiatives as well as groups co-funded with local authorities, NGOs and community organisations working on issues relevant to community safety and youth justice.
On 13 April 2026, I announced the opening of this year’s funding call of €4.75 million for the CSF. This is a significant increase since the initial allocation of €2 million in 2022. This call closed on 18 May 2026 and successful projects will be announced later this year.
In October 2025, I announced details of the 42 community projects which were funded under the CSF 2025 to a total of €4.4 million. Details of these projects are provided here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-jim-ocallaghan-announces-allocation-of-over-4-million-from-proceeds-of-crime-to-42-community-projects-across-the-country/
Ireland Against Racism Fund
The Ireland Against Racism Fund (IARF) provides funding for national and regional projects that aim to combat racism and foster racial equality and community cohesion. The Ireland Against Racism Fund supports the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism and the achievement of its objectives. Applications for the IARF are invited from NGOs and community organisations under 3 distinct streams based on project size and theme.
On 4 June 2026, my colleague Minister of State Colm Brophy, announced up to €1.4 million in funding under the 2026 Ireland Against Racism Fund. This funding call closed on 1 July 2026 and successful projects will be announced later this year.
In December 2025, it was announced that 37 community organisations were awarded funding under the IARF 2025. Details of these organisations are provided here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-of-state-colm-brophy-announces-37-projects-to-be-supported-under-the-ireland-against-racism-fund-2025/
Integration Fund
The Integration Fund supports communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants, with a specific focus on people seeking international protection. Funding is made available to organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, regional or local level.
The Fund combines two previously run funds – the International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) and the Communities Integration Fund (CIF). Since their inception, both funds have provided close to €10m in funding to over 1,000 projects across the country.
In November 2025, it was announced that 117 community-based projects would be awarded funding under the 2025 Fund. Details of these projects are provided here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/news/117-projects-to-be-funded-under-the-2025-integration-fund/
The next iteration of the Integration Fund is due to be announced in summer 2026.
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
My Department also operates a number of EU funding schemes related to migration and integration.
My Department is the Managing Authority of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and beneficiary of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Integration and Employment of Migrants Action (IEM).
The AMIF provides reception and integration supports to International Protection applicants, beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and other third-country nationals in Ireland. The Integration and Employment of Migrants (IEM) stream of the EIST 2021-2027 Programme is aimed at legally resident migrants who are experiencing barriers to participation and employment because of language difficulties, lack of training or social exclusion.
In February 2025, the 2025 AMIF Open Call for Proposals was announced by what was then the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth. One nationwide organisation, Spirasi, was awarded €1.5 million to provide rehabilitative services and other supports for survivors of torture residing in Ireland.
In July 2025, the 2025 ESF+ Open Call was announced by Minister of State Brophy. In December, it was announced that €2.7 million in funding had been awarded for 8 projects that will increase the employability of people who moved here as migrants. Details of these projects are provided here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-of-state-for-migration-colm-brophy-announces-funding-for-eight-projects-supporting-the-integration-and-employment-of-people-who-have-moved-here-as-migrants/
It is expected that the next open call for applications under the AMIF will be announced in Q3 2026.
572. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of queries received via the customer service portal on the immigration portal per month in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53534/26]
View answer573. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of queries answered via the customer service portal on the immigration portal per month in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53535/26]
View answer574. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average wait time for a query to be answered via the customer service portal on the immigration portal as of July 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53536/26]
View answer575. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the median wait time for a query to be answered via the customer service portal on the immigration portal as of July 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53538/26]
View answer576. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which a person can make urgent contact with the registration team via the immigration portal on the customer service portal, given the delays individuals can experience with responses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53539/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 572 to 576, inclusive, together.
In line with a Programme for Government commitment to significantly enhance the delivery of public services digitally, my Department introduced a centralised customer service unit, supported by a Digital Customer Service Portal, to offer a modern customer contact centre to immigration applicants.
The Customer Service Portal went live in October 2024, and is a self-service portal that enables applicants to check their immigration application status, book first-time registration appointments, and submit queries. The Customer Service Portal is now the primary avenue to communicate with my Department's immigration function which is committed to providing the best possible service to applicants.
If a person has any queries relating to their immigration permission, renewal application, or need to urgently contact the registration office, they can do so using the Customer Service Portal. The Customer Service Portal can be accessed at the following link: 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/
The table below details the total number of queries received and resolved across all categories by my Department through the Customer Service Portal each month so far in 2026.
|
Month |
Queries received |
Queries resolved |
|
January 2026 |
27,088 |
25,648 |
|
February 2026 |
25,505 |
22,332 |
|
March 2026 |
28,023 |
22,754 |
|
April 2026 |
25,600 |
27,852 |
|
May 2026 |
26,776 |
26,492 |
|
June 2026 |
30,821 |
31,276 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue; however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
As of 01 July 2026, the average response times for queries received in 2026 was 20.5 days, while the median response time was 12.5 days. Response times may vary due to the number of queries on hand, the complexity of the request, the time sensitivity of the query (e.g. emergency travel), and the information and/or documentation provided.
My Department continues to monitor customer experience and is committed to its continuous improvement. The functionality of all our online platforms are under constant review.
577. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of operators within the English language school sector in relation to the delays in processing visa applications for prospective students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53554/26]
View answer578. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding any engagement his Department has had with the English language school sector in relation to the delays in processing visa applications for prospective students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53555/26]
View answer579. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider facilitating a discussion forum with representatives from the English language school sector in relation to the delays in processing visa applications for prospective students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53556/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 577 to 579, inclusive, together.
It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based.
Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. These are important screening processes, designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system. Each visa application is assessed on its own merits, taking all relevant information into consideration at that time.
I can assure the Deputy that while processing times can vary across the different Visa Offices and Irish Embassies, the majority of visas are processed within stated target times. However, 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.
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.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office and the Overseas Visa Offices (including study visas) can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/. My Department does not collate student visa data by the type of course being undertaken.
The Department has no plans at this stage for any sector specific engagement on visa processing times along the lines suggested by the Deputy.
