Written Answers Nos. 104-123
104. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department have provided advice to local authorities to limit the provision of emergency accommodation to those not in full time employment. [69317/26]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. Decisions on the assessment of households for homeless services, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter for the local authority concerned.
Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household. Any household assessed as homeless may be placed into homeless accommodation. This applies to all households regardless of their employment status.
My Department has not issued advice to local authorities in relation to limiting the provision of homeless accommodation to those in full time employment.
105. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has been made aware of the concurrent Strategic Policy Committee membership and planning-applicant status (details supplied), during the preparation and adoption of the Naas Local Area Plan 2021–2027; whether the Department has sought any records from Kildare County Council in respect of Section 177 of the Local Government Act 2001 compliance during that period; his plans including any review under Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, in respect of the Plan and its dependent planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69355/26]
View answerThe Department does not hold or seek details of membership of local authority Strategic Policy Committees; this is a matter for the individual local authority.
The ethical framework that applies to members of committees of a local authority is provided for under Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct published under that Act. The Code of Conduct gives guidance in relation to the standards of conduct required of member of a committee of a local authority. Legal responsibility for compliance with these requirements rests with each individual member.
Where a possible contravention of the ethical framework by a member of a committee arises, this should be brought to the attention of the local authority’s Ethics Registrar. When the Ethics Registrar becomes aware of a possible contravention of the ethical framework by a member, he or she has a duty to bring this to the attention of the Chief Executive. Following this, the Chief Executive must consider what action should be taken. That action may include, among other things, investigative or disciplinary procedures which may be exercised within the legal framework, including referral of the matter to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) for further investigation.
106. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value of purchases of residential property by non-household entities in each of the years 2021 to 2025, distinguishing entities registered in the State from those registered outside of the State and excluding local authorities, approved housing bodies and other public bodies, in tabular form. [69211/26]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes data in respect of residential property transactions by non-households, including breakdowns by geographic area of registration and the sectors of the non-household entities. These entities include private companies, charitable organisations and state institutions. The latest data available are for 2025 and can be accessed on the CSO website at https://data.cso.ie/table/HPA11 and https://data.cso.ie/table/HPA12.
Non-household entities have important roles in the housing system. In addition to direct delivery, State entities may also purchase housing developments for social and affordable housing. In such instances, the presence of a single purchaser for the development often means that the developer can proceed with the construction of new housing through partnership agreements with State entities, which they would not have otherwise been able to develop. In some cases involving large scale developments, such investment from the State can enable the development of private housing within the same development site.
Similarly, private investors play a key role in the private rental sector by providing the up-front capital for the development of apartments for private rent, which could not be developed in the absence of a large investor. In recognition of the need for private investment to contribute to the overall delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030, Delivering Homes, Building Communities commits to achieving a stable and predictable policy to attract and retain greater levels of private investment. Much of the private investment at the scale required is only available from international investors.
Facilitating private investment, including from international sources, and promoting partnership between the public and private sectors to increase the supply of new housing across all tenures, including social and private, are among the key enablers outlined in Delivering Homes, Building Communities to delivering 300,000 new homes by 2030.
107. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. PQ61112/26 and 139 of 28 July 2026, if his attention has been drawn to Central Statistics Office data that only 15% of new dwellings completed since 2021 have been fitted with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels; his concerns that the current Part L and NZEB requirements can be satisfied without the installation of on-site renewable electricity generation; if he will consider amending the requirements to increase the uptake of solar PV in new homes at the construction stage when installation costs are lowest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69133/26]
View answerIreland’s Building Regulations set out the legal requirements for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings, material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The minimum performance requirements are set out in the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations, classified as Parts A to M. They are performance based and technology neutral.
A minimum renewable energy ratio (RER) for all new dwellings in all residential developments regardless of size is required and include solar energy or alternative renewable energy technologies.
The primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings.
Changes in Building Regulations in Ireland in the past 20 years have led to healthier dwellings being constructed today that are overall energy efficient, emit significantly less carbon emissions and use more energy from renewable sources.
109. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department will take to ensure that people living with pulmonary fibrosis have access to appropriate financial supports, including supports with healthcare and household energy costs, given the financial hardship and risk of poverty experienced by many patients. [69019/26]
View answerMy Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability, including Disability Allowance, Partial Capacity Benefit, and Invalidity Pension. It’s important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which it impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Every application for the Department’s schemes are individually assessed, based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant.
With regards to household energy costs, the Household Benefits package and Fuel Allowance payment provides much needed assistance to qualifying household with their energy costs. Both schemes are specifically targeted at vulnerable cohorts such as people with disabilities.
Households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment may also qualify for the Warm Homes Scheme which provides fully funded energy upgrades to homeowners resulting in reduced energy bills.
The Free Travel Scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme and ensure older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community by providing access to existing public and private transport routes.
As part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. My department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.
I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that these benefits continue to target vulnerable cohorts. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
110. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will examine whether appropriate supports are in place for cancer patients in view of the recent report by the Irish Cancer Society showing income loss and significant costs incurred by patients. [69097/26]
View answerI fully understand the financial challenges associated with such a diagnosis and I recently met with the Irish Cancer Society to discuss their recent report and the supports that my Department can provide.
My Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability, including Disability Allowance, Partial Capacity Benefit, and Invalidity Pension. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which it impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Every application for the Department’s schemes are individually assessed, based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the customer.
With regards to household energy costs, the Household Benefits package and Fuel Allowance payment provide much needed assistance to qualifying household with their energy costs. The qualifying conditions for these schemes are designed to ensure that those who qualify for the schemes are more vulnerable to energy poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
It is important to note that Additional Needs Payments are available through my Department for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources, including people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. In addition, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Heating Supplement can be paid throughout the full year and not just for the Fuel Allowance season.
111. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person in County Kildare (details supplied) was refused back to education allowance. [69184/26]
View answerMy Department administers the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), which provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments who undertake full-time courses of education at Further or Higher Level. The focus of the scheme is to assist people to improve their qualifications and as a result, improve their access to sustainable employment.
To qualify for BTEA, a person must satisfy a number of conditions, including the relevant age requirement, receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for the required period, and commencement of the first year of an eligible full-time course of study.
The person concerned applied for BTEA, but their application was disallowed on the basis that they had already completed the first year of the course before applying for the allowance and therefore did not meet the requirement to be commencing the first year of the course. In addition, the person did not meet the applicable age requirement for BTEA.
An official from my Department has contacted the person concerned to discuss their circumstances and to explore the options available to them.
The Higher Education Authority provides information on alternative sources of financial support that may be available to students, including Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Eligibility for SUSI support is subject to its own criteria.
112. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of fuel allowance aged 66 or over at the end of each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 and at the latest date available in 2026, by age band 66 to 69, 70 to 79 and 80 and over, in tabular form; the number of applications from persons aged 66 or over refused on means in each of those years; and the number of such refusals in which assessable means exceeded the limit by €50 a week or less. [69197/26]
View answerFuel Allowance is a means-tested payment designed to assist eligible households with the cost of home heating during the winter season. The number of Fuel Allowance recipients aged 66 years and over at the end of each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 by age band, is set out in the table below. Fuel Allowance payments will begin issuing this week, with 465,000 households expected to benefit. Some 233,000 Fuel Allowance payments are expected to be made to persons aged 66 or older.
Table 1: Fuel Allowance recipients aged 66 years and over
|
Age Band |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
66-69 |
30,867 |
31,665 |
37,259 |
|
70-79 |
110,232 |
114,461 |
118,350 |
|
80+ |
91,348 |
85,605 |
79,719 |
The number of Fuel Allowance applications refused in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 is set out in the table below. Information for 2026 is not currently available. The Department is unable to provide a breakdown of refusals by age or by reason for refusal.
Table 2: Fuel Allowance applications refused
|
Year |
Refused Applications |
|
2023 |
11,486 |
|
2024 |
11,070 |
|
2025 |
12,099 |
113. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the fuel allowance weekly income limit for persons aged 66 or over by €25, €50 and €100 for a single person, with the corresponding increase for couples; and the estimated full-year cost of introducing a tapered rate of fuel allowance for persons whose means exceed the limit by up to €100 a week. [69198/26]
View answerFuel Allowance eligibility encompasses 22 qualifying schemes, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the support available to eligible households. In addition to these qualifying schemes, people over 66 do not need to be in receipt of a payment from this Department to qualify for Fuel Allowance, subject to satisfying the means test. According to the latest CSO data, there are just over 1.8 million households in Ireland. Of these, 463,910 households are eligible for the Fuel Allowance scheme, representing approximately 26% of all households nationwide.
Taking account of the fact that the Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment and that qualification is not just based on the means test but on a number of other qualifying criteria such as household composition, it is not possible for my Department to provide an accurate projection of the potential cost of the measures outlined by the Deputy. Also, my Department does not maintain records across all schemes of the amount by which unsuccessful Fuel Allowance applicants are over the income threshold.
The provision of any additional supports would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
114. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of telephone support allowance; the expenditure on the allowance in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the number of recipients of the household benefits package aged 70 or over who do not receive telephone support allowance; and the estimated full-year cost of extending telephone support allowance at the current rate to all recipients of the household benefits package aged 70 or over, and separately to all free travel pass holders aged 66 or over. [69199/26]
View answerAs of the end of August 2026, there were 164,854 recipients of Telephone Support Allowance.
Of the 393,730 recipients of Household Benefits who were aged 70 or over, there were 296,800 who were not recipients of Telephone Support Allowance.
Expenditure (in millions of €) on Telephone Support Allowance for the years 2021 to 2025 is provided below. Expenditure for 2026 is not yet available.
|
- |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Expenditure (€million) |
18.12 |
18.38 |
19.95 |
20.73 |
21.25 |
The estimated full-year cost of extending Telephone Support Allowance at the current rate to all recipients of the household benefits package aged 70 or over would be €36.18 million.
The estimated full-year cost of extending telephone support allowance at the current rate to all free travel pass holders aged 66 or over would be €93.43 million.
115. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has reviewed the requirement that a person receive both the living alone increase and fuel allowance to qualify for telephone support allowance; whether the weekly income limit for fuel allowance for persons aged 66 or over will be increased in line with any increase in the State pension, so that pension increases do not remove entitlement; and whether these measures will be considered in the context of Budget 2027. [69200/26]
View answerThe primary objective of the Telephone Support Allowance is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. Therefore, the criteria for the allowance was framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible.
People who live alone would be considered amongst those most at risk of social isolation, and this payment, along with the Living Alone Increase are also in part a recognition of the greater challenges facing those living alone in avoiding poverty.
I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that this benefit continues to target vulnerable cohorts. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
With regards to increases in the State Pension and the weekly income limits for fuel allowance for persons aged 66, the Government will finalise it's consideration of the Budget in the coming days having regard to all of its commitments. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
116. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review social welfare income and eligibility thresholds for people who are medically certified as unfit to work due to severe long-term illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, with a view to ensuring they are not excluded from necessary financial supports. [69235/26]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. These include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance contributions, for example Invalidity Pension and means-tested social assistance schemes, for example Disability Allowance.
Eligibility for the Department's income supports is not dependent on the type or category of illness or disability. Rather, entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and who are covered by PRSI contributions. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work. A person must satisfy both medical and social insurance conditions.
Disability Allowance is a payment for people who are aged between 16 and 66 with an injury, disease or disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable. The payment is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement.
All applications for the Department's income support schemes are individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. The assessment is based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant and takes into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
117. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing a permanent weekly cost of disability payment to assist people with disabilities in meeting unavoidable additional costs, including therapies, supplements, transport and specialist footwear. [69234/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability payment.
In addition, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, includes a commitment to a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, emphasising the cross-government nature of the issue.
A public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered was launched on Friday, February 20th and ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday April 7th.
The over 1,100 submissions helped inform the agenda for the Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, which I hosted in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May. It was attended by 150 people in person, with approximately the same number joining online.
The Summit was also attended by members of the Oireachtas together with senior Government Ministers including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport. This attendance indicates that the delivery of a solution will involve a range of Departments and agencies.
This whole of government approach is important as addressing these costs is not simply a matter of income supports alone. Improvements in the delivery of, and access to, key services are also needed.
At the Summit, we heard about the lived experience of disabled people and about the unavoidable costs which they incur and the impact this has on their daily lives. On 16 July, I presented a briefing paper on the Summit to the Strategy's Delivery and Monitoring Committee which is chaired by the Taoiseach, and attended by other Government Ministers as well as Disabled Person's Organisations and representatives of Civil Society Groups.
In addition, a specific workshop on disability matters was hosted as part of the National Economic Dialogue and I hosted the Pre-Budget Forum on 1 July where we had a session on issues relating to disability and caring.
All of these engagements together with submissions to the consultation process and the output of the Strategic Focus Network are informing the approach that we, across Government, are taking in Budget 2027.
Options in relation to a cost of disability payment and any possible eligibility criteria are being considered in the context of the Budget process.
The costs of therapies, transport and supplements are matters for my colleagues, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Health, respectively.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason habitual residency requirements are invoked for an Irish person working abroad and who has to return home at short notice due to illness or change of family circumstances pertaining to the returning person themselves or other family members and may delay processing and approval of a legitimate social protection claim. [69293/26]
View answerThe Habitual Residence Condition (HRC) was introduced for certain social assistance schemes and Child Benefit in May 2004. bUnder the relevant legislative provisions, HRC is a qualifying condition for the following social welfare payments and must be satisfied by all applicants of these schemes, irrespective of nationality.
• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance
• Child Benefit*
• Disability Allowance
• Domiciliary Care Allowance*
• Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) *
• Jobseekers Allowance
• One-Parent Family Payment*
• State Pension (Non-Contributory)
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance other than once off exceptional needs/urgent needs payments**
• Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension.
Where HRC is a requirement for a scheme, a HRC assessment is carried out at the start of the claim. The assessment consists of two parts, firstly a person must have a right to reside in the State and secondly, sufficient evidence of their centre of interest being in Ireland.
In assessing whether a person’s centre of interest is in Ireland, consideration is given to their previous attachment to the State and to five statutory factors: residence history; the length and purpose of any absences; the nature and pattern of employment; the person’s main centre of interest; and their future intentions.
An Irish citizen who has lived in Ireland throughout their life will generally be regarded as satisfying the HRC without the need for a separate HRC form or assessment. However, where an Irish citizen, or a person of any other nationality, returns to the State following a period of residence abroad and applies for a payment to which the condition applies, a HRC form and assessment may be required, having regard to the length of their absence.
I trust this clarifies the Deputy's question. If the Deputy would like to forward the specific details of the case to my Department, my officials will follow up accordingly.
119. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the ongoing practice of checking the military documents of men and women trying to obtain protection in Ireland, and refusing those who cannot provide them; the justification of the practice; and if he will instruct his Department to end it. [68986/26]
View answerAn extension of Temporary Protection until 04 March 2028 has been agreed by the Council of the European Union. This provides continued certainty for people displaced from Ukraine who are already benefiting from Temporary Protection in Ireland. Existing beneficiaries will continue to have access to the rights associated with Temporary Protection, including access to employment and education, for the duration of the protection.
Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 also introduced a new eligibility requirement for Temporary Protection. Article 2 of the Decision provides that, without prejudice to Union law and fundamental rights, Temporary Protection shall only be granted to persons who satisfy their military obligations in Ukraine, upon presenting proof where applicable.
Following a corrigendum published in the Official Journal of the European Union, this requirement applies from 05 August 2026. It does not apply to persons who were already enjoying Temporary Protection in a Member State on or before 04 August 2026 and who have continuously retained that status in that Member State. In Ireland, new applicants for Temporary Protection from 05 August 2026 are therefore required to demonstrate that they were authorised under Ukrainian law to leave the territory of Ukraine. Applicants are asked to provide appropriate evidence to establish that they satisfy the applicable requirements. Where an applicant is unable to provide sufficient evidence, they may not be eligible for Temporary Protection.
The requirement applies to new applicants irrespective of gender, where military obligations under Ukrainian law are applicable to the individual concerned. It should not be understood as a general requirement that every applicant produce a particular military document. The relevant consideration is whether the applicant satisfies any military obligations applicable to them under Ukrainian law and, where applicable, can provide sufficient evidence of this.
The measure was adopted at EU level as part of the Decision extending Temporary Protection. The Council stated that, while continuing to provide protection to people displaced from Ukraine, account should also be taken of Ukraine’s defence needs and its ability to defend itself against Russia’s war of aggression.
The Department is implementing the requirements of Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912. Decisions on individual applications are made having regard to the circumstances and evidence presented in each case.
Accordingly, I do not propose to instruct my Department to cease applying the requirement contained in Article 2 of Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912.
120. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure on the accommodation recognition payment scheme for each month since its introduction, in tabular form. [68985/26]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €400 available to those providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. The monthly payment rate is €400 per eligible property from 1 September 2026. As the payment is made in arrears, the first payment at the rate of €400 will issue to recipients on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
Since the scheme launched in July 2022 to 25 September 2026, over €536m has been paid to over 29,500 recipients in respect of hosting almost 68,000 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 20 September 2026, over 16,500 hosts are accommodating over 39,000 people granted temporary protection in almost 20,000 properties supported by the ARP.
The table below provides the total expenditure on the ARP scheme for each month since the scheme’s introduction.
|
|
2022 (m) |
2023 (m) |
2024 (m) |
2025 (m) |
2026 (m) |
|
Jan |
|
3.8 |
8.8 |
15.9 |
14.6 |
|
Feb |
|
4.2 |
9.1 |
16.4 |
14.2 |
|
Mar |
|
4.7 |
9.4 |
17.0 |
14.4 |
|
Apr |
|
5.1 |
10.3 |
17.4 |
14.4 |
|
May |
|
5.4 |
10.8 |
17.6 |
14.2 |
|
Jun |
|
5.6 |
11.2 |
18.1 |
14.2 |
|
Jul |
|
5.9 |
11.8 |
13.8 |
14.0 |
|
Aug |
3.3 |
6.3 |
12.5 |
13.7 |
13.7 |
|
Sep |
1.8 |
6.7 |
13.1 |
13.9 |
13.4 |
|
Oct |
1.5 |
7.1 |
13.8 |
14.1 |
|
|
Nov |
1.9 |
7.7 |
14.8 |
14.2 |
|
|
Dec |
1.8 |
8.1 |
15.3 |
14.3 |
|
|
Total |
10.38 |
70.6 |
140.9 |
186.4 |
127.1 |
121. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to detail the financial and other resources, provided by his Department to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years 2023 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69109/26]
View answerCuan, the State Agency for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, was established by my Department in January 2024. One of the agency’s core functions is coordinating and monitoring the development and delivery of services to victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). The agency administrates funding under Section 40 of the DSGBV Act to a number of services, including Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI). My Department provided budgetary support to RCI prior to the establishment of Cuan, through Victims of Crime Funding. Details of funding for the years requested are outlined below.
• 2023: €112,444
• 2024: €272,050
• 2025: €255,125.97
• 2026: €262,539
I am informed by Cuan that its funding supports RCI in providing some direct services to victim survivors of sexual violence, however the main focus of RCI’s work is policy, advocacy and training which is carried out on behalf of member rape crisis centres, and the sector as a whole. RCI has also developed a custom data system for use in the sexual violence support sector which they service and maintain.
Cuan engages with RCI on a regular basis to provide support, and to engage in monitoring which allows the service to demonstrate outcomes and identifies areas for potential future investment.
122. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to detail the financial and other resources, provided by his Department to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years 2023 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69108/26]
View answerAs Minister for Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, I am committed to ensuring that the Justice sector has the resources it needs and Government is continuing to invest in the agencies that support this goal, including Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).
Forensic Science Ireland provides a scientific service to the Criminal Justice system by analysing samples submitted from crime scenes and providing expert evidence in criminal trials. FSI employs a range of both scientific and non-scientific staff.
Forensic Scientist grades are trained in forensic testing and reporting techniques, supported by a team of Laboratory Analysts, ICT, and administrative professionals working from their state-of-the-art, purpose-built laboratory in Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
Detailed information on the financial resources provided to Forensic Science Ireland in 2023, 2024 and 2025 is available in the Vote 24 Justice Appropriation Accounts for those years. These accounts include the annual allocation and expenditure for Subhead A.21 (Forensic Science Ireland) as well as related information on capital expenditure, inventories, prepayments and accrued expenses. Appropriation Accounts for the years requested are published by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General on their website at the following link: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation-accounts/.
123. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the 2024 report commissioned by his Department, entitled ‘A Review of the Processing of Sexual Offences in Ireland: Stakeholder Experiences’, the steps he has taken to address the under-resourcing of the criminal justice system identified in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69105/26]
View answer124. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the 2024 report commissioned by his Department, entitled ‘A Review of the Processing of Sexual Offences in Ireland: Stakeholder Experiences’, his views of the finding that under-resourcing in the criminal justice system was the primary cause of adjournments, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69104/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
The report, A Review of the Processing of Sexual Offences in Ireland: Stakeholder Experiences, which was commissioned by my Department and published in June 2024, provides an important evidence base regarding factors contributing to delays in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences, including concerns raised by stakeholders regarding resourcing across elements of the criminal justice system.
While operational responsibility for the delivery of criminal justice services rests with a range of independent agencies, including An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Government remains committed to ensuring that those bodies are appropriately supported to carry out their functions.
In 2022, my Department published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 2022-2026. This five-year Strategy outlines a whole-of-Government response to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is based on the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination. Cuan was established in 2024 and drives a coordinated whole-of-government approach to improving outcomes for victims and strengthening the State's response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This action is supported by unprecedented funding of almost €80 million under Budget 2026, ensuring sustained support for vital frontline services.
As part of the Third National Strategy, significant investment has been provided across the justice sector in recent years to strengthen capacity, improve victim supports and reduce delays. This includes additional funding and personnel for An Garda Síochána, continued investment in the Courts Service and court infrastructure, and the ongoing expansion of specialist services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Work has now commenced on the development of the Fourth National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which will cover the five-year period 2027-2031. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is leading this process, supported by Cuan. The new Strategy will be informed by a review of progress to date to identify systemic challenges and analysis of new or emerging issues since publication of the current Strategy.
The Department and Cuan will continue to engage with stakeholders and implementing partners over the coming months in exploring specific themes and priorities to deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based national strategy and implementation plan to succeed the current framework.
The 2024 report is a significant contribution to a growing evidence base on stakeholder experiences, which highlights the importance of a whole-system approach to addressing delays. This research informs ongoing work by my Department, together with criminal justice agencies and other relevant stakeholders, to improve the handling of sexual offence cases and to support the objectives of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
While the causes of adjournments can vary from case to case, I recognise that ensuring criminal justice agencies are appropriately resourced is an important element in reducing delays, improving efficiency and maintaining confidence in the justice system for victims, witnesses and accused persons alike.
