Written Answers Nos. 126-145
128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if employer contributions to auto enrolment pension accounts will be exempt from PRSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34669/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The legislative basis for implementing the new system was enacted last July. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement savings. I recently announced the system, to be known by its brand name, 'My Future Fund', will commence from 1st January 2026.
Contributions into the retirement savings system will be made by the employee, the employer and the State. Calculated on the basis of the employee’s gross earnings, employee contributions will start at 1.5% for Years 1 to 3, to be matched by their employer. This will rise to 3% each in Years 4 to 6, and to 4.5% each in Years 7 to 9. From Year 10 onwards the maximum contribution rate of 6% from the employer and 6% from the employee will be applied. A direct State top-up will be contributed to participants' funds at the rate of €1 for every €3 the employee contributes.
Auto-enrolment contributions are calculated on the basis of the employee's gross pay and are deducted from the employee's net pay. Employer contributions to their employees' My Future Fund accounts are not treated as reckonable earnings for social insurance purposes and are therefore exempt from PRSI.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
129. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available from his Department to bereaved parents of children. [34682/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWithin the social welfare system, there are a number of supports for people who suffer a bereavement. In particular, there is an arrangement known as the six-weeks payment after death which allows for certain payments to continue to be made after a person dies.
If a person is in receipt of a primary social welfare payment which includes a child support payment and, tragically, that child dies, the child support payment will continue for six weeks after the child's death. In cases where an individual has been in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment and a child support payment, both payments will continue for six weeks after the death of that child.
In the case of Carer’s Allowance, payment continues to be made for twelve weeks after the death of the person who was being cared for, including where this was a child. Carer’s Benefit continues for six weeks. Domiciliary Care Allowance continues to be paid for three months after the death of the child being cared for.
Working Family Payment and the Back to Work Family Dividend also remain in payment for up to six weeks after the death of a qualifying child. Eligibility may continue beyond those six weeks if there are other children associated with the claim.
In addition, my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources.
An application can also be made under the scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses by the person who takes responsibility for those funeral arrangements and where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the applicant and/or the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department's standard operating procedures for dealing with bereaved parents of children; if staff training has been received or is regularly provided to personnel dealing with parents in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34683/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn administering over 140 schemes and services, the staff of my Department interact daily with a wide and diverse group of customers. This includes families, people in employment, unemployed people, people with illnesses and disabilities, carers, older people and employers. I believe it is crucial that my officials act with empathy and courtesy at all times.
My Department is acutely aware of the profound impact that the loss of a child has on parents and families. While we do not have a specific standard operating procedure solely for dealing with bereaved parents of children, all staff are guided by overarching principles of compassion, respect, and human dignity in their interactions with customers.
Customer service training is mandatory for all staff and includes guidance on recognising and responding sensitively to customers who may be experiencing grief, loss, or other emotional distress. This training ensures that staff are equipped with the skills and awareness needed to support individuals in vulnerable circumstances, including bereaved parents. The training highlights the importance of empathy, patience, and understanding, and encourages staff to take time to listen and respond appropriately to each customer’s needs.
The Department's Customer Charter, which is prominently displayed in our offices, commits staff to treating all customers with politeness, courtesy and respect. It promises that we will inform customers of their rights, entitlements, and responsibilities and direct customers to the service(s) or supports they need.
In our Code of Conduct for office interviews and the Code of Conduct for staff engaged in outdoor functions, staff are reminded that they should be mindful of any special circumstances that might apply to the person involved including personal issues. They are obliged to conduct the interview with consideration, sensitivity, understanding and empathy.
Certain front-line areas of my Department have also been provided with Trauma Informed Practice training, to develop staff capacity to deal with customers who have experienced trauma in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
My Department is currently working to provide a Quiet Room in a total of 55 Intreo Centres across the state. These rooms are specially designed to provide a sensory-friendly experience to help individuals feel calm and conduct their business with us easily and in private. They will be available for any customer who would benefit from additional privacy or a calmer, quiet environment including those who have suffered loss of a loved one, should they wish to use them.
Some payments may continue if a child dies, for example:
• If a child dependent of a social welfare recipient dies, the Child Support Payment (previously called an Increase for a Qualified Child or IQC) on the social welfare payment will continue for 6 weeks, if the child was included in the payment.
• Where there is one qualified child on a One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and that child dies, the OFP and Child Support Payment will continue for 6 weeks.
• Payment of Carer's Allowance (www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/carers/carers-allowance/) (full or half-rate) continues to be made for 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for. Payment of Carer's Benefit (www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/carers/carers-benefit/)continues to be made for 6 weeks after the death of the person being cared for.
• Domiciliary Care Allowance continues to be paid for 3 months in cases where the child being cared for has died.
Support towards funeral costs is also available if a person or family is unable to cover the essential costs of funeral arrangements. In such circumstances an application may be made for an Additional Needs Payment to the Community Welfare Service of my Department.
I am committed to maintaining a supportive and respectful environment for all customers, especially those who are grieving. I believe that treating people with kindness and respect is fundamental to delivering effective public services, and this ethos is reinforced through the ongoing staff training and development of my Department. People who are grieving, and particularly those who have lost a child, can be assured that they will be treated with empathy and dignity and assisted in receiving all of the appropriate supports my Department can offer.
131. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34796/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 15 April 2025.
As the records held by my department did not match the employment history provided by the person concerned on their pension application, their case has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to examine the matter further. An interview will be scheduled with the person concerned to progress the review.
In the meantime, I have arranged for an interim decision to issue to the person concerned based on the contribution history held by my Department. A letter issued to the person concerned on 24 June 2025 to advise that they qualify for €255.40 per week or 88.25% of the maximum rate of State pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday. The first weekly payment plus arrears due will issue on Friday 27 June 2025.
On receipt of the report from the Social Welfare Inspector, a review of their pension entitlement will be completed and a final decision letter will issue to the person concerned.
132. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection the options that may be available to a person (details supplied) to rectify an historical recording error regarding an alleged period of missed contributions towards social insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34797/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person’s PRSI contribution record is of vital importance for determining current and future entitlement to Social Welfare Benefits, these records are maintained by the Client Eligibility Section of my department. If an individual believes any information on their PRSI contribution record is incorrect or incomplete, they must report this matter to the Client Eligibility Section who will complete a thorough investigation to make a determination which may include amending an individual’s PRSI record.
With regard to the PRSI contribution record for the individual mentioned the Client Eligibility Section were contacted by the State Pensions Contributory Section in Sligo on the 6th February 2025 regarding a gap in her social insurance record for periods where the individual had indicated on her pension application form that she had been working.
To date the Client Eligibility Section has completed various checks of the contribution records held on our system and requested the Revenue Commissioners complete searches of their systems also; as a result of these searches one of the missing years has been located and updated to the individual’s PRSI contribution record. The Client Eligibility Section has also been in contact with the customer by phone and by letter requesting additional information to assist us in tracing any other PRSI contribution records or files for her.
A reply from the customer was received on the 31st March which included a completed questionnaire regarding her work history during the period under investigation, this questionnaire has been examined but unfortunately we have not been able to identify any additional contributions based on its contents.
The details of the questionnaire have now been forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector who will in turn interview the individual, who will be asked further questions regarding her work history during the periods in question to determine if further evidence of insurable work can be ascertained; once that interview has occurred the inspector will forward a report with recommendations to the Client Eligibility Section for consideration. We do not currently have a timeframe for when we can expect to receive a completed Social Welfare Inspector's report. However, once received it will be actioned immediately and the customer will be informed of the outcome.
133. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people approaching the State pension age of 66 years within the remainder of 2025 who do not have the required social insurance contribution record to qualify for the State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34798/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s officials have estimated that approximately 3,800 individuals approaching the State Pension Age of 66 years within the remainder of 2025 do not have the required social insurance contribution record to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). The figure for all of those attaining State Pension Age in 2025 is just over 8,000.
The data my Department holds includes large numbers of individuals with fewer than 10 years of paid social insurance contributions, of whom many will no longer reside in the State. Therefore, to focus on those likely to be still resident in the State, my Department's officials have restricted the results to individuals who have had a social insurance record or who have been in receipt of a payment from the Department since 2019.
Furthermore, the figures above exclude those already receiving Widow/er's/Surviving Civil Partner Contributory Pension or Invalidity Pension or individuals with greater than 10 years modified rate social insurance contributions. These individuals are likely to have a pension payment from this Department or another public service body.
With reference to the full-year figure of 8,000:
• Approximately 4,000 total individuals who do not qualify at State Pension Age for State Pension (Contributory) each year will receive the State Pension (Non-Contributory) or an Increase for Qualified Adult payment. On this point, circa 2,000 individuals have zero weeks of full-rate paid contributions.
• Approximately 2,800 individuals who do not attain 10 years' paid contributions at State Pension Age each year will receive a pro-rata contributory pension when their record is combined with periods working overseas or as a modified contributor (pre 1995 public servant)
The Deputy may also wish to note the following:
• Data for self-employed contributors for 2024 will be incomplete until filings for that year are complete.
• The figures refer to those who qualify for State Pension (Contributory) by month of attaining age 66 (rather than by the year in which the claim is awarded).
• The data was extracted effective the end of May 2025.
As the actuarial value of the State Pension(Contributory) is currently estimated at approximately €385,000, I believe it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the term a 40-50 year working life, before qualifying for a payment. For those who do not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (Non-contributory) or be eligible for an increase for qualified adult payment if their spouse or partner is in receipt of a State Pension (Contributory).
134. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the case of an Afghan national (details supplied) with family in Ireland; the actions he will take to support their safe passage out of Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34673/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 28 May 2024. The application and supporting documentation was received in the Tehran office on 26 June 2024. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 12 July 2024 where it awaits examination and processing.
My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
While I acknowledge the personal difficulties an applicant might be experiencing, it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt.
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, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
I am acutely aware that join family applications are very important for the persons impacted. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: www.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.
135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 442 of 27 May 2025, to advise which application form is needed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34598/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation.
I can advise the Deputy that citizens of the Palestinian National Authority are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State. Any visa required national that wishes to reside in the State for longer than 90 days must have a Type D Long Stay Visa.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:
www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.
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.
136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will intervene in the case of an injured individual (details supplied) in Gaza awaiting approval of his visa to ensure his safety. [34652/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that officials from my Department have contacted the Deputy directly and the matter is being examined.
137. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 662 of 20 May 2025, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order for this PQ to be answered. [34723/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities, based on information received as of 10 June 2025, that the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau reports that a total of 49 new official Garda mountain bikes were allocated to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) in 2024 and to date in 2025.
The breakdown of these figures is set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Bikes Allocated |
Bikes Withdrawn |
|
2024 |
17 |
7 |
|
2025 |
32 |
17 |
|
Total |
49 |
24 |
I am further advised that the allocation and withdrawal of Garda mountain bikes are subject to ongoing operational assessments and the condition of equipment in use.
138. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of bench warrants outstanding in the Donegal division as of 18 June 2025. [34724/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am assured that An Garda Síochána execute warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes.
The execution of warrants, including bench warrants, can be impeded by persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a bench warrant does not expire and is only removed from the PULSE system when cancelled by the Court. Local management in An Garda Síochána monitor the number of warrants (including bench warrants) under their area of responsibility.
Applications may be made by An Garda Síochána to the court to cancel bench warrants following consideration of a number of factors, including: an error on the warrant, the death of the defendant, previous failed attempts to execute the warrant, the age of the warrant or evidence that there is now an inability to prosecute the substantive charge.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of outstanding bench warrants in the Donegal Division as of 18 June 2025 is 1,419.
The figures are operational and may be liable to change.
139. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the age profile of the Garda fleet within the DMR north division, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34725/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by An Garda Síochána that the current age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet within the DMR North division is broken down in the table below:
|
Fleet Age Profile |
No. of vehicles |
|
Less than 1 year |
8 |
|
1 – 2 years |
4 |
|
2 – 4 years |
17 |
|
4 – 6 years |
40 |
|
6 + years |
46 |
The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.
An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown. I note the monthly Fleet reports are currently available from 2020 to May 2025. This is publicly available on their website at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
140. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 659 of 20 May 2025, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order for this PQ to be answered.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34726/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 659 of 20 May 2025 sought: "the number of Gardaí within Dublin metropolitan region that have been trained in the use of Garda command and control vehicles, in 2024 and to-date in 2025; and the duration of these courses, in tabular form."
As outlined to you in the response issued by my office of 17 June 2025, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational policing matters such as the training of Garda members. As Minister I have no role in this process and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that training in the use of Garda Command and Control vehicles is provided on a needs basis. College records indicate that 36 Gardaí in the DMR have been trained to use Command and Control vehicles and there was no training in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) during the time frames specified.
The duration of this training is normally five days.
141. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the age profile of the Garda fleet within the Sligo-Leitrim division, in tabular form. [34727/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Garda authorities that the current age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet within the Sligo-Leitrim division is broken down in the table below:
|
Fleet Age Profile |
No. of vehicles |
|
Less than 1 year |
13 |
|
1 – 2 years |
8 |
|
2 – 4 years |
7 |
|
4 – 6 years |
23 |
|
6 + years |
20 |
The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown. I note the monthly Fleet reports are currently available from 2020 to May 2025. This is publicly available on their website at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
142. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider extending the right to citizenship to great-grandchildren of Irish citizens, without the need for their parent to have attained citizenship before they were born.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34779/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy’s question refers to people born outside the State, whose great-grandparent was born on the island of Ireland. Neither parents or grandparents were born on the island of Ireland.
A person can become an Irish citizen if one of their parents was an Irish citizen at the time of their birth, even though they were not born on the island of Ireland, or through an Irish national grandparent born in Ireland.
In such cases, a person can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration. Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and entitled to apply for an Irish passport and do not need to apply for naturalisation.
The Foreign Births Register is the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Further information is available at the following link: www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/
There is no provision for a person to become an Irish citizen solely through a great-grandparent who was an Irish-born citizen.
The only other means to obtain Irish citizenship is in accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals, where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available on my Department’s Immigration website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
I can inform the Deputy that I have no plans to introduce any new pathways to Irish citizenship.
143. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to reform the family court system to improve the enforcement of child maintenance orders, including the use of wage attachment mechanisms, in light of ongoing issues with non-payment and inconsistent enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34850/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, completed by officials in my Department, was published on 8 January 2024. It was one of the actions contained in the “Supporting Children” goal of the Family Justice Strategy. The Review made 26 recommendations focused on generating maximum compliance with child maintenance orders, to ensure security and stability for children and to aid poverty prevention.
The recommendations, while mainly focused on strengthening provisions for court enforcement of child maintenance orders, also identified ways to encourage voluntary payment and to assist people to make private arrangements. They focus on improving the way in which maintenance is agreed/ordered, the way in which payment is encouraged, the means by which default can be avoided and greater mechanisms for enforcement.
The key recommendations of the review include:
• Development of a set of child maintenance guidelines.
• Introduction of mandatory mediation information sessions.
• Strengthening attachment of earnings orders and exploring the possibility of attaching an order to a PPS number rather than employing entities, so that orders do not lapse when there is a change in employer.
• Introduction of a single enforcement procedure when the receiving parent makes an enforcement application, allowing the judge to choose the most appropriate enforcement option based on the circumstances of the case.
• Simplification of the bench warrant process.
• Placing the onus on paying parents to pay costs associated with enforcement proceedings.
• Allowing for deductions from social welfare, the paying parent’s bank accounts, from government grants and subsidies and allowing for the recovery of arrears from tax refunds.
The Programme for Government has committed to enhancing the enforcement mechanisms for Child Maintenance orders to ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents. Building on the Review’s recommendations, consideration of legislative amendments to give effect to the Programme’s commitment is under way.
Further to the Review, an interdepartmental group (“The Child Maintenance Guidelines Committee”) was established in February 2024 to develop a set of child maintenance guidelines for use by all parties on a voluntary basis when putting child maintenance arrangements in place, along with an online calculator to help determine fair child maintenance payments. These guidelines will be a voluntary tool for both parents, and the judiciary. It is hoped that the use of the guidelines by the judiciary will over time further increase consistency and transparency in child maintenance orders.
The Child Maintenance Guidelines Committee has recently conducted a consultation through a survey to get the public's views on important aspects of the guidelines before they are finalised. Once the findings are considered and guidelines finalised, they will be submitted for my consideration.
It is intended that the guidelines will be accompanied by an online calculator and easy-to-use guide for parents.
144. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department is engaged in any negotiations, planning, or contractual arrangements for the use of the Old Rectory site in Glanmire, County Cork, as a location for an IPAS centre or for the accommodation of international protection applicants; if so, when this site was identified; the proposed capacity and timeline; whether local representatives and the community have been informed or consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34860/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) has not received an offer of accommodation at this site and is not examining it for use as international protection accommodation.
145. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average rate per bed per day paid for accommodation in IPAS accommodation in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34903/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the lowest rate per bed per day paid for accommodation in IPAS accommodation in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34904/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the highest rate per bed per day paid for accommodation in IPAS accommodation in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34905/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 146 and 147 together.
Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law.
The State is providing accommodation to almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection, in over 320 centres nationwide.
Over 90% of this accommodation is commercially provided at this time, and the State is actively working to shift this balance away from commercial accommodation, toward more State-owned provision.
IPAS accommodation provision is demand-led, and the numbers of residents changes daily, as people arrive and depart according to their circumstances.
In circumstances where the Department is actively negotiating contracts for international protection, the matter of the current average, and the lowest and highest per night rate is considered commercially sensitive, and not in the public interest to disclose.
This is to allow my Department to maintain its negotiating position and attain value in the contracting and contract renewal process.
The average cost of accommodating a person in international protection accommodation centres, including State-owned and commercial accommodation from 2020 to 2024 is set out in the table below. This includes all accommodation and ancillary costs such as facilities management and other related expenditure.
The average cost per night fluctuates due to changes in the number of residents and accommodation centres.
In the table below, an average cost figure per resident per night has been provided for each year by a “point-in-time” average. This is calculated by the total cost in each year, divided by the total number of residents at 31st December in each year, and is indicative only.
All IPAS Accommodation - Average Cost 2020 to 2024
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Average |
€72 |
€72 |
€50 |
€68 |
€84 |
