Written Answers Nos. 107-126
107. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to reform the transition process from domiciliary care allowance to disability allowance, with a view to reducing the financial hardship experienced by families who no longer qualify for support due to the means test applied to disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52469/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra109. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing a non-means-tested payment or transitional support for young persons with disabilities who are no longer eligible for domiciliary care allowance and do not qualify for disability allowance due to household means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52471/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child.
Significant changes have been made to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment over the last number of Budgets. The period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from three months to six months. The payment can also now be made for babies who remain in hospital after birth for 18 months. During both these extended periods of eligibility and where other conditions are met, a carer may also receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and the Carer's Support Grant.
Disability Allowance is a means-tested income support payment for people aged 16 or over whose illness or disability means that they are substantially restricted from doing work that would be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications.
Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases when a child reaches 16 years of age. This aligns with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to have a disability that significantly impacts their daily life, they may apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own name. In such cases, the parent's means are not assessed in the means test.
If their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care, they may retain, or apply for Carer's Allowance of Carer's Benefit, even where Disability Allowance is not payable.
In addition, the annual Carer’s Support Grant is available to family carers providing full-time care and assistance, regardless of means. It is paid automatically to recipients of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other carers not in receipt of one of these payments may also qualify for a standalone grant. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for. This year the grant increased by €150 to €2,000, the highest rate since its introduction.
Any future reform of disability or carers payments, including Domiciliary Care Allowance, will be considered in the context of our commitments in the Programme for Government and the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
108. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families who lose all State support when their child turns 16 and domiciliary care allowance ends, due to not meeting the means test for disability allowance, in tabular form; the measures being considered to address this gap in support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52470/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government provides a broad range of income supports to carers. Key supports provided by my Department include Domiciliary Care Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, and the annual Carer’s Support Grant.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age.
Disability Allowance is a means-tested income support payment for people aged 16 or over whose illness or disability means that they are substantially restricted from doing work that would be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications.
The two schemes are designed for different purposes and have different eligibility criteria. As such, not satisfying the means test is not the only reason why someone in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance had been in payment is not eligible for Disability Allowance on turning 16. It is worth noting that the parent’s income is not assessed in the means test for Disability Allowance.
Statistics on claim processing are collated at scheme level, and it is not possible to provide breakdowns by individual claim characteristics such as reasons for refusal. However, the following information suggests that a significant proportion of those benefiting from Domiciliary Care Allowance at age 15 are in receipt of Disability Allowance the following year.
|
Number children aged 15 on Domiciliary Care Allowance |
Number still in receipt of a Domiciliary Care Allowance or Disability Allowance a year later |
|
5,619 |
3,008 |
These figures relate to the periods August 2024 and August 2025.
It is important to point out that where a child in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance was in payment turns 16 and is not eligible for Disability Allowance that does not represent a loss of all State support.
Where the child's carer was in receipt of a Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit in addition to the Domiciliary Care Allowance Payment, that payment will continue for as long as the qualifying conditions are met, even after the Domiciliary Care Allowance has ceased. In addition, as long as the carer is continuing to provide full-time care and attention, they will continue to be eligible for the annual Carer's Support Grant. This now stands at €2,000 - its highest ever level.
In addition, Child Benefit continues to be payable until a child's 19th birthday where they are in full time education or have a disability.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
110. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on an application for carers allowance (details supplied); if he will expedite same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52527/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 27 August 2025.
The application was examined and CA was awarded from 28 August 2025 with the first payment issuing to the nominated bank account on 02 October 2025.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 26 September 2025.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
111. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department plans to increase the income threshold for the fuel allowance payment; if not, if he will consider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52592/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been significant improvements made in recent years to the Fuel Allowance Scheme. These improvements have resulted in many more households qualifying for the payment.
In 2023, the enhanced Fuel Allowance measures for people aged 70 years and over were introduced. These measures included increased allowable means for those aged over 70 of €500 and €1,000 for a couple. The allowable means for those aged under 66 was also increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).
As part of Budget 2025, the enhanced Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions were made available to those aged 66 and over and the allowable means was increased to €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple allowing more applicants to qualify for the payment.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Increase to support vulnerable groups. This is an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year and 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 groups.
Any further changes to the criteria for accessing the fuel allowance scheme would require additional funding for the scheme and therefore any decision to increase the Fuel Allowance thresholds would have to form part of overall budgetary negotiations.
112. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department plans to increase the rate of for the living alone allowance payment; if not, if he will consider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52593/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature and cannot be made available to those who are not in receipt of a primary payment.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone.
For those aged 66 or over, payments eligible for the LAI include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Bereaved Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit. LAI is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
The rate of primary and secondary payments to pensioners, and their adequacy, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process. In doing so, the Government considers evidence from a wide range of sources, including agencies such as the CSO, and also research submitted by advocacy groups such as the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, who measure the “Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL)”.
Any change to the rate payable for this payment will have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
113. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason the network and information security directive (NIS2 Directive) (EU) 2022/2555 was not transposed into Irish law by the October 2024 deadline. [52549/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016 the first EU-wide law on cyber security, the NIS Directive, came into force achieving a higher, and more even level of security of network and information systems across the EU. The NIS Directive was reviewed in 2019 and its successor the NIS2 Directive entered into force in January 2023.
The transposition deadline for the NIS2 Directive was 17 October 2024, which unfortunately was not met. Ireland is not alone in this regard, many EU Member States have not met the transposition deadline, with the majority indicating that it will be sometime in 2025 before national legislation is in place. Ireland was not in a position to transpose the Directive into Irish law by the deadline primarily due to the complexity of the supervision and enforcement requirements.
The enactment of the Bill is a priority. Officials from my Department provided a briefing to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to assist in the pre-legislative scrutiny process for the General Scheme of the Bill on 15 July 2025 and I look forward to the committee’s response.
My Department continues to work with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) and the Attorney General’s Office on the drafting of the Bill, which is at an advanced stage. Engagement is also ongoing with the relevant Departments and Agencies in relation to the Bill. The Bill is included on the Government Legislation Programme for priority publication this session.
114. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe for the transposition of the NIS2 Directive. [52550/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NIS2 Directive entered into force in January 2023 and the enactment of the National Cyber Security Bill, which is the legislative vehicle transposing the NIS2 Directive is a priority for my Department.
Officials from my Department provided the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration with a briefing on the General Scheme of the National Cyber Security Bill on 15 July 2025 to assist it in undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny (PLS).
My Department continues to work with the Office of Parliamentary Council (OPC) and the Attorney General’s Office on the drafting of the Bill, which is at an advanced stage. Engagement is also ongoing with the relevant Departments and Agencies in relation to the Bill. The Bill is included on the Government Legislation Programme for priority publication this session.
115. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures currently in place to comply with Ireland's obligations under the network and information security directive (NIS2 Directive) (EU) 2022/2555; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52591/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NIS2 Directive entered into force in January 2023 and the enactment of the National Cyber Security Bill, which is the legislative vehicle transposing the NIS2 Directive is a priority for my Department.
My Department is currently engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Council, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and other relevant Government Departments and Agencies on the drafting of the Bill, which is at an advanced stage.
The NIS2 Directive is a revision of the Network and Information Security Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (NIS Directive), which is currently in force in the State via S.I. 360 of 2018. Until the NIS2 Directive is transposed and enacted, the NIS Directive will remain in full effect, covering the most critical operators of essential services and digital service providers in the State.
In anticipation of having the legislation in place and to ensure that Ireland is ready to implement the directive on the day of enactment of the Bill, we have taken significant steps to ensure various implementing measures are in place. This includes a robust approach to sectoral regulation for the Directive and the designation of nine National Competent Authorities (NCA) to carry out enforcement and supervision of the Directive. The NCSC has been designated as the lead NCA for the Directive and will offer guidance and support to the other competent authorities while they prepare to take on their new functions under the Bill.
To that end, a National Competent Authority Forum, led by the NCSC, has been stood up which allows NCAs to meet on a regular basis to discuss important issues about the implementation of the Directive. The NCSC has also published guidance documents on the implementation of the Directive including a tool to allow companies determine whether they will come into scope of the Directive.
Additionally work is ongoing in my Department on the preparation of Ireland's third National Cyber Security Strategy which fulfils another requirement under the Directive.
116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a list of all properties currently owned, leased, or otherwise used by an organisation (details supplied) or by any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, for the purpose of providing accommodation under contracts or funding arrangements with his Department, including through the International Protection Accommodation Services; and to confirm, in each case, whether the property is owned by the company, leased from a private landlord, or otherwise sourced. [52224/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the total value of contracts awarded to an organisation (details supplied), or to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, for the provision of accommodation under the International Protection Accommodation Services, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and to outline whether these contracts were awarded by open tender, direct award, or emergency procurement. [52225/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the number of inspections or compliance checks carried out by his Department or its agents at properties operated by an organisation (details supplied), or its subsidiaries or affiliates, under IPAS contracts in each of the past three years; the number of deficiencies or breaches recorded; and the corrective actions required in each case. [52226/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to set out the due diligence procedures undertaken by his Department before entering into contracts with an organisation (details supplied), or its subsidiaries or affiliates, including checks on beneficial ownership, financial standing, and capacity to deliver accommodation in line with contractual standards. [52227/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number and nature of complaints received by his Department, or by agencies reporting to it, in respect of accommodation operated by an organisation (details supplied), or its subsidiaries or affiliates, under IPAS contracts in each of the past three years; and to outline the steps taken by his Department to address such complaints, whether from residents, staff, or local authorities. [52228/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 120, inclusive, together.
The organisation mentioned in the details supplied are contracted to provide international protection accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants.
Since 2024, once a centre is in operation, IPAS has not published details of the specific locations or the capacity or occupancy of our accommodation centres. This is due to both safety and security concerns, and to protect the privacy of international protection applicants in line with legal obligations under the International Protection Act 2015.
This provider is responsible for a number of smaller-scale accommodation centres through 5 service level agreements with the Department, contracted since 2022 during the recent period of unprecedented increase in applications.
While specific details of locations and contracts are not published by this Department, the type of accommodation provided by this provider are generally of much lower capacity per property than most IPAS accommodation centres.
In terms of complaints, the Department does not collate data on complaints or feedback by provider in the manner requested. However, all IPAS centres are subject to rigorous inspection and oversight.
The IPAS customer services team conduct clinics at IPAS accommodation centres and individual residents may raise a query or complaint directly with IPAS at any time by email through a dedicated contact centre, and may also seek support from external advocates as needed.
All international protection applicants also have access to the services of the Ombudsman and Office of the Ombudsman for Children, should they consider that their complaint has not been managed appropriately.
Centres are obliged to be maintained to National Standards, with independent inspection and quality control through either the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) or IPAS-commissioned inspections.
HIQA reports are available online here:
www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/inspection-reports
Reports of IPAS inspections are available online here:
www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/ipas-inspection-reports/
The Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards. The Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted, including checks via the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to ensure compliance with CRO requirements and tax compliance checks by way of a valid Irish Tax Clearance Certificate.
Part of the appraisal process for a property is to confirm whether an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority. Offers of accommodation can be made by a property owner, or another person who has authority do so, such as a leaseholder.
In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities at the property are within legal requirements, including health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance.
Emergency accommodation centres are subject to inspections and compliance checks during the lifetime of the contract.
Detailed contractual arrangements in relation to IPAS accommodation centres are confidential and commercially sensitive. However, quarterly reports on all payments over €20,000 are published online and are available here:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/
121. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current processing time for family reunification applications under S.56 International Protection Act; the FTE staffing levels of the family reunification unit in each of the years 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52255/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to explain the 'final immigration checks' of a S56 family reunification application; who carries out these checks; the average processing time of these checks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52308/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of S.56 family reunification cases that have been open for longer than two years, by nationality and number of beneficiaries included on applications, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52309/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 123 and 124 together.
Family reunification (FRU) is provided for under Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015, and allows people granted International Protection status to apply for certain family members to join them in the State. An application for FRU must be made by the sponsor within 12 months of them being granted an International Protection permission.
I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in the State and I want to assure anyone who has an application submitted, that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
I can inform the Deputy that to date in 2025, the median processing time for FRU applications is approximately 19 months, with around 900 sponsor applications received, and decisions issued in respect of 1,197 beneficiaries.
As of 29 September 2025, there are 445 applications open longer than two years with my Department. Table 1 below shows the top five nationalities with applications outstanding.
The number of potential beneficiaries associated with these applications is not available and would require the manual examination of hundreds of cases which could not be justified.
Table 1
|
Nationality |
Total |
|
Somalia |
180 |
|
Afghanistan |
160 |
|
Zimbabwe |
15 |
|
Syrian Arab Republic |
11 |
|
Eritrea |
<10 |
|
Other |
70 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
It should be noted that no two applications are the same and that numerous factors can impact processing times. Processing times can vary depending on the nature of the application, the documentation supplied, and the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out on such applications.
The position is that robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside of the control of my Department. For sound operational reasons, it is not the practice to comment on the enquiries that may be conducted.
I can inform the Deputy that in 2024, the FRU unit had 10 FTE staff. This unit currently has 12.5 FTE staff.
122. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of reported attacks, knife attacks, and thefts that have been logged by the Garda across Dublin city, by district from 2020 to date in 2025, on a quarterly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52287/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. The Government is committed to ensuring that the problems that we have seen in neighbouring jurisdictions do not repeat themselves here.
There is already a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime. Increased sentences were introduced last year for certain offences under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. These include the maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another person, increasing from 5 to 7 years imprisonment.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.
The CSO produces crime statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 24 September 2025.
Datasets providing figures on recorded crime incidents by Garda Station/Division, by offence type and by year/quarter are available on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06
It should be noted that 'knife crime' or 'knife attacks' have no one specific classification in crime statistics compiled by An Garda Síochána and published by the Central Statistics Office. This is because knives may be used in the commission of several different types of offence, ranging from threats and intimidation, robbery and aggravated burglary to serious assaults and murder.
An Garda Síochána has carried out an analysis of Knife Related Crime over the 10-year period 2015-2024, which was published in August this year.
The report notes a 35% reduction in robberies using a knife in street/open spaces over the 5-year period 2020-2024 compared to 2015-2019.
Information is available from the Garda website at:
www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/knife-related-crime-2015-to-2024.pdf
Appendix II of the report provides the annual count of knives seized at Garda Divisional level.
125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of deportation orders which have been signed in respect of persons who have been refused International Protection in 2025; the number of persons who have been refused international protection and who left the State independently after being issued a deportation order, as well as those who were escorted from the State by the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2025; the number of persons who were refused International Protection and who departed the State by way of voluntary return without being issued a deportation order in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52310/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.
If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed, and my Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. So far this year four charter flight operations have removed 130 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 132 removed on commercial airlines. Further removals will be conducted as the year progresses. So far in 2025, a total of 1,516 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.)
The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 3,035 deportation orders have been signed up to 26 September 2025. Of these 2,169 were made in respect of people who have been refused International Protection.
I can advise the Deputy so far this year 262 people have had deportation orders enforced by the Garda National Immigration Bureau up to 26 September 2025, of these 207 had been refused International Protection.
Additionally, of the 42 people subject to deportation orders who are confirmed to have left the State independently up to 26 September 2025, 33 had been refused International Protection.
As there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately provide the number of people who are currently in Ireland subject to deportation orders. While over 300 of the people subject to deportation orders above have confirmed they have left the State independently, since 2020, it is the case that a significantly larger number of individuals who were subject to deportation orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities.
I am informed that the Garda National Immigration Bureau has reviewed a large sample of cases of persons subject to deportation orders; their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.
It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily, and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. It is important to note that a person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued. In 2024, 934 people left Ireland by way of voluntary return. This year up to 26 September 2025, 1,188 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return, of these, 907 had been refused International Protection or had withdrawn from the International Protection process.
Please note that all the figures for 2025 are provisional and subject to change. Figures are correct at time of issue, however all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
126. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the situation regarding an applicant for an EU1 treaty rights application whose Irish residence permit has expired and whose application is currently under review; if such a person is permitted to travel to their country of origin on holiday while awaiting a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52311/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that anyone may leave Ireland if their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired.
However, if an individuals IRP card has expired and they are a visa-required national, then they will need to apply for a visa to return. They can apply to their local Visa Office or Embassy for the relevant visa to allow them to travel back to Ireland.
Visa applications must be made online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
If someone is a non-visa required national, then they do not need to apply for a visa before travelling to Ireland.
If a persons IRP card has expired and they return to Ireland, the Immigration Officer may ask them some questions about their residency in the State to establish that they are able to renew their IRP Card. It is their responsibility to ensure that they have any required information or documents with them.
Further information on registering or renewing an immigration permission is available on my Departments website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/
