Written Answers Nos. 127-146
127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of full-time and part-time staff currently employed by the Data Protection Commission; the numbers of staff centrally employed and those employed under short-term contracts or through agencies; to provide a breakdown of salary levels of all staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52358/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) is independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers. I am advised that published statistics, which include Human Resources are available in the DPC’s most recent annual report, available at the following link: Data Protection Commission Annual Report 2024.
I am further advised that a more detailed breakdown, if required, can be sought via the DPC’s dedicated Oireachtas email address, oireachtasqueries@dataprotection.ie.
128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline his knowledge of the case of a person (details supplied); and whether he is aware of claims that this individual is in fact much older and has sought asylum in other countries under variations of the same name. [52360/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.
In general terms, applicants for international protection are requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection Office (IPO) at the time of application to attest to their identity, nationality and date and place of birth.
All applicants who enter the international protection process are fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against EURODAC, an EU database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have been found to cross borders illegally.
In addition to checks specifically on those applying for international protection, each and every person arriving at a port of entry in the state is subject to a Schengen Information System (SIS) check. Under this system Ireland sends and receives SIS II information (termed ‘Alerts’) on persons and objects; for example persons wanted for criminal purposes, missing persons and objects which have been stolen or are wanted as evidence for a judicial purpose.
When an applicant presents as an unaccompanied minor, the International Protection office, in accordance with the International Protection Act 2015, refers the individual to Tusla who assess their needs and eligibility for services. Tusla may then decide that an application for International protection should be made on behalf of the minor.
129. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has carried out an assessment of the potential impact on migration into the State of the proposed introduction of mandatory digital identity cards for workers in the United Kingdom; and if he will publish the details of same [52412/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if contingency planning has been undertaken by his Department to address the risk of increased irregular migration into the State via the land border with Northern Ireland arising from changes in UK immigration enforcement policy; and if he will set out the measures considered. [52413/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has consulted with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade regarding the diplomatic and legal implications for Ireland of potential secondary migration flows into the State following UK immigration policy changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52415/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has directed his officials to develop protocols with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to monitor and address irregular migration across the land border arising from prospective changes in UK immigration enforcement; and if he will outline those protocols. [52416/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra133. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has commissioned any legal analysis on the compatibility of existing Common Travel Area arrangements with the introduction of mandatory digital identity cards in the UK; and if he will publish that legal advice. [52417/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he intends to seek support or assistance at European Union level in the event that the State experiences a disproportionate increase in asylum or migration applications as a result of UK policy changes; and if he will set out the form such support might take. [52419/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has updated its risk assessments of international protection applications to account for the likelihood of individuals relocating from the United Kingdom into this jurisdiction in anticipation of stricter UK immigration enforcement; and if he will provide the findings. [52420/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra137. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will report to Dáil Éireann on the preparedness of the State’s immigration, border management and asylum systems to address any displacement of irregular migrants from the UK to Ireland following the introduction of mandatory digital identity cards in Britain. [52421/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 133, inclusive, and 135 to 137, inclusive, together.
The announcement by the British Government concerning the introduction of digital identity cards in the UK has been noted and I look forward to seeing details of the proposals in due course.
Changing migration trends are kept under continual review and are responded to by my Department. Any variation in migration trends within the common travel area following the future introduction of these UK measures or otherwise will see my Department adapting its response accordingly.
I can assure the Deputy that safeguarding the CTA and implementing effective border security arrangements are central priorities for me. The Programme for Government commits to continuing to work with the United Kingdom Government to introduce further measures to tackle abuses within the CTA and strengthen the external border of the CTA.
My Department chairs a Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF) with the UK Home Office which acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the CTA in relation to free movement of its citizens between both countries while at the same time ensuring that the CTA is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. The Forum meets twice yearly but also meets in sub-group format to address particular elements of Ireland/UK co-operation, bringing together relevant subject matter expertise in areas such as asylum and border management.
More broadly, there is extensive engagement and cooperation at all levels between my Department officials and their Home Office counterparts, as well as significant operational cooperation between the Gardaí, UK Border Force, UK policing services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the UK and will continue.
In line with the Programme for Government my Department is carrying out a joint risk assessment which forms part of the CTAF work programme and is an opportunity to share and compare information about migration into and within UK and Ireland. The assessment will consider emerging trends which may impact operational and policy priorities; its overarching aim is to inform policy making and operational prioritisation in line with our existing strategy to secure the external CTA border. The assessment will consider issues such as entry via clandestine means, abuse of legal migration pathways, any potential abuse of the International Protection system in UK and Ireland and entry to the UK or Ireland via CTA routes in breach of exclusion or deportation orders.
134. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide details of any interdepartmental discussions his Department has held with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, regarding the possible impact on asylum accommodation and welfare services of migration pressures linked to UK immigration reforms. [52418/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe International Protection Accommodation Service has been operating under significant pressure since 2022. A sudden and unexpected surge in applications for international protection between 2022 and 2024 placed increased demand on its services.
Although the rate of increase in demand has eased in recent months, approximately 1,000 people a month are applying for international protection and eligible for IPAS accommodation.
As such, all trends in international protection applications, including the impact of international conflicts and policy changes in other jurisdictions are kept under ongoing review.
The Government is prioritising reforms on the international protection system as a whole, speeding up application processes and moving towards providing more accommodation on State-owned sites.
Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in mid-2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU. The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact has been approved by Government.
These reforms will allow the State to move away from reliance on commercial providers of accommodation, and over time, processing applications more rapidly should help curtail the need for constant growth in the accommodation system that has been seen over recent years.
This Government has established a Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs and this provides an additional forum for cross-Departmental consideration of all trends that might have an impact on international protection applications, accommodation and wider public services in this sector.
138. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if proposals are under consideration for citizenship to automatically be granted to residents who live in Ireland for over twenty years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52456/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually based on the provisions of 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.
It is open to the person concerned to submit an application for a certificate of naturalisation if they satisfy the relevant criteria.
The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011).
There is an application fee of €175 and a certification fee of €950 is then required following a positive decision being reached on the naturalisation application.
The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen.
There is no provision in the Regulations for a discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities, or based on the length of residency in the State.
The State has not increased the fees for naturalisation applications since 2011.
All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available on my Department’s Immigration website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
139. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons with status living in IPAS accommodation, by family status, number of adults, and number of children, in tabular form; the length of time a person is permitted to remain in IPAS accommodation after receiving status; the number of people with status who have received a transfer letter in the past 12 months; the number of those transferred; the number who refused the transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52461/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating nearly 33,000 residents. As of 29 September 2025, 4,855 of these residents have a form of legal status that allows them to remain in Ireland.
This means that they are no longer entitled to IPAS accommodation. However, they are now able to access the full range of housing supports available to all Irish residents. These housing supports are not available to people who are still going through the international protection application process.
While numbers of new applications for international protection have reduced compared to 2024, there are still on average 1,000 people applying for international protection every month who are entitled to be offered reception conditions, including accommodation.
It is essential that IPAS maintains enough accommodation to meet the needs of new applicants, who have a legal entitlement to IPAS accommodation, do not have immediate access to the labour market, and do not have access to standard housing benefits or standard social welfare entitlements.
To help people move from IPAS accommodation to find housing options in the community, IPAS has a team that works in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities.
Below is a breakdown of the 4,855 figure requested, as of 29 September 2025.
|
Single People |
Part of a Family or Couples |
Children part of families |
|
Single People |
Part of a Family or Couples |
Children part of families |
|
1,451 |
3,404 |
1,549 |
Single people and couples are offered transfer to alternative emergency IPAS accommodation once they have status over six months. In March 2025, 600 families with status over one year were written to, and offered transfer to alternative emergency IPAS accommodation.
Below is a the information requested on these offers and their progress in 2025 to date.
|
- |
Offers sent |
Left IPAS |
Transferred |
In progress |
|
Single |
1641 |
1233 |
95 |
313 |
|
Couples |
35 |
12 |
0 |
23 |
|
Families |
600 |
330 |
115 |
155 |
140. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans to introduce psychological or psychiatric assessments for parents seeking to assert custody rights over minor children. [52463/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no role in the making of court orders in relation to custody, access or maintenance. This is a function of the courts, which are, subject to the Constitution and the law, independent in the performance of their functions.
Section 3 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 obliges the courts in deciding any question regarding guardianship, custody or upbringing of, or access to, a child to have regard to the best interests of the child as the paramount consideration. The courts determine the best interest of the child with regard to all relevant circumstances including the capacity of each person in respect of whom an application is made.
To assist the courts in making these determinations, section 32 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 allows the court to order a report, of its own motion or upon an application being made to it by a party to the proceedings, from an expert in writing on any question affecting the welfare of the child in proceedings concerning guardianship, custody or upbringing of, or access to a child. Section 47 of the Family Law Act 1995 provides that the court may, of its own motion or on application to it by a party to the proceedings, procure a report in writing on any question affecting the welfare of a party to the proceedings or any other person to whom they relate.
There are no plans to introduce psychological or psychiatric assessments for parents seeking to assert custody rights, beyond those powers that the courts already possess to order reports under the above pieces of legislation. In addition, where there may be concerns regarding the welfare of children, I understand the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, can undertake parental capacity assessments.
My Department is fully committed to reforming the family justice system in Ireland and as part of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, which was published in November 2022. This ambitious Strategy outlines the steps needed to create a more efficient and user-friendly family justice system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work. This will be achieved through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals.
Various actions in the Strategy have already been completed, including the publication of a wide-ranging review into the role of expert reports in the family law process on 13 June 2024. The Review sets out 20 ambitious recommendations for reform, the implementation of which will, amongst other things, promote consistency and common standards in hearing the voice of the child and safeguarding their best interests. They include:
• produce guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of expert reports;
• establish a panel of assessors to provide expert reports with a structure to oversee its management;
• establish the role of Children’s Court Advocate, initially on a pilot basis, to assist children in having their voice heard in private family law proceedings.
The Chief Justice has established a Judicial Committee to develop guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of welfare reports chaired by the Honourable Ms Justice Nuala Jackson of the High Court. The Committee is being supported by my Department and is expected to conclude its work shortly.
Once fully implemented, these recommendations will improve the quality of expert reports in family law proceedings, standardising practises relating to how they are developed in situations where they are required. They will support the judiciary in their decision making and ensure that children are at the centre of our efforts to improve outcomes for them and their families.
141. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of retirements and transfers in and out of An Garda Síochána, in all stations in the Limerick district in 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52486/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
142. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for continuing to permit the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning for religious markets, given that other EU Member States have prohibited this practice on animal welfare grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52203/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is EU and Irish legislation in place for the protection of animals at the time of slaughter. The relevant EU legislation is Regulation No. 1099 of 2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing and the Irish legislation is S.I. 292 of 2013, as amended. The legislation requires animals to be stunned (rendered unconscious) before they are slaughtered. However, slaughter of animals without prior stunning, as prescribed by religious rites, is also permitted under the legislation under derogation and it is carried out here in a very limited number of slaughter plants in Ireland.
While a limited number of Member States of the EU have banned slaughter without pre-stunning, there is no EU-wide move to do this and therefore the majority of Member States have not banned this method of slaughter.
143. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of cattle and sheep slaughtered without pre-stunning in Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will indicate the percentage of overall cattle and sheep slaughter that the figures represent. [52204/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
|
Species |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 Q1 and Q2 |
|
Total Cattle slaughtered without pre-stunning |
104795 |
72141 |
105660 |
106460 |
105408 |
28835 |
|
Total Sheep slaughtered without pre-stunning |
940529 |
924428 |
1011264 |
1034292 |
464530 |
31484 |
|
Species |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 Q1 and Q2 |
|
Percentage of overall cattle slaughter |
5.87% |
4.28% |
5.80% |
6.09% |
5.92% |
3.34% |
|
Percentage of overall sheep slaughter |
32.49% |
33.98% |
34.61% |
36.00% |
18.61% |
3.02% |
144. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to ensure that meat originating from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning is clearly labelled at retail and catering level, in order that consumers can make an informed choice. [52205/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU labelling regulations do not require meat labels to indicate the method of slaughter. There are no current moves in the EU or in Ireland to change this position.
145. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department collects data on whether meat from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning is destined for domestic consumption or for export markets; and if not, the reason such data is not collected. [52206/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collect data on the market destination of meat from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning. There is no EU regulatory requirement to collect such data.
146. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific inspection regime applied by his Department to abattoirs conducting slaughter without pre-stunning, including the presence of veterinary inspectors during operations; and if he will provide data on compliance or breaches recorded in the past five years. [52207/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is EU and Irish legislation in place for the protection of animals at the time of slaughter. The relevant EU legislation is Regulation No. 1099 of 2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing and the Irish legislation is S.I. 292 of 2013, as amended. The legislation requires animals to be stunned (rendered unconscious) before they are slaughtered. However, slaughter of animals without prior stunning, as prescribed by religious rites, is also permitted under the legislation under derogation and it is carried out here in a very limited number of slaughter plants. My Department is responsible for implementation and enforcement of this legislation.
The inspection regime applied by my Department to the small number of abattoirs conducting slaughter without pre-stunning is similar to other abattoirs, and meets my Department’s responsibility under EU Regulation No.1099 of 2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing and Irish legislation S.I. 292 of 2013, as amended. There is a permanent presence of veterinary inspectors at abattoirs conducting slaughter without pre-stunning. Official Controls are continuously applied via ongoing checks, audits and ongoing monitoring of operations in the slaughter plant. Of 5 Compliance Notices issued under S.I 292 of 2013 (Welfare at Slaughter) for years 2020 to 2024 inclusive, 2 Compliance Notices related to Non-Stun Slaughter.
