Written Answers Nos. 367-386
367. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of immigration detainees held at Cloverhill Prison between 2020 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62426/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
368. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe to introduce legislation to place the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62436/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra369. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe in which he expects to receive a report of the Law Reform Commission regarding the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; the timeframe for when it will be published; the format and timeframe of arising stakeholder consultation in relation to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62437/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 9 October 2025, the timeframe for when he expects to hear the considerations of the High Court following on from the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 2 October 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62438/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 9 October 2025, and the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 2 October 2025, if individuals will now be entitled to compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal for pain and suffering; the basis upon which access to such will be i.e. the 2004 EU directive coming into force; the date the preceding case was taken in the Irish Court; the date of the judgement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62439/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369, 370 and 371 together.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme continues to play an important and significant role in providing practical support by way of monetary compensation to victims of violent crime.
The Government is committed to reforming the Scheme, including placing it on a statutory footing as provided for in the Programme for Government, and work is currently being advanced in relation to this.
In 2021, the then Government agreed to introduce a revised Scheme and a number of immediate reforms were introduced. This was acknowledged as a first step toward improving the operation of the Scheme.
Following this, an inter-departmental working group was established, which is chaired by my Department, to examine matters pertaining to further reform of the Scheme including placing it on a statutory footing.
While this work is continuing, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) is also examining the broader topic of victim compensation as part of its Fifth Programme of Law Reform. The LRC is expected to report shortly.
My Department is considering the implications of the recent CJEU judgment in relation to the Scheme and I expect to be in a position to bring forward amendments to the Scheme in due course.
372. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the provisions that have been made to ensure that agencies, organisations and charities funded by his Department will be able to meet their obligations under the new AE scheme. [62456/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for submitting this question. The National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA) is responsible for the administration of the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings System.
The retirement savings system which commences next year is specifically for employees who do not already have a workplace pension scheme or similar. It does not apply to civil or public servants as they are automatically enrolled in a civil and public service pension plan on commencement of their employment.
Outside of this my Department provides funding to a range of organisations including community and voluntary sector organisations. These organisations provide vital services in many areas across the justice sector including youth justice services, crime prevention, supporting victims of crime, migrant integration and community safety.
These funds are administered through a grant agreement. Under the terms of the grant agreement, the recruitment and management of staff are the sole responsibility of the grantee. Each funded organisation is the employer of its own staff and is responsible for meeting all associated obligations, including those arising under the Auto-Enrolment scheme. The NAERSA will operate an online portal for employees and employers through the MyFutureFund website to support the administration of the Scheme.
373. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline plans for the currently vacant Wicklow District Courthouse in Wicklow town; if funding will be made available for its refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62562/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra374. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the details of plans to increase capacity in County Wicklow for the Courts Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62563/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra375. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the breakdown of all associated costs including, heating, electricity, security, maintenance, repair work on the currently vacant Wicklow District Courthouse in Wicklow town for each year between 2010 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62564/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 374 and 375 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts and operational matters, including matters pertaining to court buildings, are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercising of its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.
However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, my officials have made enquiries with the Courts Service. Wicklow Courthouse has been closed, due to health and safety reasons, since September 2010. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has provided the Courts Service with costings and options for the full restoration of Wicklow Courthouse, subject to future funding becoming available.
Court business continues to be transacted in Bray Court Office and Arklow for district court matters on a scheduled basis.
In relation to building maintenance costs, I am advised by the Courts Service that it is not possible to provide the information for the full period requested. However, the Courts have provided information for the period 2020-2025, as set out in the table below.
|
- |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
Utilities |
4 |
8 |
10 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
|
Security |
72 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Maintenance |
23 |
31 |
5 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
Grand Total |
99 |
39 |
15 |
22 |
6 |
0 |
376. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardai, by rank, in each Garda station in Wicklow, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62566/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Garda members nationally, including a breakdown of Garda divisions and stations in Wicklow. This can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/
The Deputy should select the most recently available date and then select the file titled ‘Garda Members by Division District Station to the most recent date".
377. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of deportations of EU citizens from Ireland for each year between 2000 and 2025; the details of where they were deported to and the associated costs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62567/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
378. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration given the forthcoming International Protection Bill 2025 and the pilot project which has processed over 300 decisions since July, the assessment that his Department has made of the current backlog in international protection appeals; the estimate that has been made of the additional resources required to meet the June 2026 EU processing obligations; and how his Department will ensure that those outcomes do not exacerbate pressures on emergency accommodation, including in Cork. [62576/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of June 2026.
Ireland’s national implementation plan sets out the State’s proposed approach to meeting the requirements set out in the Pact. It is not a binding prescription, but rather an indication of how Ireland intends to go about implementing the Pact.
The plan allows for a transition period before the Pact comes into effect in June 2026 during which elements can be examined in greater detail and modified as required. This includes operational aspects as well as resource requirements around human resources, IT, infrastructure etc.
The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact was approved by Government on 29 April 2025. As the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration recently conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme. The drafting of the Bill is well advanced. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 11 June 2026.
The Bill will provide for the timeframes for the different procedures under which an international protection application can be examined, in accordance with the 2024 Asylum Procedure Regulation and the 2024 Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR).
These timeframes will be 6 months for standard procedures, 3 months for the accelerated procedure, 2 months for the admissibility procedure, and in procedures for determining the Member State responsible in accordance with the AMMR, 6 months.
The Asylum Border Procedure will have a 12-week time limit for first instance and appeal decisions to be completed for applicants from countries of origin with a recognition rate of 20% or less across the EU, or for those who intentionally mislead the authorities by presenting false information or documents or by withholding relevant information or documents, or are deemed a security risk.
To enable testing of the required border procedure timelines, my Department introduced the first phase of a gradual transition to a new accelerated, end-to-end process for applicants entering the international protection system in Ireland on 1 July 2025. This new accelerated process mirrors elements of the future border procedure and screening required by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum while still adhering to the existing International Protection Act 2015.
More generally, there has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.
In 2024, the IPO delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the IPAT closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in 2023.
In 2025, to the end of Q3, there has been a 51% increase in the total number of first decisions when compared to the same period in 2024. IPAT has also increased the number of appeals completed to date in 2025 by 44% over the full year figure for 2024 with ongoing recruitment of Tribunal Members to increase its decision-making capacity.
It is expected that the Tribunal’s decision-making capacity will increase further this year – with a target of over 5,500 appeals being concluded by year end.
In relation to international protection accommodation, my Department is already working to speed up processing of applications and to move away from commercial provision to more State-owned accommodation.
While commissioning emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be necessary in the short to medium term, it is being contracted on a short-term basis, which enables the State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates.
It is hoped that the creation of a core supply of State-owned accommodation, of both emergency and permanent options, will also allow more strategic direction accommodation types, location and dispersal patterns nationwide.
To date, the Department has already increased its State-owned beds from 900 in mid-2024, to 4,000.
These reforms will help to drive down costs and to curtail the growth seen over recent years in the accommodation system.
379. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if all IPAS centres in operation have a valid fire safety certificate; the number of centres found to have fire safety concerns during inspections in 2025; if any IPAS centres have been allowed to begin operations without a fire safety certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62578/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe safety and well-being of all residents in International Protection accommodation is the highest priority for the Department and fire safety is a critical requirement for all accommodation centres.
The Department does not routinely collate data in the manner requested in the question, but all international protection accommodation centres are subject to inspections each year through either Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) or IPAS-commissioned inspections.
The IPAS inspection regime is a key mechanism for ensuring that all providers adhere to their contractual obligations, which explicitly include full compliance with all statutory fire and building control regulations.
Correct fire safety certification, in line with relevant Local Authority requirements, is also a priority aspect of the appraisal process for all international protection accommodation centres.
It is a mandatory requirement for any new or renewed contract for accommodation for international protection applicants.
Reports from IPAS inspections are published on gov.ie:
www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/ipas-inspection-reports/
HIQA inspection reports can be found on the HIQA website:
www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/inspection-reports
IPAS also carries out unannounced inspection compliance visits which ensure adherence to established IPAS policies, procedures, and standards, by the contracted service provider.
It is important to note that a published inspection report is a snapshot in time, reflecting the findings on the day of the inspection. The report itself is not updated with subsequent actions.
Therefore, while a report may highlight deficiencies, the formal follow-up actions, remedial works, or photographic proof of resolution provided by the contractor are handled after the report is issued, as part of the compliance process.
380. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 9 October 2025, if the information regarding the current average duration of employment of staff in each of the agencies involved in the end-to-end asylum process; the current number of vacancies in each of the agencies involved in the end-to-end asylum process, in tabular form is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62643/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced.
There has been significant investment in staff across the entire international protection process in recent years.
As of 9 October 2025, the International Protection Office (IPO) had 614 staff, an increase of 190% since 2022 with recruitment ongoing. In addition, 241 case processing panel members were also contracted by the IPO.
There has also been a substantial increase in resourcing to IPAT through both its budget and staffing. This has been particularly evident in the past two years with the Tribunal budget having increased by 95% since 2023.
My Department has been actively recruiting for additional whole-time and part-time Tribunal Members over the last two years, with the competitive stages of the most recent competitions concluding recently. As of 9 October 2025 the Department had appointed new Tribunal Members increasing the number of whole-time members from 3 to 8 and part-time members from 88 to 134. During the course of the year there have also been some members who have resigned.
The number of administrative staff at the Tribunal also increased from 37 at the start of 2023 to 87 on 9 October 2025. In addition to administrative staff, IPAT has a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, 8 Whole-Time Tribunal members, 2 Senior Legal Researchers and a Legal Researcher.
The International Protection and Integration Division (IPID) of my Department provides accommodation in over 320 centres around the country. From 2022 to 2024, this demand-led system had to grow rapidly, as a result of a sudden and sustained increase in people applying for international protection. The increase in the demand for services was accompanied by a corresponding growth in the number of staff members.
Recruitment and appointments are continuing across all three of the above functions. The IPO has seen a dramatic increase in staff in recent years and staffing levels there will be kept under review having regard to trends in application numbers and requirements across the international protection process.
As of 9th October, there were currently 25 positions to be filled in the IPAT and 12 vacancies in the IPID.
Of the 25 vacancies associated with the IPAT, 22 relate to sanctioned positions for Whole Time Tribunal Members. Some of these appointments will be made from the most recent Whole Time Tribunal Member competitions with further recruitment for the other positions planned.
The table below details the current tenure at the IPO, IPAT and IPID at 9 October 2025.
|
- |
Average Tenure |
|
IPO |
24 Months |
|
IPAT |
27 Months |
|
IPID |
29 Months |
All data provided is correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
381. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 22 October 2025, if the response to the question regarding whether a company which operates international protection accommodation at a site (details supplied) are facing legal proceedings under the Fire Services Act in relation to taking water by tanker from a fire hydrant, a practice which the Minister for State for Migration told the Dáil on 9 October 2025 has now ceased is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62644/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the property mentioned, my Department has held a contract with a provider at this location since 2023 for the provision of international protection accommodation.
While all matters relating to essential services and utilities at an accommodation centre remain under the remit of the provider, my Department is aware that water supplies at the property have needed augmentation with tankered water for a significant period.
My Department was informed that the provider recently changed supplier for the provision of tankered water at the property.
My Department does not hold information in relation to any proceedings under the Fire Services Act, as this would be a matter for the relevant Local Authority.
382. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of individuals currently availing of the higher daily expense allowance; the number of those who have been offered accommodation and declined it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62650/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra383. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether individuals who decline offers of accommodation continue to retain eligibility for the higher daily expense allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62651/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
My Department has been unable to provide a response to this question within the prescribed timeframe. A response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
384. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for applications for international protection at each stage of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62652/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust, and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. This year, we are beginning to see application numbers noticeably reduce with 35% fewer compared with the same period in 2024.
It is a priority for my Department to have recommendations made on all international protection applications as soon as possible. This gives status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria.
There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.
This investment has already demonstrated results. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in 2023. To date in 2025 the IPO has delivered over 17,000 first instance decisions, a 48% increase on the same period in 2024.
The overall median processing time for first instance decisions was 16 months in 2024 and is currently 14 months in 2025. The current processing time for applications under the accelerated process is four months.
In 2025, as of 31 October, the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) has received 12,133 appeal cases. The current median processing time at IPAT is 12.7 months.
My Department also continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU including standardised processing times for decisions: six months for a standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures and two months for processing applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in Europe.
The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact was approved by Government on 29 April 2025. The General Scheme has been published and referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for pre-legislative scrutiny. The drafting of the Bill is underway.
Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 11 June 2026.
385. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of vacant and derelict buildings in County Mayo owned by his Department that are vacant or rented, by the region/towns location of the buildings, in tabular form. [62676/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department owns no such buildings in County Mayo.
386. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 14 October 2025, regarding the number of Gardaí in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, the number who were accepted back, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62682/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 13 October where you sought: "the number of Gardaí in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, the number who were accepted back, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter."
An Garda Síochána have provided the below table which shows the number of individuals in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, and also the total number of those accepted.
|
Year |
Applications Received |
Accepted |
|
2021 |
7 |
1 |
|
2022 |
9 |
2 |
|
2023 |
5 |
1 |
|
2024 |
19 |
6 |
|
2025 |
15 |
8 |
I am advised by the Garda Authorities that not all applications to re-join An Garda Síochána are accepted. Some may not be eligible and others are withdrawn or rejected.
It is worth noting that prior to the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Minister for Justice was required to approve applications to re-join An Garda Síochána upon the recommendation of the Garda Commissioner, as per regulation 10 of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointment) Regulations 2013.
Since the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act earlier this year, I have no role in this process as Minister. It is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner under regulation 14 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2025 to consider applications from those who apply to re-join the service.
