Written Answers Nos. 218-237
218. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of financial issues facing disabled people (details supplied); if he will instruct his Department to provide additional financial supports for the cost of disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66339/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures.
That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people. Our Programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
Not all of the matters covered in the details supplied relate to my Department. For example, the one-off electricity credits provided over the past few years are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures.
Government has been very clear that there would be no once-off measures in this year’s Budget. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one.
However, my Department's Budget 2026 package contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people. These measures include:
• A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from January;
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, to be paid in December 2025;
• The highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment – an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and of €8 to €58 for children under 12
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from January 2026;
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years.
• People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment and moving off those payments.
• Expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit, and increasing the rates paid from April.
The Department of Social Protection package also contained measures aimed at supporting carers, and recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• Increase the Earnings Disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 for a couple from July 2026.
• The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
• €20 increase in the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance payment bringing the payment to €380 per month from January.
The Government also allocated €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, including funding for Community Based Specialist Disability Services to ensure people with disabilities receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. This represents a 20% increase year on year and represents an overall increase since 2020 of €1.8 billion.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. In addition, under the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People my Department will lead a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. The First Programme Plan of Actions 2025 - 2026 will be published shortly.
My officials have already held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. I will be meeting a number of organisations at the next meeting of my Department’s Disability Consultative Forum on 2 December at which the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network is the main agenda item.
My Department provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the scheme, the Department may make an ‘additional needs payment’ to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
219. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person on certified sick leave will still meet the qualification criteria for carer’s benefit that they must have been employed or self-employed for at least eight weeks in the previous 26-weeks for a minimum of 16 hours each week or 32 hours a fortnight if they previously met this criteria before being on sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66403/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main income supports to family carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is estimated at over €2.2 billion in 2026.
Carer's Benefit is available to people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a period of two years for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of two years.
A person may qualify for Carer’s Benefit if they meet the PRSI and other conditions of the scheme and have been engaged in full-time employment for at least eight weeks in the previous 26 weeks. Full-time employment in this context is defined as engaged insurable employment for at least 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight. This condition does not need to be satisfied on a second or subsequent claim where a person was in receipt of Carer's Benefit within the previous 26 weeks.
The legislation governing Carer’s Benefit outlines the circumstances by which a carer on leave from employment may satisfy the conditions of engagement in full-time employment as an employed contributor. Specifically, the condition is deemed to have been satisfied where the person was on adoptive leave, health and safety leave, maternity leave, parental leave, parent’s leave or paternity leave, having been engaged in remunerative full-time employment as an employed contributor for 8 weeks, whether consecutive or not, within the relevant period. Periods of statutory sick leave are not covered by these provisions.
Where a full-time carer is not eligible for Carer’s Benefit, they may apply for the means-tested Carer’s Allowance and the annual Carer’s Support Grant.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
220. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection his response to a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66617/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures.
That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people. Our Programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
Not all of the matters covered in the details supplied relate to my Department. For example, the one-off electricity credits provided over the past few years are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures.
Government has been very clear that there would be no once-off measures in this year’s Budget. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one.
However, my Department's Budget 2026 package contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people. These measures include:
• A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from January;
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, to be paid in December 2025;
• The highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment – an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and of €8 to €58 for children under 12
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from January 2026;
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years.
• People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment and moving off those payments.
• Expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit, and increasing the rates paid from April.
The Department of Social Protection package also contained measures aimed at supporting carers, and recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• Increase the Earnings Disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 for a couple from July 2026.
• The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
• €20 increase in the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance payment bringing the payment to €380 per month from January.
The Government also allocated €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, including funding for Community Based Specialist Disability Services to ensure people with disabilities receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. This represents a 20% increase year on year and represents an overall increase since 2020 of €1.8 billion.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. In addition, under the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People my Department will lead a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. The First Programme Plan of Actions 2025 - 2026 will be published shortly.
My officials have already held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. I will be meeting a number of organisations at the next meeting of my Department’s Disability Consultative Forum on 2 December at which the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network is the main agenda item.
My Department provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the scheme, the Department may make an ‘additional needs payment’ to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.
My Department will publish a social impact assessment of Budget 2026, with distributional analysis of the measures in this Budget.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
221. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals with disabilities currently in employment in County Mayo. [66628/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the measurement of employment and unemployment in the State and questions in relation to the numbers of persons in employment should be directed to that office. The CSO have advised officials in my Department that data in respect of the number of persons with a disability in employment will be available by NUTS region in the coming weeks. Eurostat data based on the Labour Force Survey indicates that 181,700 persons with a disability were in employment across Ireland in 2024, an increase from 177,500 persons in 2022.
The Government is committed to supporting disabled people into work. The Programme for Government commits to expanding successful programmes like Work and Access and to work with employers and across Government to improve employment levels of disabled people.
In addition, the Government recently launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. This strategy prioritises a cross-government approach and my Department, alongside the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will lead the employment pillar, focused on improving access to the workplace for all disabled people.
222. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date with recognising long covid as an occupational disease and injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66691/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2023, my Department published a report on the inclusion of long COVID in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Regulations.
This report concluded that COVID-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness or accident at work. Specifically, it found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person’s occupation and not through community transmission. This is because data shows that community transmission was the primary means of transmission.
However, my Department's range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as occupational injuries benefit, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long COVID.
With specific reference to employees in the health services the report found that the Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees was the appropriate channel through which a targeted sectoral support should be considered. This Temporary Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently to conclude on 31 December 2025. Any employee remaining unwell after that date may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
223. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given by his Department to recognise long Covid as an occupational illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66712/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2023, my Department published a report on the inclusion of long COVID in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Regulations.
This report concluded that COVID-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness or accident at work. Specifically, it found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person’s occupation and not through community transmission. This is because data shows that community transmission was the primary means of transmission.
However, my Department's range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as occupational injuries benefit, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long COVID.
With specific reference to employees in the health services the report found that the Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees was the appropriate channel through which a targeted sectoral support should be considered. This Temporary Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently to conclude on 31 December 2025. Any employee remaining unwell after that date may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
224. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether on the establishment of GSOC, any mechanism existed to transfer pre-existing complaints or correspondence regarding Garda conduct or deaths in Garda custody to the new Commission; whether families who had pursued complaints under the processes in place at the time were informed of GSOCs creation; and if he will review procedures to ensure legacy complaints are not overlooked and that, where families seek to raise complaints outside statutory timeframes, Fiosrú consider that this may be the first occasion on which the Commission becomes aware of the matter. [66304/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe functions of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board, established under the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act 1986, were retained until Part 3 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 was enacted and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was established in December 2005. It was not until GSOC became fully operational in 2007 that the responsibility for receiving complaints transferred in its entirety to GSOC.
It was therefore necessary to maintain the existence of Garda Síochána Complaints Board and the related Appeal Board to enable these bodies to conclude cases which they were already investigating. Complaints which the Board had received but not commenced investigating were transferred to GSOC in accordance with the transitional provisions in the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
GSOC has subsequently been reformed under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 and is now known as Fiosrú. Under the Act, Fiosrú is an independent statutory body fully independent in its investigative and operational functions.
The Police Ombudsman is independent in the performance of her functions, including the investigation of cases and the operational organisation of Fiosrú.
I am advised that the Fiosrú website outlines the process for submitting complaints, which can be accessed at the following link: www.fiosru.ie/complaints/gsoc-complaints/.[]
225. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of temporary emergency centres in County Donegal with contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66338/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in nearly 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, over 9,500 of whom are children.
There are currently 29 IPAS emergency accommodation centres in County Donegal providing accommodation for international protection applicants.
IPAS publishes regular statistics in relation to international protection accommodation. This includes a per county breakdown of where applicants are residing and a wide range of other details.
These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website:
https://www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/facts-and-figures/
226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of international protection applicants who have come from the UK before applying for international protection in Ireland for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022,2023, 2024 and to date 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66351/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of inadmissible international protection decisions made under Section 21 of the International Protection Bill 2015 made by the IPO and IPAT for international protection applicants, by reason of having come from the UK for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66352/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for inadmissible international protection decisions made under section 21 of the International Protection Bill 2015 by both the IPO and IPAT for applicants by reason of having come from the UK for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66353/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra229. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of inadmissible international protection decisions made under section 21 of the International Protection Bill 2015, by reason of having come from the UK that have “timed out” because the Department did not transfer or act on the decision within the time frame for removal permitted by law for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66354/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 227, 228 and 229 together.
My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
There are a number of circumstances where a person might apply at the International Protection Office (IPO) without first applying at a port of entry. They may enter at an airport with valid documentation for example but choose not to apply at that time. Or they may apply having been in the State for a period previously, for example on foot of a different permission to remain.
My Department’s assessment, based on the experience of staff and others working in the field, and based on the material gathered at interviews, is that in a significant proportion of cases, those applying for the first time in the IPO have entered over the land border. Details on the route travelled to Ireland are recorded as part of the applicants file at the IPO, but are not stored in a manner which allows detailed data to be extracted in the manner sought by the Deputy.
The below table provides a yearly breakdown of IP applications and the location the claim was made.
|
Place of Application |
IPO |
% |
Airports |
% |
Ports |
% |
Other |
% |
Total |
|
2019 |
2,278 |
47.63% |
2,385 |
49.86% |
9 |
0.19% |
111 |
2.32% |
4,783 |
|
2020 |
1,239 |
79.17% |
284 |
18.15% |
4 |
0.26% |
38 |
2.43% |
1,565 |
|
2021 |
2,102 |
79.41% |
512 |
19.34% |
9 |
0.34% |
24 |
0.91% |
2,647 |
|
2022 |
8,791 |
64.44% |
4,796 |
35.16% |
35 |
0.26% |
20 |
0.15% |
13,642 |
|
2023 |
10,378 |
78.21% |
2859 |
21.54% |
5 |
0.04% |
28 |
0.21% |
13,270 |
|
2024 |
16,626 |
89.60% |
1,870 |
10.08% |
12 |
0.06% |
47 |
0.25% |
18,555 |
|
2025* |
10,176 |
87.58% |
1,368 |
11.77% |
32 |
0.27% |
43 |
0.37% |
11,619 |
*To 21st November 2025.
Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) share a long history and common interest in the effective operation of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and work together to prevent any abuses of the CTA.
There is also significant operational cooperation between the Gardaí, UK Border Force, UK policing services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to both immigration and criminal matters. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the UK, and will continue.
In relation to the inadmissibility process, the International Protection Act 2015, Section 21(2)(a) provides that an application for international protection is inadmissible where one or more of the following circumstances applies in relation to the person who is the subject of the application:
• Another member State has granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status to the person;
• A country other than a Member State is, in accordance with Section 21(15) of the 2015 Act, a first country of asylum for the person;
• The person arrived in the State from a safe third country that is, in accordance with Subsection 17, a safe country for the person.
Prior to the UK leaving the EU, returns to the UK were governed under the EU Regulations. The UK was the primary destination country for people transferred from Ireland under these Regulations. In 2019 of the 35 people transferred, 33 were sent to the UK, in 2020 of the 8 people transferred, 7 were to the UK.
Following the withdrawal of the UK, a new arrangement for reciprocal returns of international protection applicants between Ireland and the UK was agreed. However a High Court judgment subsequently identified legal issues with the process concerning the designation in Irish law of safe third countries.
The issues raised by the judgment were addressed by the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 and, following an analysis required as under the Act, I designated the UK as a safe third country for returns under S.I. No. 73/2025 - International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Third Country) Order 2025 with effect from 11 March 2025.
Arrangements for re-operationalising the agreement, on foot of the re- designation of the UK as a safe third country, are being put in place in consultation with the UK.
As no return orders were issued during the Covid pandemic and due to the litigation challenges outlined above, only one return order has been signed for a UK inadmissible applicant during this recent period.
230. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Dublin III transfer decisions made by the IPO and IPAT for international protection applicants each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66355/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra231. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for Dublin III decisions from initial application to the IPO to IPAT decision for international protection applicants for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66356/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Dublin III transfer decision that have “timed out” because the Department did not transfer the applicant within the six months permitted by law for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66357/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 230, 231 and 232 together.
My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 (Dublin III Regulations), came into force on 19 July 2013, and lays down the criteria and mechanisms for determining which EU country is responsible for examining an asylum application. The Dublin Regulation is based on the principle that the first Member State to facilitate entry to the EU should be responsible for examining the protection application.
A decision to transfer made under the Dublin III Regulations expires after six months. This extends to 18 months if the applicant has absconded. If an appeal is launched, a Dublin III decision expires six months from the date the appeal decision is given.
In practice, and in keeping with the experience of other Member States, effective implementation of the Dublin Regulation is challenging. Member States have found significant problems with the Dublin Regulation, including the lack of consistent implementation across the Member States and that shortcomings with the design of the Regulation makes it difficult to achieve its main objectives.
In advance of a transfer, it is necessary to inform the receiving State of the transfer and make the arrangements to transfer the person in the specific notification periods for each EU Member State. The notification periods range from 3 working days to the majority of EU Member States requiring at least 7 working days. Earlier this year I increased the permissible detention period to facilitate a transfer under the Regulations from 7 to 42 days, with the intention being to give the Garda National Immigration Bureau more capacity to make the required arrangements in advance of the transfer being effected.
Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which is due to enter operation in 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.
One of the major benefits for Ireland of the Pact is that it replaces the Dublin III Regulation with a more efficient and streamlined process.
The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR) which will replace the Dublin III Regulation, provides for, among other things, streamlined criteria and reduced timeframes for determining the Member State responsible for determining an asylum application as well as revised rules on transferring responsibility and addressing evasion.
This will significantly improve the current system by reducing the administrative burden on the Member States seeking to transfer a person to the Member State. It will also extend the period by which a transfer must be carried out from 18 months to 3 years.
The table below shows the number of Dublin III transfer decisions issued by the IPO for international protection applicants from 2019 to 14 November 2025.
|
Year |
Decisions issued |
|
2019 |
817 |
|
2020 |
310 |
|
2021 |
69 |
|
2022 |
24 |
|
2023 |
188 |
|
2024 |
339 |
|
2025 * |
363 |
*As of 14 November 2025
The table below shows the median processing time of Dublin III decisions at the IPO from when a formal request is accepted to the transfer decision issuing from 2019 to 23 November 2025.
|
Year |
Months |
|
2019 |
2.2 |
|
2020 |
3.6 |
|
2021 |
2.2 |
|
2022 |
3.6 |
|
2023 |
3.8 |
|
2024 |
3.5 |
|
2025* |
2.3 |
To cob 23 November 2025
International protection applicants have 10 days to lodge an appeal with the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in the case of Dublin III Regulation Appeals.
The table below shows the number of Dublin III Appeals accepted by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) from 2019 to 23 November 2025.
|
Year |
Appeals accepted |
|
2019 |
148 |
|
2020 |
54 |
|
2021 |
16 |
|
2022 |
22 |
|
2023 |
151 |
|
2024 |
272 |
|
2025* |
264 |
*To cob 23 November 2025
The table below shows the median processing time of IPAT Dublin III Appeals in months from 2019 to 23 November 2025.
|
Year |
Median processing times of Dublin III Appeals in months |
|
2019 |
7.4 |
|
2020 |
12 |
|
2021 |
14 |
|
2022 |
7.3 |
|
2023 |
5.8 |
|
2024 |
9.9 |
|
2025* |
18.7 |
* to cob 23 November 2025
The table below shows the number of Dublin III Appeals Decisions issued by the IPAT for international protection applicants from 2019 to 23 November 2025.
|
Dublin III Appeals Decisions Issued |
|
|
|
|
Year |
Decisions |
Refused/Affirmed |
Granted/Set Aside |
|
2019 |
151 |
132 |
19 |
|
2020 |
104 |
86 |
18 |
|
2021 |
17 |
12 |
5 |
|
2022 |
28 |
21 |
7 |
|
2023 |
42 |
36 |
6 |
|
2024 |
52 |
41 |
11 |
|
2025* |
96 |
72 |
24 |
*To cob 23 November 2025
The table below shows the number of Dublin III transfer decisions that have expired (including in cases of absconding) from 2019 to 31 October 2025.
|
Year |
Number of Dublin III transfer decision that have expired |
|
2019 |
35 |
|
2020 |
202 |
|
2021 |
494 |
|
2022 |
337 |
|
2023 |
20 |
|
2024 |
77 |
|
2025 (to 25th Nov) |
56 |
The figures for 2020-22 reflect the impact of Covid on returns arrangements, as returns were largely limited to cases involving criminality during that time.
Please note that figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
233. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to clarify the opt-out options that were, and remain, available to Ireland with respect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact; which of those opt-out options the State decided not to avail of, and the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66370/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which will come into effect in 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, and through the introduction of streamlined and faster processing times.
The Pact recognises that migration is a challenge experienced across the European Union, which requires sharing of responsibility, robust and fair management of external borders, and stronger governance of asylum and migration policies. Migration is inherently a transnational issue and the reality is that no country can deal with the challenges of migration alone.
It is for this reason that Ireland is already part of the Common European asylum system, and the Pact is a reform of this common EU system. The European Union has competence in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice (which includes asylum) under Part 3 of Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which was ratified by Ireland with the prior approval of the people in the referendum on the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Act 2009.
Under Protocol 21 to the TFEU (Protocol (No. 21) on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice), inserted by the Treaty of Lisbon, Ireland does not automatically participate in and is not bound by measures in the area of freedom, security and justice. However, Ireland is entitled to opt into such measures on a case-by-case basis. Such opt-ins are exercised on foot of a Government decision and after approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas, in accordance with Article 29.4.7° iii of the Constitution.
Ireland has been and is today significantly integrated into migration and asylum policy at the European level. Ireland already participates in the Common European Asylum System and has opted in to and given effect in Irish law to earlier EU measures in this area, including the 2001 Temporary Protection Directive, the 2004 Qualifications Directive, the 2005 Asylum Procedures Directive, the Dublin III Regulation, the 2013 Eurodac Regulation, and the 2013 Reception Conditions Directive. Ireland has also opted in to the Regulation establishing an EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
Ireland has now opted into seven of the Pact measures. These were:
• Directive (EU) 2024/1346: Reception Conditions Directive (recast)
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1347: Asylum Qualification Regulation
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1348: Asylum Procedure Regulation
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1350: EU Resettlement Framework Regulation
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1351: Asylum and Migration Management Regulation
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1358: Eurodac Regulation
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1359: Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation.
There are two Schengen measures that Ireland cannot opt into, as Ireland does not participate fully in the Schengen acquis. These two measures are:
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1356: Screening Regulation
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1349: Return Border Procedure Regulation
Ireland is however, planning to align appropriately in national law, through the International Protection Bill, with both of those measures.
It is important to note that Ireland was heavily involved in the negotiation process at official and Ministerial level to ensure that Irish interests were reflected in the Pact measures. Ireland’s representatives in the European Parliament also had the opportunity to examine and vote on the Pact in April 2024.
My Department continues to focus on preparing for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in advance of the measures coming into effect in June 2026.
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 underwent pre-legislative scrutiny at the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration last month. The drafting of the Bill is well underway. It is expected that the Bill will be published by the end of the year. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 11 June 2026.
234. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the quantity of fireworks seized by Gardaí within the Dublin west area in the 2025 Halloween period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66389/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the legislation in place to convict an individual for throwing an ignited firework at a person or property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66390/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together.
Government policy restricts the availability of all hazardous fireworks to the general public.
Anyone importing or selling fireworks of any kind must have a licence, and licences are only issued if the fireworks are to be used in organised displays conducted by professional and competent operators.
I can advise the Deputy that the penalties for importing, selling or using unlicensed fireworks are significant and the Criminal Justice Act 2006, specifically Part 6, grants members of An Garda Síochána the power to arrest individuals found with unlicensed fireworks and impose significant penalties, including fines up to €10,000 or up to five years' imprisonment for possession with intent to sell or supply, or for igniting them.
These penalties, which can also apply to those convicted or throwing an ignited firework at a person or property, demonstrate the seriousness attached to breaches of the legislation governing the importation and use of fireworks.
Each year in the run up to Halloween, additional efforts are made by An Garda Síochána to combat the illegal importation, sale and use of fireworks, under what is known as Operation Tombola. Operation Tombola is a national operation.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that Operation Tombola was actively implemented across the Dublin west area in the lead-up to and during the Halloween period, with each Chief Superintendent overseeing targeted measures to address the sale, supply, and possession of fireworks, as well as anti-social behaviour.
I have been further informed that among the actions incorporated into the Divisional Policing Plans were enhanced patrolling, with increased overt and covert patrols in key areas, including usual gathering locations for young people and areas likely to stockpile bonfire materials.
A key component of Operation Tombola this year has been active engagement with local authorities and partner agencies in each division, and gardaí collaborated closely with these stakeholders to ensure a unified approach to preventing anti-social behaviour during the Halloween period.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that a total of 25 seizures of fireworks were made in the DMR West Garda Division for the year to date* (*23rd November 2025)
236. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the urgent reforms he will introduce to ensure that victims of sexual violence in Ireland receive justice. [66455/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to ending sexual violence in all its forms, to strengthening protections for victims and survivors, and ensuring real accountability for perpetrators. This commitment is set out in the Zero Tolerance Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the most ambitious, whole-of-Government plan ever undertaken in this area, grounded in prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy coordination.
In June, I launched the final implementation plan for the strategy, which sets out clear actions, timelines, and lead responsibilities, ensuring that progress is measurable and transparent. It encompasses 95 actions. Priority areas include continuing national leadership and cross government alignment, advancing legislative reform, and upskilling front-line professionals across the health and social care sector, DSGBV services, the judiciary, courts, and other justice agencies.
Cuan, our statutory, dedicated DSGBV agency, continues to drive delivery, coordinate services, and strengthen accountability across the system. Funding increased to almost €80m under Budget 2026 to support Cuan and services working to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This represents an increase of €12m year on year.
The CSO sexual violence study published in 2022 provides a base line on the scale of the challenge but allows us to measure our progress more effectively. This ensures our actions, investments and reforms are targeted, accountable and evidence based. We are advancing a robust legislative programme to strengthen victim protections and hold offenders accountable.
This Government is fully aware of the distress and re-victimisation that disclosure of personal records can have on survivors of sexual violence, including counselling records. Last May I secured Cabinet approval for the drafting of the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which among other things amends the current statutory framework to ensure judicial oversight governs the disclosure of counselling records, and that disclosure only takes place when, in the Court’s opinion, it is necessary to avoid an unfair trial. Drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage and is continuing at pace.
I am also progressing the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence, and International Instruments) Bill 2025, which will enhance the law on sexual consent, and modernise outdated terminology around child sexual abuse material.
Significant legislative reform has already happened in recently years, including the Sex Offenders Amendment Act 2023, which strengthens the robust management and monitoring of offenders in place. The Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 provides enhanced protections for victims of sexual violence during investigations and court proceedings.
Legislating for preliminary trial hearings has helped to increase efficiency in how trials are run. This reduces delays and eases what can be a very traumatic process for victims. We have also undertaken a series of reforms under Supporting a Victims Journey to ensure the criminal justice system is more victim centred. These include
• The establishment of a course in the University of Limerick to train intermediaries to assist vulnerable victims with communication difficulties, including children, in navigating the justice system;
• Undertaking a mapping exercise to identify gaps in services and supports provided for victims, both geographically and by service type, and the provision of increased funding to address them;
• The establishment of a dedicated sexual offences unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
• The nationwide roll-out of Divisional Protective Services Units which ensures that vulnerable victims are dealt with by Gardaí who have specialist expertise;
• An improved Victims Charter website, providing a comprehensive repository of information for victims, which has a dedicated section providing specialist information for victims of sexual offences.
Ending sexual violence requires cultural change and, under Zero Tolerance, the Government is continuing to invest in long-term prevention through awareness campaigns aimed at zero tolerance of violence and abuse. The final implementation plan commits to continue to deliver impactful awareness campaigns on sexual consent and pathways to safety.
In line with these priorities, in September I launched You’re Not Alone, a new stream of the ‘Always Here’ awareness campaign to inform and reassure victims and survivors of sexual violence that help is always available when they are ready to seek support. Another key partnership in this work is the Ruhama and GAA Game Changer campaign, which uses the power of sport and its influence to challenge harmful social and cultural norms and behaviours that contribute to domestic and sexual violence, promote respect and empower communities to call out abuse.Tackling sexual violence is a priority across Government, and all relevant legislation and policy measures are kept under review to ensure they are effective, fair, and centred on victims’ safety and dignity.
237. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the breakdown of the number persons who applied for the recent higher level of reintegration assistance for people who withdraw their international protection application and leave Ireland voluntarily. [66483/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.
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 September, I announced that for a limited time, people who were in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025, would be offered increased reintegration assistance if they choose to avail of voluntary return. Anyone who has applied for International Protection after this date is not eligible for the enhanced reintegration supports.
Under this time limited scheme, if a person decides to opt for voluntary return at any point in the process prior to them appealing any negative first instance decision, their assistance will be increased to €2,500 per person to a maximum of €10,000 per family unit. If they are in the appeals process and decide to opt for voluntary return at any point prior to a negative appeal decision issuing their assistance will increase, but to the lower amount of €1,500 per person and to a maximum of €6,000 per family unit. If they apply for voluntary return after receiving a negative decision on their appeal, assistance will only increase for families to a maximum of €3,000 per family unit.
Increasing reintegration assistance for those at an earlier stage in the process is aimed at reducing the costs to the State and pressure on the system from the high numbers of applications received in 2023 and 2024. At the end of September 2025, there were almost 34,000 applications pending at different stages of the international protection process.
It is important to note that people can return to a country where they have legal residency, and this is not limited to their country of nationality. There are safeguards in place for vulnerable people and requests for return can be refused if it would be unsafe for the person to return. Each application is assessed on their eligibility for the programme.
My Department is carefully monitoring the operation of the programme to ensure it is working effectively and as intended. However, at this stage it is too early to assess the impact of the new arrangements.
A full assessment of the scheme's impact will be carried out in due course and more detailed analysis including as to the stage participants are at in the protection process when availing of the scheme will form part of this assessment but these figures are not yet collated. I can, however, advise the Deputy that in 2025 1,426 people have left the country under voluntary return up to 21 November, which is an increase of 90% compared to the same period in 2024.
