Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Cybersecurity Policy

Ceisteanna (126)

Barry Ward

Ceist:

126. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the Government's position on the proposed EU Cybersecurity Act 2 (CSA2; COM(2026) 11); whether that position will be published ahead of Ireland assuming the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July 2026; to detail the positions expressed by Ireland's representatives at the meetings of the Council's Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues (HWPCI) at which the CSA2 was presented and examined article-by-article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35381/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The Proposal for a revised Cybersecurity Act, known as the Cybersecurity Act 2 (CSA2), was published by the Commission on 20 January 2026.

At a high level, the proposal contains a number of positive developments including the CSA2’s particular emphasis on the strengthening the mandate of the European Union's Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). The reform of the European Cybersecurity Certification Framework (ECCF) will better enable the harmonisation of the recognition of the level of cyber security of ICT solutions across the Union, allowing Irish vendors and service providers to reach more customers throughout the EU. A harmonised approach to the security of the ICT supply chains can address the current fragmentation of the internal market caused by different approaches at national level, avoid critical dependencies and de-risk ICT supply chains from high-risk suppliers, in this way securing critical infrastructure.

However, all of the proposed provisions require detailed analysis and discussion within the Council of the European Union to ensure there is sufficient clarity as to their operation and impact, and as such they are also subject to change.

In considering Ireland’s position on this file my officials are engaging with relevant stakeholders including the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department for Communications, Culture and Sport and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, as well as seeking technical inputs from the National Cyber Security Centre regarding various aspects of this file.

In addition, my officials and the cyber team attached to the Permanent Representation in Brussels have been engaging with, and meeting stakeholders both here and in Brussels.

Citizenship Applications

Ceisteanna (127)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of a citizenship application (details supplied) in view that it is over 14 months since the application was first submitted; and if clarification will be given that the requested documentation have been received and will be reviewed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35415/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The naturalisation application cited was returned to the person concerned on 14 April 2026 as it was incomplete.

I can advise the Deputy that in cases where incomplete naturalisation applications are received, the application is returned to the applicant with a request to provide the missing documentation within 28 days. A reminder is issued after 18 days if the required documentation has still not been provided.

My Department has recently launched a new webpage to help people better understand the naturalisation application process, including the key documents required for identity and residency. The page also provides guidance on how to have documents certified. Your constituent can view it here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-an-irish-citizen-guide/.

As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.

Cyberbullying Issues

Ceisteanna (128)

Naoise Ó Cearúil

Ceist:

128. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether additional supports or reporting pathways are being developed to assist women in public life who experience AI driven forms of online intimidation, including deepfakes and synthetic media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35417/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I have requested some information on this matter and it has not been received on time. I will respond to the Deputy once the relevant information has been provided to me.

Naturalisation Applications

Ceisteanna (129)

Shane Moynihan

Ceist:

129. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will clarify the current policy regarding the treatment of time spent in the State under Temporary Protection (EU Directive 2001/55/EC) for the purposes of calculating reckonable residence for applications for Irish citizenship by naturalisation; if he will consider allowing, either in full or in part, such periods of residence to be counted towards the residency requirement, particularly in light of the significant number of Ukrainian nationals who have integrated into Irish society, are in employment, and intend to remain in the State long term; if he will outline whether any policy review is currently underway in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35418/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

In 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council extended Temporary Protection until March 2027. This extension is due to the ongoing uncertainty and volatility of the situation in Ukraine, and the related need for ongoing protection in the EU. There may be further extensions to the directive which will be agreed at EU level.

Ireland supports a harmonised EU-wide approach to exiting Temporary Protection, so that when this transition occurs, it does so consistently and appropriately across the EU.

Ireland remains supportive of the European Commission’s role in leading the dialogue on exit strategies. The Department cannot pre-empt the outcome of future discussions and decisions of the EU in this regard.

The Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs met recently and discussed this transition and a proposal is being developed for Government consideration in the coming weeks. The Government will also consider proposals being developed to phase out State-funded accommodation, which has been provided to people from Ukraine since 2022.

These proposals will align with the EU Council Recommendation concerning a co-ordinated approach to transition people out of Temporary Protection across the EU. Ireland is advancing the four sets of measures outlined in the Recommendation:

* Promote and facilitate the transition to other legal statuses before the end of temporary protection;

* Pave the way for a smooth and sustainable reintegration in Ukraine;

* Ensure information provision to displaced people; and

* Ensure coordination, monitoring and exchange of information among Member States and with the Ukrainian authorities.

Ireland’s objective is to achieve a coordinated and orderly exit from temporary protection through advancing the above measures.

I can advise the Deputy that it is existing policy that time spent in the State on permissions that are inherently transitionary or intended to be temporary in nature are not reckonable for the purpose of naturalisation.

Last November I, along with Minister O'Callaghan, secured Government approval to introduce new policies and legislative changes to strengthen Ireland’s migration and asylum system to ensure it is rules-based, efficient and more aligned with EU Member States.

To provide legislative clarity for the existing policy position in relation to temporary permissions, we intend to amend the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 to explicitly exclude Temporary Protection under the Temporary Protection Directive from the residency accrual provisions of the 1956 Act. This will require legislative change, full scrutiny of which will take place through the regular parliamentary process.

The impact of the exclusion of time spent under Temporary Protection from the calculation of reckonable residence will be carefully considered as part of the ongoing work across Government on approaches to managing the exit from Temporary Protection.

Prison Service

Ceisteanna (130)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

130. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans the Government, and his Department have to improve capacity within the country's prisons, and in particular the Midlands and Portlaoise prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35450/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I am acutely aware of the capacity constraints in our prisons and the resulting challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the courts and has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.

I am pursuing a dual approach to address the issue of prison overcrowding by both increasing prison capacity and pursuing further measures to support increased use of non-custodial sanctions.

Since 2024, 232 spaces have been constructed across the Prison Estate, with 126 delivered in 2024 and 106 in 2025. There are plans to build another 65 spaces in 2026.

On conclusion of the NDP Review in July 2025, I secured a record capital investment of €528 million from 2026 to 2030, of which €495 million is being invested in building projects to further increase capacity, with an overall target of delivering over 1,500 spaces by 2031.

A multi-year building programme is progressing at several key sites across the prison estate and will include two separate projects in the Midlands prison: the Circular Landings project will provide over 100 additional spaces by 2027, and a new additional wing will provide up to 180 spaces by 2030. It will also include a project at Portlaoise to deliver 40 additional spaces by 2027. Additionally, the programme includes a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned Cork Prison, and a new block in Wheatfield. This is in addition to spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre, where an extension to Rowan House is expected to accommodate 50 women prisoners. The record capital allocation will also allow for work to start to plan and develop a new prison on the Thornton site in North County Dublin. A master plan for the site will be developed in 2026.

I have also sought and secured an exemption from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for 6 projects (960 prison spaces) to move straight to Approval Gate 2 – Pre Tender Approval of the Infrastructure Guidelines, a measure which is expected to speed up the delivery of these projects by 12 to 18 months.

Prison Service

Ceisteanna (131)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

131. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the options, if any, he is considering to increase the use of community service and effective restorative justice to alleviate the current overcrowding in our prison system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35451/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I am committed to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of effective community sanctions that reduce offending, divert people away from criminal behaviour, and support sustainable rehabilitation.

Budget 2026 provides for a 13% increase in funding for the Probation Service. This additional funding will be used to increase use of supervised community sanctions in the criminal courts, expand restorative justice services, and expand supervised temporary release schemes nationally.

In April 2025, I approved the publication of the Probation Service’s Community Service - New Directions Implementation Plan 2025-2027. Work is also underway to develop a pilot bail support policy as an alternative to being detained in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.

On 9 January, I published the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provision) Bill, which completed second stage on 22 January 2026. The Bill proposes amendments to the Community Service Act 1983 to support and encourage greater use of Community Service Orders (CSOs). It includes an amendment to oblige the courts to consider a CSO in lieu of a prison sentence of up to 24 months’ duration (the current such threshold being 12 months) and to give reasons where they consider that a CSO should not be imposed in such a case. It will further amend sections 3 and 5 of the 1983 Act to increase the maximum number of community service hours that a judge may order from 240 to 480.

Restorative justice is also a key component of this work, and evidence shows that this practice can support victims to recover from the impact of a crime, as well as serving to reduce re-offending.

In April 2025, I approved the publication of the Probation Service’s Action Plan - "Restoring Relationships: Repairing Harm and Empowering Voices through Restorative Justice" which runs from 2025 to 2027. This plan is designed to promote awareness and support increased use of restorative justice across the system. The plan also commits the Probation Service to driving the integration of restorative justice into all its services, while also expanding it nationally.

The Service provides restorative justice nationally, and also through a number of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), which provide dedicated restorative justice programmes across 24 counties. The Probation Service also funds other CBOs which use restorative practice in their work with clients, to promote respectful relationships, and acknowledge and address the harm caused by their offending. The Service, through its national Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit, also supports the integration of Restorative Justice models into practice across the country. This includes victim empathy programmes, family restorative conferences, reparation projects, and victim-offender dialogues.

I’m advised that the Service has recently concluded a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from CBOs which are interested and capable of employing dedicated Restorative Justice project workers to deliver restorative justice services in Donegal, Sligo, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan. The Service will also be conducting EOI competitions in 2026 to further expand its services including in South Tipperary.

I’m advised that the Probation Service recently ran a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from CBOs that are interested and capable of employing a dedicated Restorative Justice project worker to deliver restorative justice services in Waterford. When the EOI process is concluded and the service is in place, this will bring to 25 the number of counties in which The Probation Service funded community-based RJ services are available.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (132)

Naoise Ó Cearúil

Ceist:

132. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration how his Department intends to manage overlaps between the EU AI Act, GDPR, and the Digital Services Act; whether a formal coordination mechanism between regulators has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35519/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The agencies tasked with regulating the GDPR, DSA and EU AI Act in Ireland are independent of Government in the performance of their responsibilities and functions. However, ensuring a well-functioning digital regulatory environment is a key priority for Government and inter-regulatory cooperation is key to achieving this aim.

Ireland is committed to strengthening its position as an EU Centre of Excellence and digital regulatory hub and to ensuring a modern, cohesive and well-resourced regulatory framework that is responsive to the evolving digital age. Key objectives in our new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland, include a commitment to reinforce Ireland’s position as a trusted, agile, forward-looking digital regulatory hub for companies operating across the EU Digital Single Market; delivering a predictable, efficient, and streamlined regulatory environment; and fostering collaboration and coherence across the digital regulatory landscape.

Regular stakeholder engagement is a central feature in this work, including continued formal engagement on important digital regulatory issues with the Digital Regulators Group (which consists of the Data Protection Commission (DPC), Coimisiún na Meán, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and Comreg) through the Senior Officials Group on Digital & AI (Digital & AI SOG). The Digital & AI SOG is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, (and attended by officials from my department and other interested departments, such as the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment), and reports to the Cabinet Committee on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness.

Ireland will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for balanced, proportionate and coherent digital regulation, which supports competitiveness and innovation, while protecting data privacy and fundamental rights; this includes continuing to advocate for an ambitious and dynamic approach to digital simplification.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

133. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount paid by the State for IPAS accommodation at the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for each of the past five years (2021-2025), and the estimated cost for 2026 to date. [35522/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

134. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration total expenditure incurred by the State on IPAS accommodation at the Red Cow complex (including any associated hotels or facilities) for each of the past five years (2021-2025). [35523/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

135. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure by his Department on IPAS accommodation at Crooksling for each of the past five years (2021-2025). [35524/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

136. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount paid in respect of St John's House IPAS accommodation centre in Cookstown, Tallaght, for each of the past five years (2021-2025). [35525/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

137. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the capacity and average occupancy levels of the Citywest IPAS facility for each year from 2021 to 2025. [35526/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

138. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the names of the companies or entities contracted to provide IPAS accommodation services at (i) Citywest, (ii) Red Cow, (iii) Crooksling, and (iv) St John's House Cookstown. [35527/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

140. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in the event that precise figures cannot be provided for the locations referenced, if he will provide the total payments made to the relevant accommodation providers associated with these facilities for each of the past five years. [35529/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138 and 140 together.

Since 2024, the Department does not publish information on the locations or capacity of accommodation centres. This is to protect the privacy and safety of residents and staff.

The Department considers commercial contract information as commercially sensitive, and does not publish details of contractual information on the basis that it could place the State at a disadvantage in ongoing commercial negotiations.

However, there is full transparency from the Department in terms of providers receiving payments, with details of all payments over €20,000 and the recipients published quarterly online at Gov.ie.

Details of payments while the IPAS accommodation was provided through the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality (DCDE) are available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/.

Following the Transfer of Functions on 1 May 2025, the Department of Justice is now responsible for sourcing and providing accommodation for people applying for international protection, and the details of payments since the transfer are available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/department-of-justice-purchase-orders-issued-over-20000-in-value/.

On a national level, the allocation for IPAS accommodation and supports for 2025 was €1.27 billion and this has reduced to €1.1 billion for accommodation and supports in 2026.

The table below outlines the total spend on IPAS accommodation in commercial and State-owned accommodation since 2021. Please note the 2025 figure is provisional pending completion of the 2025 Appropriation Accounts.

Table: Total spend on IPAS accommodation in commercial and State-owned accommodation since 2021.

2021	€190,856,000
2022	€356,554,000
2023	€651,756,000
2024	€1.005 billion
2025	€1.2 billion

The costs outlined above pertain to accommodation for international protection applicants, including transport, facilities management, utilities and other related costs.

The Department is working to increase the amount of State-owned international protection accommodation and creating a more stable and sustainable accommodation system. As developing these more sustainable state-owned accommodation system options will take time, the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be a feature in the short to medium term.

The Department publishes figures detailing the numbers of residents and centres, with a breakdown of numbers of emergency accommodation centres, on a regular basis and these reports are available here: www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/collections/statistics-2004-to-2026/#latest-ipas-statistics-weekly-report.

Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 133.

Question No. 135 answered with Question No. 133.

Question No. 136 answered with Question No. 133.

Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 133.

Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 133.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (139)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

139. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS accommodations operating without planning permission or whereby they have been exempt from planning permission [35528/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

IPAS currently has over 300 accommodation centres in operation, and over 33,000 residents in total. Planning regulation and compliance is a matter between the relevant Local Authority and the property or provider.

A number of planning regulations are in place relating to international protection accommodation, and these are outlined below.

The Department does not collate data on accommodation centres by planning compliance in the format requested by the Deputy. However all contracts that are being renewed, and any new contract entered into since 2025, must be accompanied by the appropriate documentation to verify their compliance with the relevant planning regulations. This is reviewed by the Department at appraisal or contract renewal stage.

Section 14 h of S.I. No. 582/2015 - The Planning and Development Act may be utilised by providers of accommodation for international protection applicants: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/582/made/en/print.

The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations (S.I. 605 of 2022) were introduced to assist the State in meeting Ireland’s legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants.

The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, to insert a new Class 20F exemption, with the structures in question being temporarily exempted from the requirement to obtain change of use planning permission. The regulations allow the temporary use of certain structures to accommodate or support persons seeking international protection.

Class 20F of S.I. No. 605 of 2022 permits the change of use of the following structures for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities for international protection applicants: “school, college, university, training centre, social centre, community centre, non-residential club, art gallery, museum, library, reading room, sports club or stadium, gymnasium, hotel, convention centre, conference centre, shop, office, Defence Forces barracks, light industrial building, airport operational building, wholesale warehouse or repository, local authority administrative office, play centre, medical and other health and social care accommodation, event and exhibition space or any structure or part of structure normally used for public worship or religious instruction.”

The conditions of this exemption can be located here: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/605/made/en/print.

The Regulations 2023 (S.I. 376 of 2023) extended the planning exemption provided by S.I. 605 of 2022, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2028. This means that properties covered by this SI can operate as an accommodation centre for people seeking international protection under the provisions of that legislation for as long as it is applicable.

The Department continues to manage and source suitable international protection accommodation, with an emphasis on development of more State-owned accommodation options, and moving away over time from reliance on commercial provision.

Question No. 140 answered with Question No. 133.