Written Answers Nos. 178-197
178. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of men who applied for paternity benefit; the number of women who applied for maternity benefit, in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38035/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate statistics on claim processing activity by characteristics such as gender, and this information is not readily available. Statistics in respect of applications are maintained for schemes as whole. For 2026 to date, there were 13,958 applications for Maternity Benefit and 10,470 registrations for Paternity Benefit.
The table below details the number of applications in the past three years 2023-2025:
|
Scheme |
Maternity Benefit |
Paternity Benefit |
|
2023 |
43,253 |
29,177 |
|
2024 |
42,434 |
29,751 |
|
2025 |
42,768 |
30,198 |
179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of either jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance who are under the age of 30. [38055/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total number of recipients for Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, and Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit aged 29 or under are given in the table below. These figures are as of 30th April 2026.
|
- |
Number of Recipients |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
26,837 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1,211 |
|
Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit |
5,730 |
|
|
|
180. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); the status of the working family payment application in question; if the application will be expedited given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38094/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP provides financial support for employees who have low earnings/income relative to their family size. The WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the relevant prescribed income limit.
A Social Welfare Inspector is currently reviewing the claim and once we receive a report we will be in a position to process the application for the person concerned.
181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a working family payment submitted on 19 April 2026 will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38119/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 19 April 2026.
Additional information regarding employment has been requested from the person concerned.
On receipt of the requested details from the person concerned their WFP application will be processed without delay and they will be notified directly of the outcome.
182. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a retained, part-time firefighter would have to leave the fire service to attain full-time employment in the event of being unable to obtain another part-time job as per their jobseeker's benefit agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38253/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRetained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed may make a claim for a jobseeker’s payment in respect of days of unemployment including those days they are engaged in fire-fighting or training, subject to the normal jobseeker's qualifying conditions. They are also required to satisfy the statutory conditions for the receipt of a jobseeker’s payment of being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work.
However, taking account of the unusual circumstances of retained fire-fighters, the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 carried amendments to both Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance that put the treatment of retained fire-fighters on a legislative basis. This legislation provided that when a retained fire-fighter is on call this will not result in a disallowance for a jobseeker’s payment on grounds of availability for full-time work.
In terms of genuinely seeking work, a retained fire fighter must be available for additional part-time employment within the 1.5 mile area and/or or suitable alternative full-time employment beyond it. All recipients of jobseekers payments, including retained fire fighters, should be prepared to accept full-time employment when and if such employment is obtained. The conditions that pertain to employment as a retained fire fighter are not a matter for my Department.
183. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of residential properties acquired, leased, licensed or otherwise secured by or on behalf of his Department for use connected to international protection accommodation from 2022 to date, by county and local authority area. [37950/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra184. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department operates a policy of acquiring or utilising standard residential housing stock within existing housing estates for international protection accommodation purposes. [37951/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra185. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any national policy framework, operational guidance or internal protocol exists governing the placement of international protection applicants within residential estates or standard private housing developments. [37952/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any consultation, notification or community engagement obligations apply before residential properties are brought into use for international protection accommodation purposes. [37953/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether local authorities, management companies, elected representatives, An Garda Síochána, schools or health services are routinely notified before such properties become operational. [37954/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any assessment is conducted regarding local infrastructure capacity, including school places, GP capacity, transport availability and community services, before residential properties are utilised for international protection accommodation. [37955/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department maintains a central register of residential properties used for international protection accommodation purposes. [37956/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra190. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of residential properties currently occupied by single male applicants, family applicants and vulnerable persons respectively. [37957/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra191. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any formal community engagement meetings relating to residential-property-based international protection accommodation were cancelled, deferred or withdrawn since 2024. [37958/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra192. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department intends to expand the use of standard residential housing stock for international protection accommodation over the next three years. [37959/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 192, inclusive, together.
The International Protection Accommodation Service is currently accommodating over 33,000 residents in 305 international protection accommodation centres around the country.
Currently over 88% of accommodation capacity is provided through commercial providers. In contracting or purchasing accommodation over recent years, despite significant pressures on accommodation supply, the Department has worked in the main to avoid competing with the residential property market.
The great majority of IPAS accommodation capacity, whether contracted or State-owned, is located in group settings in larger properties, like former hotels, guesthouses, commercial and institutional buildings. A small proportion of more vulnerable applicants may be accommodated in smaller scale properties.
A small number of residential type properties are contracted to IPAS to provide accommodation in communities, for international protection applicants with specific needs or higher support needs.
In line with the Programme for Government 2025 the State is working to develop more State-owned international protection accommodation and reduce reliance on commercially contracted accommodation.
37 in-community properties were purchased by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the accommodation of more vulnerable applicants, for whom group accommodation would not be suitable. It is not my intention as Minister to purchase any further properties of this type.
34 of these properties are being deployed to meet the needs of vulnerable cohorts of applicants. Three of these properties are currently under review for alternative uses outside of international protection accommodation.
In the limited cases where we’re providing accommodation applicants with specific needs or higher support needs, information about the address of centres or resident information is treated as confidential, to preserve people’s privacy, safety and anonymity.
Breakdown of type of property:
|
Type of Property |
Number |
|
One Bed Apartment |
1 |
|
Two Bed Apartment |
5 |
|
Two Bed House |
4 |
|
Three Bed House |
20 |
|
Four Bed House |
5 |
|
10 Bed |
1 |
|
12 Bed |
1 |
|
Total |
37 |
Since 2024, IPAS has not published details of the specific locations, resident profile, and occupancy of our accommodation centres. This is to preserve the privacy, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff.
193. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review an immigration case (details supplied) which is currently being appealed with a view to overturning the decision given the information provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37960/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that an application was received on 12 March 2026 and this application is being considered. The applicant currently holds permission until 30 July 2026 and should the application not be reached for decision by that point, I will then consider the issuance of temporary permission whilst the application is pending.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
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.
194. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the scheduled expiry date for the existing management contract of a facility (details supplied); if the initial one-year contract reportedly agreed upon at the time of the facility's purchase is the current arrangement governing the site, or if it has since been extended; the expected timeline for the issuance of the new management tender for the complex and whether he anticipates that this new contract will be awarded and in place prior to the expiration of the current agreement; the steps being taken to ensure operational continuity and the maintenance of a "robust and rules-based" immigration system during the transition between management contractors at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38045/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the proposed tender for the management of facilities (details supplied); the scheduled date for the issuance of this tender, the expected platform where it will be published; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the services and operational requirements to be covered under the new management contract; to clarify the separation of duties and the defined "boundary of responsibility" between Departmental staff and the private contractors appointed through this tender; if the scope of this tender will include another facility noted as a privately owned entity located on the same campus; if the facility is excluded from the tender, to detail what considerations have been taken regarding the long-term co-existence of these facilities, given the pending exemption application for that site; the way in which his Department intends to manage the logistics of shared campus facilities and hospitality services between state-managed processing centres and privately operated premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38046/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
The Cabinet provided approval on 17 June 2025 for the State purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for international protection accommodation.
The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection by moving away from commercial properties to State-owned centres.
The wider Citywest campus includes lands and buildings which are not part of this purchase. On the wider campus, approximately 800 beds for international protection applicants are provided in a separate commercial accommodation centre, City Ark, but this is not part of the purchase by the State.
Following the purchase the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre, a 12-month transitional service agreement was put in place with the existing provider to ensure operational continuity. The transitional service agreement includes an optional 6-month extension and it is anticipated that it will be necessary to utilise the 6 month extension to allow adequate time to complete a compliant procurement process.
A tender specification is currently under development by Department officials, and a procurement process for the provision of the services at Citywest will be conducted in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules.
A request for tenders (RFT) notice will be published on both the Government etenders website (www.etenders.gov.ie) and on the website of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in due course.
The breakdown of the services and operational requirements to be covered under the new management contract will be published as part of the tender process and will be available on the following link: www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/home.do
The tender being developed is specific to the Citywest hotel and convention centre and does not include City Ark, which is contracted as commercial emergency accommodation.
With respect to contract renewals, the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants is demand-led, and each premises is considered on a case-by-case basis to decide if the contract will be renewed as it approaches its end date.
196. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will commit to ensuring that all forthcoming security and management tenders for facilities (details supplied) explicitly include protocols within service level agreements (SLAs) requiring contractors to assist residents in distress when they are outside the immediate campus boundaries; the specific mechanisms by which his Department ensures that resident welfare and community safety are maintained when residents are in the surrounding locality, and how these responsibilities are formalised and monitored within private management contracts; if he will mandate that new tenders for these facilities define a clear duty of care extending beyond the facility gates, particularly to address reported gaps in responsibility during medical or psychiatric emergencies involving residents in the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38047/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra198. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a detailed statement on the specific clauses within service-level agreements (SLAs) with private contractors managing facilities (details supplied) that define the "boundary of responsibility" regarding the welfare and safety of residents; if these contracts stipulate that the duty of care for residents ceases once an individual passes beyond the facility gates, as reportedly claimed by security staff during a medical emergency involving a 22-year-old resident on 9 May 2026; the way in which his Department ensures that resident welfare and community safety are maintained when residents are in the surrounding locality, and whether current SLAs include protocols for contractors to assist residents in distress outside the immediate campus; whether any risk or safeguarding assessments have been conducted to evaluate the impact of this perceived "responsibility gap" on the local community and the health outcomes of vulnerable residents; the steps being taken to ensure that centre management, An Garda Síochána, and the National Ambulance Service have a coordinated response protocol for incidents involving residents that occur in the public domain (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38049/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 198 together.
The contracted accommodation provider at an IPAS centre is obliged to ensure provision of staffing and services at the centre.
Security and supervision arrangements are provided for under the contract and include the need to comply with the licensing requirements of the Private Security Authority (PSA).
Accommodation is currently provided in over 300 locations all over the country, in every county. 1 in 4 of our residents is a child with their family. Many people seeking international protection are working in the local community, participating in training and attending school within the local community.
Regardless of their regular accommodation setting, if a person experiences a medical emergency within a community setting, the appropriate action is to contact the emergency services who are equipped to respond appropriately.
The provision of supports and services to people seeking international protection is a whole of Government response. IPAS works closely with the HSE. People applying for international protection access health services through mainstream services: primary care, GP and emergency services. IPAS will advise their HSE liaison in advance of residents being accommodated.
While accommodated at the Citywest Reception and Accommodation centre, residents will receive the same supports as at other IPAS locations. This includes access to medical care via the HSE social inclusion outreach teams and medical card provision; IPAS customer services team clinics; onsite support from the provider’s staff; and psycho-social and integration support from NGO partners.
IPAS has a dedicated Resident Welfare Team comprising subject matter experts seconded to the team on a full-time basis, as well as a number of support officers, who direct applicants with special reception needs within our accommodation, to relevant services or provide other appropriate information, as required. These include Social Workers and personnel from the National Social Inclusion Office at the HSE, Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) from the Tusla Education Support Services (TESS).
Where appropriate, the Resident Welfare Team engages with the centre managers and NGOs on-site to ensure that an applicant’s reception needs can be addressed within their current accommodation centre, providing information and support and signposting persons to relevant services. IPAS Social Workers seconded to the Resident Welfare Team are available to help applicants with high levels of vulnerability, and can make onward referrals to services and advocate for vulnerable persons as appropriate.
If a medical emergency arises within an IPAS accommodation centre, centre managers are required to contact National Emergency Services. IPAS has protocols and procedures in place for centre managers to submit incident reports and to report emergencies that occur within the accommodation setting to IPAS.
197. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeline for formally designating a facility (details supplied) as a permanent International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) facility;if such a designation will bring the facility under the statutory remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and other independent inspection bodies to ensure rigorous oversight of resident welfare and facility standards; the current inspection and safeguarding regime in place at the site while it operates as a processing location, following the significant State investment and doubling of staff at the International Protection Office (IPO); his views on the way permanent designation will address reported concerns regarding contractual boundaries and the duty of care owed to residents both within and outside the facility gates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38048/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration takes the welfare and wellbeing of all international protection applicants in our accommodation very seriously, and this commitment is reflected in the way services at the Citywest complex are structured and managed.
Medical care for residents is mainstreamed through the public health system on the same basis as all persons living in Ireland. Residents have access to GP services and primary care, and in the event of any medical emergency, standard emergency services are available and are called upon in the same manner as they would be for any member of the public, including where an incident arises outside the immediate perimeter of an accommodation centre.
Response to Incidents that arise in centres are defined and set out in IPAS policies, across a broad range from general minor incidents to those considered critical. Guidelines are in place for IPAS staff and department officials in relation to responding quickly to any incidents and taking action to ensure people are safe, including reporting to An Garda Síochána, the HSE, and other agencies where necessary.
All IPAS Accommodation Centres are subject to oversight arrangements through the Department's Centre Management and Compliance Team, and inspected either by HIQA, department officials, or by external inspectors commissioned by the department.
Across the wider network of IPAS Accommodation Centres, emergency accommodation centres are inspected by the department through officials or through an external contractor. 420 of these inspections were completed in 2025 and these reports are published regularly on gov.ie.
The inspections examine the quality of the accommodation services, looking at food quality, fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents, the condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters and adherence to hygiene and other health and safety measures. Centres are inspected at intervals every year and all inspections are unannounced. These inspections also check on whether centres are fulfilling their overall contractual obligations.
Where any centre, following an inspection, has areas of partial or non-compliance identified, a bespoke compliance plan is agreed, noting the specific and time-bound measures which will be taken in order to ensure full compliance.
