Aidan Farrelly
Ceist:662. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he last formally met with the Chief Superintendent of Kildare-Carlow division; and the topics discussed. [45243/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (662)
Freagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that on 4 September 2025 I visited Carlow Garda Station in the Kildare/Carlow Division.
Local Gardaí briefed me on local policing matters, including crime trends, crime prevention initiatives, road traffic enforcement, Garda community schemes, Juvenile Diversion Projects, and Local Community Safety Partnerships among other issues of priority.
Chief Superintendent Buckley commenced his role as Divisional Officer of Kildare/Carlow Division in December 2024 and we have not yet had the opportunity to formally meet in his time as Divisional Officer.
It is my practice to meet with Garda senior managers, Gardaí and Garda staff to better understand the front-line policing challenges they face locally, to make sure the Government can provide the most appropriate and effective support. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss each Garda Division's Policing Plan, how community policing is delivered in each Division, and how local Gardaí can work with Local Community Safety Partnerships.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (663)
Aidan Farrelly
Ceist:663. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of unmarked Garda vans attached to each Garda division as of 9 June 2026, in tabular form. [45244/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (664)
George Lawlor
Ceist:664. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 617 of 6 May 2026, if he has received the relevant information from Garda authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45248/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Parliamentary Question No. 617 of 6 May sought: "the number of unmarked motorcycles currently attached to Garda roads policing unit fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter."
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that it would not be appropriate to publicly disclose the number of unmarked motorcycles attached to Road Policing Units for operational security reasons.
For the Deputy’s information, detailed statistics relating to the Garda Fleet are publicly available on the Garda website at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.[]
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the allocation and deployment of Garda resources throughout the State.
Local Community Safety Partnerships
Ceisteanna (665, 667)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Ceist:665. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the community safety partnerships currently in effect and in planning, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45261/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraShónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Ceist:667. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that funding for implementing local Community Safety Plans will be available from his Department, or bodies under its aegis; the mechanisms that exist to ensure same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45297/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 667 together.
The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced in April 2025, provides for the establishment of 36 Local Community Safety Partnerships (Safety Partnerships) within each local authority area. 35 of 36 Safety Partnerships have now been formally established under the Act and meetings have already taken place.
I approved the membership of the final Safety Partnership, in Limerick, on 9 June 2026 and the inaugural meeting is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
Under section 116 of the Act, Safety Partnerships once established, are independent, community-led bodies mandated to design tailored safety plans based on local priorities. They make their own decisions as to their day-to-day activity, operating in accordance with Statutory Regulations and having regard to Guidance from the National Office for Community Safety. Queries relating to their work should be directed to the relevant Safety Partnership.
In accordance with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, and in recognition that community safety is not solely the responsibility of An Garda Síochána, Safety Partnerships bring together a broader range of relevant stakeholders to identify and respond to issues relating to community safety in a coordinated, proactive way.
Each local partnership will be responsible for developing a tailored and prioritised plan specific to that area in conjunction with the community and the relevant public services. Safety Partnerships leverage local and national policies, planning and funding to ensure service delivery is aligned with local needs. Drawing together the collective resources of partners at the table, they will ensure interventions are delivered proactively by the service best placed to deliver it and in a joined up, integrated way with other services.
Each Safety Partnership is also supported by a dedicated Community Safety Coordinator and an Administrator. Both of these permanent positions are hosted within each Local Authority. The National Office for Community Safety, an office of my Department, is providing support and guidance to Safety Partnerships in the performance of their functions and to monitor the implementation of local community safety plans.
I was pleased to secure €8 million in Budget 2026 for the National Office for Community Safety to support the Office in carrying out its functions, including its support for Local Community Partnerships and work on the development of a National Strategy for Improving Community Safety.
While my Department is providing budgetary support to local authorities for the administration and operation of Safety Partnerships, arising from the plans developed, relevant authorities and bodies represented on each Partnership will be responsible for progressing initiatives that fall under their respective remits and will be accountable to the community in fulfilling the agreed actions identified in the Local Community Safety Plan.
In this way, and as evidenced in the three Local Community Safety Partnership pilot areas of Dublin North Inner City, Longford and Waterford, all relevant State authorities and bodies will contribute to the delivery of action plans.
Contact details for Local Community Safety Partnerships are available at this link. justicegovie.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/45c092b0ff534dd48bce257bbe7a7dc0.[]
Family Reunification
Ceisteanna (666)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:666. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current waiting period for family reunification applications submitted by Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders from countries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45262/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can advise the Deputy that my Department currently operates seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. These are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated authority from my Department.
If a non-EEA national is moving to Ireland because they have been granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit, they can apply for join family visas at the same time as their own employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and typically receive a first instance decision within the 10-12 week business target. People who make join family visa applications separately from the above process will generally receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target.
It should be noted that some applications can take considerably longer. Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods, such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
It should be noted that not all the countries listed by the Deputy are visa required. As such, figures for join family visa applications are only provided for visa required countries in the table below. Furthermore, it has not been possible to provide the figures exactly as the Deputy has requested, as the figures include the following categories: Join Family (Non-EEA nat.) de facto partner, Join Family (Non-EEA nat.) other, Join Family (Non-EEA nat.) spouse and Join Family (de facto partner of CSEP/HA).
Table 1. Average processing time for family reunification applications
|
Nationality |
Avg processing time in days in 2025 |
Avg processing time in days in 2026 (up to 31/03) |
|
China |
79 |
24 |
|
Egypt |
51 |
47 |
|
India |
55 |
27 |
|
Iran |
66 |
21 |
|
Nigeria |
80 |
61 |
|
Pakistan |
89 |
28 |
|
Philippines |
175 |
36 |
|
South Africa |
121 |
17 |
|
Turkiye |
44 |
15 |
|
Zimbabwe |
45 |
18 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
* All figures are calendar days and based on a 7-day week. There is no allowance made for weekends, public, bank or religious holidays in the various jurisdictions.
*The figures include the following categories: Join Family (Non-EEA nat.) de facto partner, Join Family (Non-EEA nat.) other, Join Family (Non-EEA nat.) spouse and Join Family (de facto partner of CSEP/HA)
Question No. 667 answered with Question No. 665.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (668)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:668. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the estimated cost to the State of enforcing and prosecuting breaches of Covid-19 public health regulations, including legal and administrative costs. [45303/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is wholly independent under the Prosecution of Offences Act, 1974. As the Office of the DPP is not a body under my remit I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Office of the Director. As such I am unable to provide any information on the cost of prosecuting breaches of Covid-19 health regulations on their behalf.
The Deputy may wish to note that members of the Houses of the Oireachtas may contact the Office of the DPP for information through media.liaison@dppireland.ie.
In respect of investigations and enforcement, due to the nature of the investigative process, it is not possible to provide budget allocations or costs arising. In fulfilling their duties Garda personnel may be assigned to several investigations in response to operational requirements. As such it is not possible to provide costs or resources associated with specific investigations, along the lines sought by the Deputy.
Artificial Intelligence
Ceisteanna (669)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:669. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has any way to identify which Parliamentary Questions are AI generated; and the amount it costs, on average, to answer a Parliamentary Question. [45375/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not have any information in relation to identifying Parliamentary Questions (PQs) that are AI generated.
My Department receives a large and growing number of PQs each year and works with teams across all units and agencies to source and provide timely and accurate responses.
My Department dealt with a significant increase in PQs in the last 2 years, growing from 3,743 questions received in 2024, to 7,050 in 2025, an 88% increase overall.
The work involved in responding to PQs can vary depending on the complexity of the question, the number of units and agencies involved in providing a response and the time required to collate the information requested.
This work forms part of the day-to-day work of many officials within my Department and is not recorded separately from other work. As such, it is not possible to quantify the cost of responding to a PQ.
Court Orders
Ceisteanna (670)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:670. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the proposals he is considering to develop a policy on removal orders to take domestic abuse offenders out of the home; if there is a timeline for the introduction of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45381/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need, is an absolute priority for me.
There are commitments in the Programme for Government and in ‘Zero Tolerance’, the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to enable individuals experiencing sexual or domestic violence to remain safely in their own homes, whenever possible, and my Department is working to develop policy in this area.
I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have what is needed to combat all forms of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSBGV) and to support victims and survivors and that our justice system is victim-centred.
My Department is examining proposals, to develop a policy on removal orders to take offenders out of the home in high-risk cases, subject to legal considerations. This is envisaged as a new Garda power to intervene on a short-term, emergency basis in cases of domestic violence to prevent further abuse in the home, supplementing longer-term protections such as barring orders.
Deliberations are ongoing, in consultation with key stakeholders, including on how the proposed new power would best complement existing protections.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (671, 672, 673, 674)
Michael Collins
Ceist:671. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific access road or portion of road referred to in the Project Echo final business case for the acquisition of a facility (details supplied) including the road name, map reference, folio reference or other identifying description; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45384/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Collins
Ceist:672. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the access road or portion of road referred to in the Project Echo final business case is a public road, taken in charge by South Dublin County Council, privately owned, subject to an easement, right of way, licence, management company arrangement or other access arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45385/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Collins
Ceist:673. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether uninterrupted 24-hour access to a facility (details supplied) is legally secured for fire services, ambulance services, An Garda Síochána, residents, staff, service providers, buses, deliveries and neighbouring businesses; whether this was assessed before acquisition; whether any road-access risk was identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45386/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Collins
Ceist:674. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount of the annual maintenance fee payable by his Department in respect of the access road or portion of road referred to in the Project Echo final business case; the recipient of that payment; the legal basis for the payment; whether the fee is fixed, index-linked or subject to review; whether the cost was included in the 25-year value-for-money assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45387/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 671 to 674, inclusive, together.
The Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre is State-owned accommodation operated under contract by an accommodation provider engaged by the Department. The Hotel and Convention Centre was purchased by the State in August 2025, along with other parts, but not all of the overall Citywest campus.
The purchase of the Citywest property 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.
A map showing the parts of the campus included in the State purchase is available at www.gov.ie/citywest.
The road specified by the Deputy is the main thoroughfare access road from Garter Lane entering the site.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department holds a road access agreement with the provider on site, which includes uninterrupted 24 hour access to this road, and this expense was included in the value-for-money assessment undertaken.
The Department treats detailed contractual information as commercially sensitive and does not publish details of contracts on the basis that it could place the State at a disadvantage in other commercial negotiations.
However, there is full transparency from the Department in terms of payments, with details of all payments over €20,000 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: Purchase Orders for €20,000 or above.
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: Department of Justice Purchase Orders Issued over €20,000 in value.
Question No. 672 answered with Question No. 671.
Question No. 673 answered with Question No. 671.
Question No. 674 answered with Question No. 671.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (675)
Michael Collins
Ceist:675. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 20 May 2026, whether he will correct or clarify the record in respect of where his answer referred to general IPAS inspection arrangements, in circumstances where FOI evidence and published inspection records appear to show that the State-owned Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre are not designated centres, have no published HIQA or IPAS inspection reports, and are treated differently from a privately owned facility (details supplied) on the same campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45398/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All IPAS Accommodation Centres, whether state-owned or contracted emergency accommodation, 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, 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.
Prior to the purchase of the site in August last year, the accommodation capacity at Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre was primarily provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, which is not subject to the same oversight arrangements as IPAS Accommodation Centres. The former hotel remains primarily used for this purpose.
The Convention Centre on the campus has been used as accommodation for international protection applicants since 2023, and is regularly inspected by Department officials, many of whom are working on site on a routine basis. I can assure the Deputy that regular inspections of service provision at the Citywest Reception Centre will continue to take place as we progress implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Immigration Policy
Ceisteanna (676)
Noel McCarthy
Ceist:676. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing times for Stamp 1G permission renewal applications; the number of times that a Stamp 1G permission can be renewed before an alternative permission should be sought; if Stamp 1G renewal applicants are entitled to work or accept a new paid position of employment in the period when their renewal application is being considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45406/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A Stamp 1G immigration permission may be granted to spouses, de facto partners or minor children of Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit or Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit holders, or researchers on a Hosting Agreement, as well as non-EEA national graduates under the Third Level Graduate Programme.
Where such graduates have completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), that person may qualify for a stamp 1G for 12 months under the Third Level Graduate Programme. Where an individual receives an award at level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a stamp 1G for up to 24 months under the Programme, subject to the overall limit of eight years on student conditions that applies.
Graduates at level 9 NFQ or above initially receive a one-year permission, which is renewable for a further year if Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) is satisfied the applicant has taken appropriate steps to seek employment and has adhered to the conditions of their stamp 1G permission.
Spouses, de facto partners or minor children of Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit, Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit holders, or researchers on a Hosting Agreement can apply to renew their permission annually once their sponsor holds a valid immigration permission. After five years on a Stamp 1G, or after their sponsor naturalises as an Irish citizen, whichever is sooner, they may apply for a Stamp 4 at their next online renewal date.
All nationwide applications for renewal of immigration permissions are submitted using the ISD online renewal portal: https://inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login
The Registration Office provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link. The Registration Office are currently processing Stamp 1G renewal applications submitted from 30 March 2026, with no category of renewal exceeding a wait time of 15 weeks.
The Registration Office has also issued a notice to employers regarding the legality of employing someone awaiting renewal. This notice can be found here.
Visa Applications
Ceisteanna (677)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:677. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will expedite a visa application, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45450/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can advise the Deputy that the Join Family visa application referred to was created on 5 December 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Bangkok office on 6 January 2025. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 17 January 2025 where it awaits examination and processing.
My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service and some applications can take longer than others. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
While I acknowledge the personal difficulties an applicant might be experiencing; it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt.
While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
The current processing times for Dublin visa decisions is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The date published on the website is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may result in the published processing date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.
I am acutely aware that join family applications are very important for the people impacted. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland, and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides.
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: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
Expediting a visa application is usually confined to time-sensitive instances, such as, if a family member has been hospitalised, in a life-threatening situation, or in the unfortunate event of a bereavement. Requests to expedite an existing visa application or for an emergency visa can be made through the Customer Service Portal. Applicants should also engage with the relevant Embassy of Ireland and provide supporting evidence of the nature of the emergency. Each request is assessed individually, and while every effort is made to process urgent cases quickly, not all requests to expedite an application can be granted.
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.
Naturalisation Applications
Ceisteanna (678)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Ceist:678. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to certificate of naturalisation applications (details supplied), the number that have been deemed ineligible and closed since Immigration Service Delivery fully transitioned to an online application portal in October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45451/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Where my Department receives a naturalisation application which is missing key supporting documentation, 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. If an applicant fails to provide the requested information, the application is then deemed ineligible and closed.
I can advise the Deputy since October 2023, 4,557 naturalisation applications have been deemed ineligible. The number of applications deemed ineligible should be viewed in the context that during this same period of time my Department received approximately 80,000 applications.
My Department continues to monitor applicant experience and is committed to continuous improvement. Guidance on how to make an application for naturalisation can be viewed here: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-an-irish-citizen-guide/. This guide is kept under constant review.
Asylum Applications
Ceisteanna (679)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:679. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of asylum seeker applications received from persons originating in Judea, Samara or the Gaza Strip in each year from 2016 to date. [45514/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of the specific area in a country from which international protection applicants originate.
The following table shows the number of Palestinian nationals who have applied for international protection since 2016.
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026* |
Total |
|
Number of Applications from Palestinian nationals |
19 |
23 |
42 |
34 |
12 |
11 |
37 |
118 |
955 |
173 |
81 |
1,505 |
*To 10 June 2026
Please note figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
Asylum Applications
Ceisteanna (680)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:680. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of asylum applications which have been fully approved from nationals of Nigeria or the Congo in each year from 2016 to date. [45517/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department takes 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 has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system over the last number of years which, combined with digitisation and process re-engineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity and demonstrates a strong commitment to reducing cases on hand.
In 2025, the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared to approximately 14,100 in 2024, a 44% increase. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) more than doubled the number of appeals closed from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,300 in 2025. As of 31 May, IPAT has closed 3,932 appeals this year and is on track to significantly exceed the number of appeals closed in 2025.
To date in 2026 the median processing time for IPO first instance decisions is 12 months (accelerated cases are processed in 2 months, while standard cases are processed in 16 months).
The median processing time for International Protection appeals is 13.6 months. The median processing time under the accelerated procedure is 7.0 months and 16.4 months for all other appeals.
Please note my Department does not provide detailed statistics on international protection grant and refusal rates by nationality.
The following table shows the total number of international protection applications from Nigeria and the Congo from 2016 to 11 June 2026.
|
Nationality |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026* |
|
Nigeria |
176 |
185 |
253 |
386 |
210 |
450 |
1,111 |
2,083 |
4,036 |
1,940 |
759 |
|
Democratic Republic of The Congo |
67 |
96 |
104 |
77 |
34 |
29 |
186 |
180 |
169 |
86 |
29 |
|
Republic of The Congo |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
5 |
*to 11 June 2026
Please note figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (681)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:681. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 20 May 2026, the number of cessations or revocations of refugee or asylum under sections 9 and 52 of the International Protection Act 2015 which have occurred in each year from 2016 to date. [45524/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.