Written Answers Nos. 535-554
535. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the total number of hotel beds currently being used for State-supported accommodation, including those allocated to IPAS and to persons under the temporary protection directive; and to provide a breakdown of these figures. [47567/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland provides accommodation and other basic supports to people seeking international protection, as is required by law.
The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in 303 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country.
Accommodation is provided in a range of settings, including former tourism accommodation locations like hotels, guesthouses and other settings, however the Department does not routinely collate data on international protection accommodation capacity categorised by former use for publication.
Alongside other reforms underway across the international protection system, the Programme for Government commits to reducing the use of commercially contracted international protection accommodation, and to providing more State-owned accommodation.
The purchase of the Citywest Reception Centre in 2025 was an important step in this strategy, and increased State-owned beds to 4,000 in 2025, compared to 900 in early 2024.
The Department is also taking action across all aspects of the international protection accommodation system to improve value for money, strengthen governance and compliance, and renegotiate contracts with providers.
Through increased inspections and application of a new rate-card to contracts, costs have been reduced on renewed and new contracts, and 36 contracts have terminated since 2025.
While commissioning emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be necessary in the short to medium term, it is being contracted on a short-term basis, which will enable the State to decommission this capacity as State-owned beds increase, contracts expire, or demand fluctuates.
The new International Protection Act 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and was passed into law last month. The new rules came into effect on 12 June. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
At present, the Department has 107 contracts with hotels to provide accommodation to people with Temporary Protection fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This represents a contracted capacity of approximately 7,500 beds. However, properties which are identified to this Department as hotels may not necessarily currently be approved as such by Fáilte Ireland.
The Government have approved the phase out of state-funded accommodation that has been provided to people from Ukraine who arrived pre–March 2024 and have been in receipt of accommodation on an ongoing basis.
The changes to the accommodation model will be introduced on a phased basis, with information and support provided to residents.
Ongoing supports for people with particular circumstances that would make it difficult for them to manage in independent accommodation will be provided.
People will be asked to self-declare their need for continued accommodation and provide evidence to support such a requirement, by providing documentary evidence of their circumstances.
Further information can be found at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/campaigns/ukraine-updates-en/and all updates will be published here in due course.
538. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total landholding of his Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47629/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
539. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 829 of 26 May 2026, his views on whether providing the reply to this Parliamentary Question is taking an extraordinary amount of time; if he is aware of the reason for this; when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47689/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra563. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of motorists caught exceeding the speed limit on a static camera at locations (details supplied), since 30 May 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47847/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 563 together.
I understand that Parliamentary Question No 829 of 26 May 2026 refers to "the number of motorists caught exceeding the speed limit on a static camera at locations (details supplied), since 30 May 2025, in tabular form."
The information could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact you again when the requested information was received from the Garda authorities. This information has subsequently been collated; I apologise for the delay in providing a response to your question.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
The Garda authorities have provided the below table which shows a breakdown of the number of fixed charge notices issued for speed detections at the following static speed camera locations for the period from 30 May 2025 to 30 April 2026:
|
General Description |
Location description |
FCNs issued |
|
Static Camera -Mayo N17 |
N17 Ballinsmaula Mayo |
11,476 |
|
Static Camera -Donegal N13 |
N13 Killyverry Donegal |
2,925 |
|
Static Camera - Carlow N80 |
N80 Graiguenaspiddoge Carlow |
15,880 |
|
Static Camera - Cork N22 |
N22 Farnanes Cork |
3,369 |
|
Static Camera - Limerick N69 |
N69 Ballyhomin Limerick |
1,051 |
|
Static Camera - Aske, Gorey R772 |
R772 Gorey Wexford |
1,150 |
|
Static Camera - Galway N59 |
N59 Aubwee Galway |
397 |
Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 30 May 2025 to 30 April 2026, inclusive.
All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Fixed Charge Processing System as was available on 25 May 2026 and is liable to change. All fixed charges are included, including those which were subsequently terminated.
540. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps his Department is taking to put in place a notifying authority (details supplied) under the EU Cyber Resilience Act; the expected timeframe for that authority to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47692/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is a regulation which establishes mandatory cyber security standards for all hardware and software products connected to a network or device. It requires manufacturers to implement strict vulnerability management, deliver timely security updates, and undertake conformity assessment procedures to ensure compliance. The CRA will allow the purchasers of products with digital elements to be properly informed about the cyber security of the products they buy and use.
The CRA entered into force on 10 December 2024 in Ireland. It is being implemented on a phased basis over three years and will apply in full from 11 December 2027.
In order to fully implement the CRA, Ireland must designate certain entities to fulfil the responsibilities of the regulation including a Notifying Authority with responsibility for establishing and overseeing the procedures for assessing, designating, notifying and monitoring Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), and a Market Surveillance Authority or Authorities, for enforcement and monitoring purposes.
Officials in my department are currently finalising arrangements to achieve these designations as soon as possible. Once the decision to designate the Notifying Authority has been approved by Government, I will be in a position to notify the European Commission of the decision.
541. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to the findings in chapter 10 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report for 2024 on the management of international protection accommodation contracts, the number of the report's recommendations that have been fully implemented; the number that remain outstanding; the expected completion date for those outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47711/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra542. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number and proportion of International Protection Accommodation Service contracted properties for which his Department currently holds a signed contract, further to the finding of the Comptroller and Auditor General that signed contracts were available for only half of the properties sampled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47712/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together.
My Department is taking action across all aspects of international protection accommodation to improve value for money, strengthen governance and compliance, and renegotiate contracts with providers.
This forms part of an overall reform of the International Protection system that is already working to speed up processing of applications and to move away from commercial provision to more State-owned accommodation. These reforms will help to drive down costs and to curtail the growth seen over recent years in the accommodation system.
My Department worked closely with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in carrying out an extensive review of costs and processes within the international protection accommodation system. I can confirm that all recommendations in the C&AG 2024 report have been accepted and implemented by the Department.
The report looked at overall processes and sampled 20 IPAS contracts. It acknowledged the extensive challenges posed to the State to source accommodation during an unprecedented surge in applications from 2022 to 2024.
During this period, over 45,000 additional international protection applicants arrived in Ireland. Prior to this, a typical three-year period would have seen close to 8,000 or 9,000 arrivals. As such, today’s standards of pre-contract assessments and negotiations could not be applied to all the accommodation that had to be sourced at pace from 2022 to 2024.
A range of updated and strengthened systems and procedures have been put in place and are already having an impact, including processes for appraisal, validation, contracting and payments.
A new rate-card pricing structure was introduced in May 2025 and has been applied to all new or renewing contracts. The rate card is considered commercially sensitive as it is used in live negotiations, but it functions as a bench-mark rate across various types of accommodation and is being used to renegotiate rates on renewal, and to define rates for any new contracts. Implementation of this rate card has resulted in savings of over €140m in projected contract values to date.
Of the 287 commercial IPAS contracts in place today, 90% or 257 have active contracts or agreed rates with the Department.The remainder are either currently under negotiation, are subject to termination or are otherwise under active review by Department officials.
543. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of legal cases taken against his Department or the International Protection Accommodation Service by accommodation providers that have been settled in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the total cost of those settlements; the number of cases currently at pre-litigation stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47713/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State is currently accommodating international protection applicants in over 300 accommodation centres around the country.
A small number of accommodation providers, or potential providers, initiated High Court proceedings against the Minister between 2025 and 2026.
Five such proceedings have been initiated where the Department had received an offer of international protection accommodation, had entered into a pre-contract arrangement, and subsequently made the decision not to proceed with those accommodation contracts. Three of these cases have now been settled and closed. Two sets of proceedings remain before the Courts.
One additional set of proceedings has been initiated by an accommodation provider, where no contractual arrangements were in place, and this matter also remains before the Courts.
Given that some of these matters remain before the courts, disclosing details of financial settlement amounts or other information, in respect of any case, may have the potential to limit the State in completing its defence of such claims, or in negotiations associated with these actions.
In respect of potential liabilities, all expenditure by the Department will form part of the 2026 Appropriation Account and will be subject to review by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the usual manner. The existence of these cases has also been noted in the 2025 Appropriation Account which has been submitted to the C&AG.
544. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of an Irish residency permit renewal application (details supplied); when the permit will be processed given that the application is pending for over 11-weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the person cited has an application for permission to remain in the State as a Minister of Religion with the Domestic Residence and Permissions (DRP) division of my Department, and this application continues to be processed.
All applications are processed in chronological order of receipt. The person concerned can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in finalising their application and will be contacted as soon as a decision has been reached.
Prior to submitting an online renewal application on the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) https://inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login, the applicant cited requires a letter from DRP granting them permission to remain as a Minister of Religion. This letter should be supplied when submitting an online renewal application.
Further information on the renewal process as well as the list of documents required for each stamp type are available on the ISD website at the following link:www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/required-documents/
As an Oireachtas member, the Deputy 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.
545. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the system of compliance monitoring and oversight that has been in operation in respect of the criminal legal aid scheme by his Department during the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47752/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra546. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications for payment that were made to his Department in respect of certificates granted pursuant to Regulation 7(4) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Regulations, 1965 (S.I. No. 12/1965); the number of payments that were made on the basis of such claims for payment pursuant to Regulation (7)4, in each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47753/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra547. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount paid to solicitors and barristers based upon legal aid certificates granted pursuant to Regulation 7(4) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Regulations 1965 (S.I. No. 12/1965), in each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47754/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra548. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications for payment pursuant to Regulation 7(4) that have been made to his Department that were refused and the reason for the refusal, in each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47755/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 545, 546, 547 and 548 together.
The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted in certain circumstances for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings, and it is the courts, through the judiciary, who are responsible for the granting of legal aid.
Regulation 7(4) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Regulations, 1965 (S.I. No. 12/1965) provides that if two or more certificates for legal aid are granted to a person and the cases in relation to which they are granted are heard together or in immediate succession, only one certificate is deemed to have been granted unless the Court, being satisfied that there is good reason for doing so, directs otherwise.
My Department does not have a record of the number of applications for criminal legal aid made, granted or refused pursuant to Regulation 7(4) or otherwise, as that is a matter for the court.
My Department is responsible for the administration of and payment to legal practitioners under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and processes claims for payment against all legal aid certificates granted. Where Regulation 7(4) does not apply, only one certificate is payable while the remaining certificates assigned are recorded with nil payment. Where Regulation 7(4) does apply, claims for payment correctly filled out in relation to the separate certificates are processed and each certificate is payable.
As all legal aid certificates granted to the person are recorded on the payments system whether a payment is due or not pursuant to Regulation 7(4), this information is not recorded in such a way as to identify payments made specifically pursuant to Regulation 7(4).
The following table sets out the number and cost of criminal legal aid certificates granted in the District Court from 2021 to 2025. However, it should be noted that the expenditure in a given year does not necessarily correlate to the Legal Aid Certificates issued that year, as expenditure may relate to Legal Aid Certificates issued in previous years for which claims for payment were made in subsequent years.
|
Year |
Number of Criminal Legal Aid Certificates issued in the District Court |
Total Cost |
|
2021 |
80,831 |
€29,289,855 |
|
2022 |
81,025 |
€28,364,837 |
|
2023 |
87,668 |
€30,837,699 |
|
2024 |
98,230 |
€37,786,861 |
|
2025 |
98,617 |
€40,705,809 |
As outlined in the Programme for Government 2025, the Government has committed to reforming the operation of Criminal Legal Aid. The general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 was published in July 2023. This Bill will modernise the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and is intended to:
• Update the law relating to Criminal Legal Aid;
• Transfer administrative responsibility of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme from the Department of Justice to the Legal Aid Board; and
• Strengthen oversight and governance structures for the Scheme.
550. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current average processing times for Afghan applicants seeking international protection or humanitarian admission to Ireland; the prioritisation criteria that are applied in cases involving women, educators, and families under threat from the Taliban; whether additional resources or emergency procedures are being considered to address long-standing cases exceeding four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47764/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
In 2021, my Department opened the Afghan Admission Programme (AAP) in response to the humanitarian situation in that country. This programme allowed anyone already resident in Ireland to apply to bring their close family members whose freedom or safety was at risk, whether they were resident in Afghanistan or in certain neighbouring countries having fled from Afghanistan.
Nearly 1,000 people were granted under the Programme and it is closed to further applicants. There are less than 10 outstanding AAP applications, which are subject to complex determination. It is important to say that all immigration avenues remain open for Afghan nationals, including visa and family reunification applications.
I can advise that Ireland supports the entry of migrants through legal pathways.
It is possible to apply for permission to enter and remain in Ireland based on a variety of different reasons, including; employment, education or a family situation.
Full information on the different permissions and the stamps available are listed on our website: www.irishimmigration.ie/.
Individuals who are from a country that is visa-required to travel to Ireland will need to apply for a visa to travel to the State. Further information about visa-required countries is available on the Department’s immigration website at www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/visit-ireland-travel-path/.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
The Deputy may wish to know that a person who wishes to make a claim for international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection status) in Ireland must be at the frontier of the State or already be present in the State.
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 reengineering, 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.
551. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the provisions being made for individuals who may not meet all of the eligibility criteria for the recently announced temporary protection transition scheme for Ukrainian nationals residing in Ireland, due to health conditions, disability, caring responsibilities or other exceptional circumstances; whether consideration will be given to applicants who have resided in Ireland for a number of years, contributed to their local communities through employment, community employment schemes or voluntary work, and have no realistic prospect of returning safely to their region of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47766/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinister O'Callaghan and I have recently received government approval for measures to transition Ukraine Accommodation Supports and Temporary Protection, in line with the EU Council recommendation for a co-ordinated approach across Member States.
It should be noted that Ireland intends to continue to support people from Ukraine who are beneficiaries of temporary protection and that this will continue for as long as the Temporary Protection Directive is in place. Ongoing supports for people with particular circumstances that would make it difficult for them to manage in independent accommodation will be provided. In such cases individuals will be asked to self-declare their need for continued accommodation and provide evidence to support such a requirement, by providing documentary evidence of their circumstances.
In recognition of the valuable contribution many people who have come from Ukraine since the outbreak of the war have made, for those who wish to rescind their temporary protection status, Ireland will introduce an alternative permission for those who are eligible to live and work here independently. This permission will be granted for a period of up to two years, renewable for periods of two years thereafter, with time on the permission counting towards naturalisation.
The Government has approved the phase out of State-funded accommodation that has been provided to people from Ukraine who arrived pre–March 2024 and have been in receipt of accommodation on an ongoing basis. Ireland’s State-funded accommodation model for people from Ukraine is in excess of that offered across the EU and is in excess of what is available to other people living in Ireland.
Coordinated work between the department, Irish Red Cross, the International Organisation for Migration and other relevant advocates and stakeholders will ensure that individuals can make decisions about their future options in Ireland with as much clarity as possible.
552. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No.1387 of 9 June 2026, if he is now in a position to provide the information sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47775/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you will recall, I undertook to respond to your parliamentary question (42897/26), which my Department was unable to provide a response to within the time allotted.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) funds organisations to provide support services to international protection applicants, including support for unaccommodated international protection applicants.
IPAS has arrangements in place with a range of NGO partners to provide drop-in day services for unaccommodated people seeking international protection.
This means people can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services. IPAS also makes offers of accommodation to any applicant who is rough sleeping, identified through outreach that is organised 7 days a week.
The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with Mendicity, Crosscare, the Capuchin Day Centre, and Tiglin at the Lighthouse.
These services were all commissioned from the end of 2023 onward and so were not engaged during 2021 to the end of 2023.
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 IPAS accommodation was provided through the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality (DCDE) are available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/collections/department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth-purchase-orders-for-20000-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: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/department-of-justice-purchase-orders-issued-over-20000-in-value/
553. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a breakdown of the current average actual delivery times for IRP cards, rather than the stated 15 day target; the steps being taken to bridge the gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47792/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra554. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to review the current 15-day SLA in light of the Department’s inability to meet the SLA to reflect a more realistic timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47793/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra555. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to consider implementing a digital card that visa holders would be able to store in their mobile wallets to reduce the reliance on the delivery of a physical card therefore allowing successful visa applicants to maintain their work arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47794/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra556. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the contract used for IRP card delivery; if there have been assessments as to whether these third-party providers are contributing to delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47795/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 553, 554, 555 and 556 together.
The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card provides a person with a secure immigration document that includes individual biometrics indicators protected by a sophisticated encryption system and showing the holders’ immigration status in the State.
When an online renewal application or first time registration is successfully processed, the applicant can typically expect to receive their new IRP card within the following 10-15 working days.
My Department orders the printing of batches of IRP cards from a third party provider. Printing may occasionally be delayed for short periods due to necessary and routine system maintenance; however, any delays are typically recovered within the same week. The outsourcing of the printing of IRP cards enables officials to focus on the processing applications for both first time registrations and online renewals.
The 10-15 working day timeline provided to applicants is the typical delivery time for IRP cards. The information requested by the Deputy relating to the current average delivery time of IRP cards is not available. If an application has been approved and the person has not received their IRP card after 15 working days, they can contact the Registration Office using the Department’s Customer Service Portal, at the following link: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
The common format of European Residence Permits is set out in https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/summary/eu-format-for-residence-permits.html The directive does not currently provide for the digitalisation of residency permits.
