Written Answers Nos. 208-227
208. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing developments specifically designed for older people delivered in each local authority area, including age friendly, right sizing, and supported housing schemes, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48354/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department supports local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to deliver social housing for Older Persons through varied funding programmes. Support is provide to local authorities through the Social Housing Capital Investment Programme and the AHB sector through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility and the Capital Assistance Scheme.
My Department does not collect disaggregated data on delivery for specific cohorts, such as persons with disabilities, older persons and care leavers. Local authority social housing delivery is recorded on a project basis, rather than on the basis of individual unit types. Both the SHIP and CALF schemes indirectly support specialised cohorts, where units are designed to accommodate general and some specialised needs.
However, the CAS scheme provides specifically for priority category needs, including Older Persons and delivery of units for Older persons under the CAS scheme is set out in the table below.
|
Older Persons/Age friendly Delivered Units by Local Authority 2020-2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
|
LOCAL AUTHORITY |
Units |
Units |
Units |
Units |
Units |
|
Carlow |
13 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
|
Clare |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork City |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork County |
0 |
12 |
27 |
11 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
0 |
52 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
15 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway City |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois |
22 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick City & County |
23 |
9 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
24 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
|
TOTAL UNITS |
118 |
125 |
62 |
176 |
54 |
Under the new housing plan, local authorities will prepare a new Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030. In preparing their HDAP, the local authorities will reflect local need to ensure the right mix of homes to respond to needs and priorities. It is expected that new HDAPs will be in place by Q4 2026.
It remains a matter for each individual local authority to prioritise projects and allocations on the basis of their area's housing need.
209. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47899/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. People in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) who wish to return to work are eligible for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced due to their medical condition. Applications must be received prior to a person returning to work and consideration is given if a ‘late’ application is received within 21 days of returning to work.
The person concerned applied for Partial Capacity Benefit on 27 November 2025. In their application they notified the Department that they had returned to work on 6 November 2026 and this was confirmed by their employer on 24 April 2026.
Their claim was disallowed on 18 March 2026 on the grounds that the application for PCB claim was received more than 3 weeks after the person concerned commenced employment. There is no discretion allowed by deciding officers (DO) are obliged to follow the legislation.
Following a further review of the additional information provided, the decision to disallow PCB has been revised. The person concerned has now been awarded PCB from 6 November 2025. They were notified of this decision on 23 June 2026.
I trust this clarifies matters for the deputy.
210. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department does not collect or publish data on the number of foreign born adults in receipt of means tested social welfare payments; when this data was last reviewed for statistical or policy relevance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department does not record or publish the nationality or place of birth of qualified adults attached to primary social welfare claims; the number of such qualified adults currently supported by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47968/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department intends to introduce improved demographic data collection including nationality, place of birth, and qualified adult status for means tested welfare schemes; the expected timeline for any such reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47971/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra218. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the legal or policy basis on which his Department has decided not to collect data on the nationality or place of birth of qualified adults or foreign born recipients of means tested welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47975/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 211, 214 and 218 together.
I am satisfied that all necessary data relating to the determination of eligibility for social protection payments is collected by my Department, including in respect of eligibility for the Increase for a Qualified Adult. Neither nationality nor place of birth determine eligibility to social protection payments. It is a core statutory requirement that all claimants, regardless of nationality, must meet the specific criteria for each scheme, which can include the Habitual Residence Condition and/or a means test.
Comprehensive data, including nationality breakdowns, are published routinely by my Department. Quarterly statistics are compiled and published in open-data CSV format, accessible through gov.ie/dsp/statistics, and newly through the CSO's data portal (table DSP03). Annual data is published in PDF format in the Annual Statistics Report, and in excel format. Both the quarterly and annual statistical reports have gone through the Irish Statistical System Code of Practice certification process in conjunction with the CSO, and have been certified as Official Statistics.
The Department operates over 90 schemes and services, each with their own operational rules and eligibility criteria, which are spread across a number of operational systems. Given the scale of the Department's operations, it is not possible to report on every conceivable breakdown of the customers of these schemes and services; however, the information which is made available is kept under review.
The published statistics are prepared on the basis of the recipient customer, as over 96% of claims in payment from my Department do not have an associated an associated Increase for a Qualified Adult. The open data published as part of the Quarterly Statistical Report covers schemes accounting for between 85-90% of Departmental expenditure, while the Annual Report provides a comprehensive breakdown of recipients, beneficiaries, and expenditure across all schemes in the given year.
I am satisfied that the statistical information on Departmental expenditure, and on recipients and beneficiaries, is comprehensive and freely available. I also satisfied that sufficient information is available to produce insights for the day-to-day operation of the Departments schemes and services, for the policy planning and forecasting process, and for public insights into social protection recipients and beneficiaries.
212. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has assessed the impact of not collecting data on the nationality or place of birth of qualified adults on the accuracy of expenditure forecasting, fraud detection, and long term welfare planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47969/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPreventing fraudulent claims from entering the social welfare system and carrying out review activity to identify possible fraudulent claims in payment are key requirements for my Department. My Department carries out a range of control measures across all its schemes to prevent, detect and deter fraud. During 2025 figures indicate that just over 715,000 reviews of social welfare claims have been undertaken, resulting in savings of almost €655 million. My Department acknowledges the importance of accurate data in expenditure forecasting and fraud detection; however, it is not the department’s policy to profile individuals based on nationality or place of birth.
My Department measures the underlying incidence rate of suspected fraud via control surveys. The surveys examine all relevant eligibility criteria, including both the means test and the Habitual Residence Condition, where applicable. Statistical tests for statistically significant associations of overpayments relation to fraud and error and have consistently found that there is no difference in the likelihood of overpayments between Irish and non-Irish customers.
213. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Comptroller and Auditor General, his Departments internal audit unit, or any external review has raised concerns regarding the absence of nationality or place of birth data for qualified adults or foreign born recipients of means tested payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47970/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a core statutory requirement that all claimants, regardless of nationality or country of birth, must meet the specific criteria for each scheme, including satisfying the Habitual Residence Condition and/or the means test, where applicable. This information is collected as part of the claim application process, and reviews are regularly carried out to ensure persons continue to fully satisfy all scheme eligibility criteria whilst in receipt. No concerns of the type referred to by the Deputy have been raised.
215. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has examined the welfare data collection practices of comparable EU Member States in relation to tracking foreign born recipients and qualified adults; and if he will provide details of any such analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47972/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department examines the policies and practices of other comparable Departments across the EU, and indeed beyond the EU, for policy development purposes. Specific data collection processes in relation to nationality generally do not form part of such analysis, as neither nationality nor place of birth are eligibility criteria for social welfare payments. I am satisfied that the data collected in and available to my Department is sufficient for the determination and ongoing confirmation of eligibility to social protection payments.
216. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department records the number of applicants who fail the habitual residence condition each year, disaggregated by nationality; and if not, the reason this information is not collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47973/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA customer's place of birth is asked as part of the Habitual Residence Condition assessment, and informs the deciding officer as to the totality of the customer's circumstances, but is not itself a determining factor as to whether a person satisfies the Habitual Residence Condition. To satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition the customer must:
• have the right to live in the State with permission to access social welfare services and
• show that they are habitually resident using the five factors outlined in legislation.
• The five factors are:
• how long they have lived and intend to continue living in Ireland or in any other country;
• the length and reason for any absence from Ireland;
• the nature and pattern of their employment;
• their main place of interest;
• their future intentions to live in Ireland as it appears from the evidence.
• My Department operates over ninety schemes and services, across a number of different operation systems. Different eligibility criteria apply to different schemes, and multiple reasons for claim refusal may apply to each individual claim. How these instances are treated varies according to the operational systems in question. It is not currently possible to disaggregate reasons for claim refusal.
217. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has identified the minimum demographic data required to assess the long term sustainability of means tested welfare schemes; whether the absence of foreign born and qualified adult data undermines this assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47974/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of means testing for certain social welfare payments is to ensure that State resources are targeted towards those with the greatest need for income supports. Means-tested schemes are demand lead, and so largely determined by demographic and the prevailing labour market conditions.
The recent ESRI publication, Social transfer utilisation among migrants and Irish-born in Ireland, examined the fiscal impact of immigration to Ireland over the period 2014-2024. The study found that immigrants make a higher net fiscal contribution than Irish-born people, and fully finance their share of public services. The analysis found that this higher rate of contribution is mainly driven by higher rates of participation in the labour market amongst immigrants than Irish people. The study further found that were generally no significant difference in rates of receipt of social welfare payments and any differences that did exist were small.
Ireland faces significant demographic challenges in the medium term. While higher than the EU average, Ireland's fertility rate is declining, and the proportion of the population who are older is increasing. This will result in increased pressures on public finances, in areas beyond just social protection. The old-age dependency ratio measures the number of older people relative to the number of working age people. In 2022, Ireland's old-age dependency ratio was around 4:1, or four working age people for every older person. Under the CSO's central migration scenario, this is projected to drop to 2:1 by 2057. Under the CSO's low migration scenario, Ireland is projected to hit the 2:1 ratio by 2042, while under the high migration scenario, the ratio is projected to be marginally above 2:1 by 2057. Immigrants are, on average, younger than Irish people, and have higher rates of labour force participation. This helps to boost income tax revenue and off-set some of the demographic pressures facing the State.
Nevertheless, the demographic challenges we are facing are real, and action is required sooner rather than later to further off-set these challenges. The establishment of NAERSA in late 2025 and the launch of MyFutureFund in January this year were significant milestones to address the pensions gap coverage arising from these demographic changes, and will help working-age persons today save towards their retirement in the future.
Lastly, expenditure relating to the Department’s social insurance schemes is paid from the Social Insurance Fund. The Social Insurance Fund is financed through Pay-Related-Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. The number of non-Irish nationals constituting to the Social Insurance Fund has been increasing over time, from approximately 785,000 non-Irish contributors in 2019 to just under 950,000 in 2023.
The Department commissions an actuarial review to assess the long-term sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund every five years. The next such actuarial review will be carried out in 2027. The review will project PRSI receipts and scheme expenditure on the basis of the latest demographic projections, including the projected levels of net migration over the period of the review.
219. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of the household benefits package; the data on the number choosing to use the benefit on their gas versus their electric bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48078/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package (HBP) comprises of the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
486,309 customers are currently receiving Free Electricity Allowance, of which 186,164 receive the credit to their electricity bill. The number of customers receiving Free Gas Allowance is 56,770, of which 16,770 receive the credit to their gas bill.
The credit payment option on the HBP was removed for new customers from September 2025 following an examination of customer preference and trends over several years. An increasing number of new customers were opting for the cash payment option even where the credit payment option was available. The credit payment option will remain for those customers who already receive their payment in this way as long as there is no change in their circumstances.
The decision also ensures that customers of all domestic energy providers are treated equally, and that no supplier would have a perceived advantage over competitors in the domestic energy market. This was a concern previously raised by the some energy providers and Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The decision also means that Household Benefits Package customers can move freely between energy providers, thereby taking advantage of the best deals in the energy market, without there being any change in the way their HBP payments are made.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
220. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection when a final decision is expected regarding a partial capacity review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48178/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. People in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) who wish to return to work are eligible for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced due to their medical condition.
The person concerned is in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit from 23 October 2023 with a capacity to work of ‘moderate’.
On 12 March 2026, my department commenced a review of this person's entitlement to PCB. They were requested to supply up to date medical information and current employment details. This form was returned on 28 April 2026. The review was complete on 18 June 2026 and a decision confirming the continuation of PCB at the rate of ‘moderate’ was issued to the person concerned on 19 June 2026.
My Department can confirm that the person concerned continues to be in receipt a of PCB payment at the moderate rate and at no time was their entitlement to payment interrupted.
I trust this clarifies matters for the deputy.
221. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the pension entitlement including a review of contributions of a person (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48190/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 5 December 2018. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received by my Department in October 2018.
A letter issued on 16 November 2018 to inform them that they did not qualify for a contributory pension as they did not have the minimum 520 full rate paid contributions required. The records of my Department show that they have 434 full rate paid contributions. A copy of their contribution record was included with this letter. If they consider that there are additional paid contributions that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to Social Welfare Services Office, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384.
The current State pension (contributory) system gives significant recognition and support to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. This is done through the award of credited contributions, including HomeCaring Periods, and the award of Homemaking Periods. Credited contributions may not be used to meet the 520 paid contributions requirement. They are only used to increase a claimant's entitlement where they meet the other qualifying conditions of the scheme.
If the person concerned has provided full-time care to incapacitated dependents for 20 years (1,040 weeks) or more, it is open to them to apply for long-term carers contributions. If eligible, the equivalent of paid contributions will be attributed to cover gaps in their contribution record. The periods of caregiving do not need to be consecutive. The quickest way to apply for long-term carers contributions is online at MyWelfare.ie.
Where a person aged 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a contributory pension or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for the State pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of €288.00 per week, which is equivalent to 96% of the contributory pension. The quickest way to apply is on line at MyWelfare.ie.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
222. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 344 of 18 June 2026, to clarify if capital allowances, such as business-related expenses are deducted from self-employed income for the carer's allowance means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48217/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse, civil partner or cohabitant) applying to the scheme.
In assessing means from self-employment, the Department uses the most recent set of accounts available. Any business-related expenses are reflected in those accounts and are therefore taken into account in assessing income from self-employment.
For Department of Social Protection purposes, expenses that are wholly and exclusively related to self-employment can be deducted from self-employment income. There is no definitive list of allowable expenses, as these depend on the type and scale of the business activity.
Common allowable expenses generally include:
• Cost of materials and supplies
• Motor expenses (business-related portion only)
• Depreciation of machinery or equipment
• Business-related insurance
• Telephone costs (business-related portion only)
• Lighting and heating used for business purposes (excluding domestic use)
• Advertising costs
• Bank charges
• Stationery
• Van leasing costs
• Labour costs
• Pension contributions
• Other expenses incurred in running the business
• Class S PRSI contributions
Capital allowances are governed by the Revenue Commissioners, allowing a company to offset certain costs and expenditure against its profits, thereby reducing the amount of tax payable.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
223. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether current immigration and employment permissions adequately account for the unique nature of elected student representative roles, which are both employment positions and democratic mandates. [48008/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt Government level, the administration and management of international student programmes is within the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), with my Department having responsibility for visa and related residency policies.
International students from outside the EU/EEA are granted a residence permission on Stamp 2 conditions where they have enrolled on, and commenced a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), or eligible programmes offered by providers with authorisation to use the new TrustEd Education mark awarded by QQI.
The primary purpose of the Stamp 2 is to provide opportunities for study in Ireland. All applicants must show that they have sufficient funds to support their stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment. Stamp 2 holders may engage in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during school term and 40 hours per week during holidays.
An elected sabbatical officer role, where it is a full-time position which requires the student to take a year or more out from their study, would not comply with the conditions attached to a Stamp 2 permission regarding employment. Since the person involved would not be enrolled as a student, they would also not meet the requirements for a Stamp 2 permission to be issued or renewed.
It remains open to higher education institutions to employ non-EEA students in elected sabbatical officer roles where the role complies with the conditions regarding employment of a Stamp 2 permission, and where the student can continue their studies while taking up the role.
224. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will apply to the European Commission for a temporary reduction of Ireland's solidarity contributions under AMMR 2024/1348 Article 7(6). [48158/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the International Protection Act 2026 came into effect on 12 June and gives effect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which has been designed to establish a common approach to migration and asylum that is partly based on the concepts of solidarity and responsibility amongst Member States.
The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR) introduces a permanent, mandatory solidarity mechanism that will operate annually and be coordinated by the European Commission.
The Deputy may wish to note as a technical matter that Article 7(6) of the AMMR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1351) does not address solidarity contributions, nor does the Asylum Procedure Regulation (Regulation (EU)1348/2024).
Under the Solidarity Mechanism, Member States must either accept relocations of asylum applicants from other Member States or pledge contributions to the Annual Solidarity Pool according to their fair share, based on 50% share of population and 50% share of GDP.
In the first Annual Migration Management Cycle, Ireland was deemed ‘At Risk of Migratory Pressure’ and will have priority access to an EU Migration Support Toolbox.
Deduction of solidarity contribution under Article 62 AMMR is available particularly for Member States 'facing a significant migratory situation' pursuant to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2323.
The first ‘Solidarity Pool’ has been agreed by the EU, and Ireland will not be accepting relocations due to pressures on our current system. Ireland will make an expected payment of up to €9.26 million in 2027 as a support to countries under the most extreme pressure.
225. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 17 June 2026, in which he confirmed that the International Protection Act 2026 provides for ‘appropriate alignment’ with the Screening Regulation and the Return Border Procedure Regulation despite Ireland not being legally bound by these Schengen measures; the specific provisions of the Act that go beyond Ireland’s legal minimum obligations under the measures Ireland has opted into; the rationale for adopting these provisions on a voluntary basis rather than confining implementation to the legal minimum; the estimated cost to the State of each such provision; and the way in which this voluntary alignment is reconciled with his statement that “as the Irish system aligns with the EU system, no cost differentials arise. [47938/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has been previously advised, Ireland cannot opt-in to the Schengen border measures in the Pact: the Screening Regulation and the Return Border Procedure Regulation. The International Protection Act 2026 provides for appropriate alignment with those regulations. The intention to align appropriately with these measures was clearly stated in the National Implementation Plan that was published in early 2025.
The provisions of the International Protection Act 2026 which provide for alignment with the Screening Regulation can be found in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Act. These provisions provide for the arrangements for the screening of applicants, which is being carried out at the Citywest Reception Centre.
Provision has been made for the Return Border Procedure in Chapter 2 of Part 11 of the Act. It is important to note that Ireland has opted into the Asylum Procedures Regulation and so is obliged to implement the asylum border procedure. The return border Procedure is a key companion to the asylum border procedure. It provides for the return of applicants within twelve weeks of them having received a final negative decision on their application for international protection. While an applicant remains in the return border procedure, they remain in conditions similar to the asylum border procedure; in that they will be required to reside at a designated centre and are not authorised to enter the State.
There are significant benefits to implementing both screening and the return border procedure. Applicants placed in the asylum border procedure will have their applications dealt with within twelve weeks and, under the return border procedure, should be returned within a further twelve weeks. Faster processing under these procedures will mean that applicants spend less time in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation, and this will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State.
226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 682 of 16 June 2026, to answer the questions originally asked, specifically to list all occasions from 1 January 2016 to date on which either he or his predecessors have instructed immigration officials to deny entry to the State to specific individuals and to provide the name of all such individuals; and to state the number of other individuals who have been considered for such a potential travel ban or instruction to refuse entry, but where such a ban was not ultimately imposed in each year from 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47955/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my previous reply, since 1 January 2016 the only occasion on which I, or my predecessors, have instructed immigration authorities to refuse entry to specifically named individuals outside the UN or EU sanctions regimes or exclusion orders, is the decision referred to in the original response concerning the two Israeli ministers.
The Department does not maintain a separate record of instances where an individual may have been considered for a specific ministerial direction to refuse entry but where no such direction was ultimately issued. Accordingly, the information requested in respect of such cases in not available.
227. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prosecutions directed and convictions secured under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 since its commencement on 23 May 2024, broken down by year and by the relevant section of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47977/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
To be of assistance I have referred this question to the Courts Service for direct reply.
