Written Answers Nos. 593-612
593. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a decision will be made on a visa application (details supplied) where an Irish work permit is already granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51472/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the employment visa application referred to was created on 7 May 2026. Supporting documentation was received in the Manila office on 1 June 2026 where it awaits examination and processing.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. 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. Some applications can take longer than others if the Visa Office needs to seek further information or if the application is made during a busy time of year, e.g. before holiday periods.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-offices/.
Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having first been issued with a visa. The person will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Please note that the granting of a work permit by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment does not guarantee that a visa will be subsequently granted. There are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.
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: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
594. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a decision will be made on a visa application (details supplied) where an Irish work permit is already granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51473/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the employment visa application referred to was created on 1 June 2026. Supporting documentation was received in the Abu Dhabi Visa Office on 9 June 2026 where it awaits examination and processing.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. 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. Some applications can take longer than others if the Visa Office needs to seek further information or if the application is made during a busy time of year, e.g. before holiday periods.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-offices/.
Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having first been issued with a visa. The person will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Please note that the granting of a work permit by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment does not guarantee that a visa will be subsequently granted. They are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.
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: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
595. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the web link to his Department’s Q2 2026 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; to confirm the date on which this report was published; and, if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [51568/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is fully committed to the principles of openness, transparency and the accountability of public bodies.
My Department has committed to publishing reports of purchase orders over €20,000 on a quarterly basis on its website as soon as practical after the end of the quarter.
It is expected that information relating to Q2 of 2026 will be published in the coming weeks, here- www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/department-of-justice-purchase-orders-issued-over-20000-in-value/.
My Department intends to continue to publish this information in machine readable format in both PDF and Excel format.
596. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 591 of 30 June 2026, which did not address the specific matter raised regarding representations made (details supplied); if his Department received correspondence or a meeting request from or on behalf of this organisation; if so, the date on which it was received; the reason no response has issued to date; and when a response can be expected. [51618/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not to comment on, or publish details of, individual IIP applications. This includes correspondence, representations or meeting requests relating to an individual IIP application. If correspondence has been received by the IIP Unit, it will be responded to directly.
597. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he expects to issue a formal letter of confirmation from the International Investment Programme where funding was awarded to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51659/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government closed the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to any further applications from 15 February 2023. A significant volume of project proposals were submitted prior to the closure and these continue to be assessed and processed. The formal process of communicating outcomes to project owners will occur in due course.
If a project owner has any queries, they can contact the IIP Unit of my Department directly.
598. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to review a change of visa application and to confirm that the 12-week continuity provision applies to the case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51666/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy applied to renew their immigration permission on 26 May 2026 and this application is currently in the queue for consideration.
The Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link:www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/.
I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I can assure the Deputy that my Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals. Additional staff have been assigned to this work, which has now begun to reduce the processing time for renewals. For certain categories of renewals, the processing time is now approximately 6 - 8 weeks from the time of initial application, with no category exceeding a wait time of 17 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: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/notice-to-employers/.
I can advise the Deputy that the person referred to is covered by the employer's notice. If a person's previous immigration permission allowed them to work in the State prior to submitting their renewal application, and they have applied for renewal prior to their permission expiring, they can continue to work in accordance with the employment conditions of that permission.
If, however, their current permission did not allow employment or their permission expired prior to applying for renewal, they are considered out of permission and cannot work in the State.
[]Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
If the application is approved, the person concerned can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the following 10-15 working days.
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.
599. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures being taken to address delays in the processing of re-entry visas (details supplied); the current average waiting time for applicants; the number of applications awaiting decision for more than three months; whether consideration is being given to reintroducing or expanding the use of travel certificates or other temporary travel arrangements for persons awaiting the issuance of a re-entry visa who have urgent travel commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51694/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the Deputy has clarified that her question relates to an individual online immigration permission renewal application, the details of which have been supplied to my Department.
The person referred to by the Deputy applied to renew their immigration permission on 09 April 2026 and this application is currently in the queue for consideration.
The Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/.
I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I can assure the Deputy that my Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals. Additional staff have been assigned to this work, which has now begun to reduce the processing time for renewals. For certain categories of renewals, the processing time is now approximately 6 - 8 weeks from the time of initial application, with no category exceeding a wait time of 17 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: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/notice-to-employers/.
If the application is approved, the person concerned can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the following 10-15 working days.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
It is also open to any person to request to have their renewal application expedited due to extenuating circumstances, and they can do so by contacting the Registration team of the Department via the Customer Service Portal. They will need to explain their circumstances and the urgent need to travel. All such requests are considered on a case by case basis.
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.
600. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 306 of 21 May 2026, if he has received the relevant information from Garda authorities to answer this PQ. [51708/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBy law, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the training and the continuing professional development of Garda members and staff.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following table below sets out the number of Stinger courses that were held for Gardaí within Clare-Tipperary division in 2025 and as of 22 May 2026.
Number of Stinger courses that were held for Gardaí within Clare-Tipperary division.
|
Year |
Number of Courses held |
Gardaí trained |
|
2025 |
9 |
55 |
|
2026 |
0 |
0 |
601. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí, by rank attached to Garda Band as of 29 June 2026, in tabular form. [51709/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 matters relating to the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. This responsibility extends to the Garda Band.
The Garda Band regularly performs at official Garda and State functions. The band is also dedicated to the development of good relations between An Garda Síochána and the community it serves. It achieves this through performance of a varied, entertainment-focused programme, which evolves to suit every audience, event or setting. Many Garda Band concerts serve not only as Garda community relations events, but as essential fundraising opportunities for local communities, sports clubs and charities.
An Garda Síochána have advised that there are currently 17 members allocated to the Garda Band. The table below shows the breakdown by rank as of 29 June 2026.
|
Rank |
Number |
|
Garda |
16 |
|
Inspector |
1 |
602. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the proposed General Scheme of Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; whether the Government intends to progress the legislation during the current Dáil Éireann term; the engagement that has taken place with stakeholders regarding the Bill; when it is expected that the legislation will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51720/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 did not progress in the lifetime of the last Government. There was significant stakeholder engagement over the course of the development of the Bill. In November 2021, a wide-ranging public consultation was launched by my Department, seeking the views of the public on the modernisation of Ireland’s licensing laws. Submissions can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/submissions-from-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-sale-of-alcohol/.
The Department also published a Summary Report of the Responses to the Public Questionnaire on the Reform of Alcohol Licensing, which can be found here: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/sale-of-alcohol-bill-consultation-report.pdf
In January 2023, the Bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny, the report of which was published in March 2023. This report can be found here: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/joint_committee_on_justice/reports/2023/2023-03-02_report-on-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-general-scheme-of-the-sale-of-alcohol-bill-2022_en.pdf
The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws. The Summer Legislative Programme, published on 14 April, set out the 38 Bills that have been prioritised for publication, and 26 Bills for drafting, in the current Dáil session. Other legislative projects, including work on intoxicating liquor legislation, will be taken forward in subsequent iterations of the legislative programme, to be determined by Government in due course.
603. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51771/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department recorded no expenditure with the company referenced between 2020 and 2025.
604. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51789/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure in respect of the company referenced arises from the provision of specialist ICT and business services in support of a range of strategic programmes and operational requirements across my Department. These service the provision of specialist personnel, including test analysts, IT architects, web developers, software developers, enterprise architects, cloud administrators and production support personnel.
These resources have supported delivery across a number of key initiatives, including the ISD Modernisation Programme; the EU Migration Pact Programme; IPO Modernisation; the migration from legacy Lotus Notes systems to modern technologies; support for the Oracle financial system used by the Departments Financial Shared Services and supports in response to the Ukraine crisis, among other projects.
With regards to agencies, Forensic Science Ireland engaged this company for contracted business analyst services, workstation licences and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System Upgrade Project (AFIS).
I wish to assure the Deputy that all procurement undertaken by my Department is conducted in accordance with the relevant public procurement guidelines and in full compliance with national and EU rules, including requirements relating to transparency, value for money and competitive tendering.
Details of the total cost of engagement across my Department (Vote 24) with the company referenced in each of the years 2020 to 2025 is set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Total Expenditure (€) |
|
2020 |
3,521,046 |
|
2021 |
6,962,881 |
|
2022 |
5,172,777 |
|
2023 |
6,547,143 |
|
2024 |
7,863,680 |
|
2025 |
12,125,100 |
|
Total |
42,192,628 |
My Department continues to ensure that the use of external resources is appropriately managed and aligned with business needs, particularly where specific expertise is not available in-house. Robust governance and oversight arrangements are in place in respect of all such engagements.
605. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51807/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure in respect of this company arises from the provision of specialist ICT and business services in support of a range of strategic programmes and operational requirements across my Department. These service the provision of specialist personnel, including test analysts, IT architects, web developers, software developers, enterprise architects, cloud administrators and production support personnel.
These resources have supported delivery across a number of key initiatives, including the ISD Modernisation Programme; the EU Migration Pact Programme; IPO Modernisation; the migration from legacy Lotus Notes systems to modern technologies; and supports in response to the Ukraine crisis, among other projects.
I wish to assure the Deputy that all procurement undertaken by my Department is conducted in accordance with the relevant public procurement guidelines and in full compliance with national and EU rules, including requirements relating to transparency, value for money and competitive tendering.
Details of the total cost of engagement across my Department (Vote 24) with the company referenced in each of the years 2020 to 2025 is set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Total Expenditure (€) |
|
2022 |
777,990 |
|
2023 |
1,901,282 |
|
2024 |
2,145,383 |
|
2025 |
2,672,149 |
|
Total |
7,496,804 |
My Department continues to ensure that the use of external resources is appropriately managed and aligned with business needs, particularly where specific expertise is not available in-house. Robust governance and oversight arrangements are in place in respect of all such engagements.
606. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason that there has only been a small increase in the number of persons in direct provision under the responsibility of IPAS over the past year, in the order of 200 despite the fact that more than 13,000 new applications were made for International Protection in 2025, and several thousand more in the first half of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51836/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraReception conditions, including accommodation and other basic supports, are provided to international protection applicants under EU and Irish law. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating almost 33,000 residents.
It is important to note that this is not a static group of people; people who have completed their application process leave IPAS accommodation on a regular basis, and new applicants who choose to take up IPAS accommodation arrive week to week.
Not all international protection applicants take up IPAS accommodation, nor are they obliged to; some applicants make their own accommodation arrangements.
Approximately 11,000 people who have completed their application process and have been granted status that allows them to remain in Ireland have moved out of IPAS accommodation since 2022, and approximately 4,000 of these during 2025.
To help people with status to move on from IPAS accommodation to find housing options in the community, IPAS has a team that works in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities.
The new International Protection Act 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and has passed into law. The new rules came into effect on 12 June. This reform and the increased processing timelines for applications should over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
Additionally, my Department is working to increase the amount of State-owned international protection accommodation and creating a more stable and sustainable accommodation system.
607. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if persons whose applications for International Protection are still being assessed, are being accommodated in social housing or in State supported private rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51837/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, international protection applicants are provided with material reception conditions, including housing, food, clothing and a Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA).
International protection applicants do not have access to standard social welfare, social housing, housing benefits or emergency homeless accommodation.
The International Protection Accommodation Service is currently accommodating almost 33,000 residents in 301 international protection accommodation centres around the country. These accommodation centres are dedicated to IPAS use and are separate from social housing or private rented accommodation.
The great majority of IPAS accommodation capacity, which can be commercially contracted or State-owned, is located in group settings in larger properties, like former hotels, guesthouses, commercial and institutional buildings. A small proportion of more vulnerable applicants may be accommodated in smaller scale properties.
In line with the Programme for Government 2025 the State is working to develop more State-owned international protection accommodation and reduce reliance on commercially contracted accommodation.
The new International Protection Act 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and has passed into law. 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.
608. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether consideration has been given to introducing a streamlined, centralised or transferable Garda vetting system for persons who require vetting for multiple employment or voluntary roles involving children and vulnerable persons; whether a centralised vetting model or "vetting passport" has been examined as a means of reducing duplication and administrative burden on individuals and organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51866/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. This includes all operational matters, such as Garda vetting applications which are an operational matter for the Garda National Vetting Bureau under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012.
The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Clearly, this requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and in particular parents, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.
The Government is aware of ongoing concerns regarding certain aspects of the vetting process and I have listened carefully to the views of affected sectors. I believe that the vetting system should be updated to ensure that the burden of seeking vetting disclosures, particularly on volunteers and organisations working in their communities, is minimised to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the high standards that are necessary.
Further to the work carried out by the Garda Vetting Review Group, steps are now being taken to implement a number of key changes to the process that will ensure it remains robust and effective while improving the service to customers.
In practice, and subject to a general requirement that vetting be renewed every three years, it is envisaged that this will mean that when a person is vetted for the work they will be or are likely to be involved in as part of their employment or volunteering within identified risk categories, the person would not be required to repeat the process if they were to move to another role within the same risk category.
My Department is actively engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau on the detailed work of developing the necessary legislative and technical steps to meet these goals in a way that is workable in practice. This includes an assessment of appropriate models for an expansion of digital service delivery, which is a very significant project that will necessarily take time to fully scope and implement.
An Garda Síochána also recognises the administrative burden involved, and, in light of ongoing technological advancements, options to improve efficiency while maintaining robust safeguards continue to be examined. These will be considered as part of wider steps that are now being taken to implement the key changes to the vetting process that I have outlined, to ensure it remains robust and effective while improving the service to customers.
609. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number, and total value, of cash seizures made by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51867/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, which includes all operational policing matters.
The total value of cash seizures made by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, are contained in the Garda Annual Reports which can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/annual%20reports/an-garda-siochana-annual-reports/.
The Garda Annual Report for 2025 will be published in due course.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau was established in 2015, and comes under the executive control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime following the amalgamation of the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Organised Crime Unit (GNDOCB).
The GNDOCB role is to proactively, via intelligence led investigations, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute those persons engaged in top tier organised crime groups, primarily involved in murder, drug/firearms trafficking, armed robberies and associated money laundering.
610. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of arrests made by An Garda Síochána in connection with human trafficking and in connection with prostitution offences respectively, in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51868/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 decriminalised the sale of sex, criminalised the purchase of sex, and increased the penalty provided for brothel keeping.
The legislation was designed to shift criminal liability towards those who buy sex rather than the sellers, aiming to protect those most at risk within the sex industry.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that there were 97 prosecutions initiated between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2026 with offence type of “Pay For Sexual Activity With a Prostitute”.
Table 1: Annual breakdowns of Charges and Summonses for Payment of Sexual Activity with a Prostitute
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026* |
Grand Total |
|
Grand Total |
24 |
50 |
13 |
<10 |
<10 |
97
|
*2026 includes volumes up to the end of Q2 2026 (31/06/2026)
The prevention, detection and prosecution of the crime of human trafficking is a priority for me and for this Government.
Significant measures are being taken to combat this type of crime, provide victim supports and to raise public awareness. The Programme for Government commits to implementing the Third National Action Plan to prevent and combat human trafficking (2023-2027), which sets out the actions underway across relevant Departments and agencies to tackle human trafficking and to encourage victims to come forward and access support.
In 2025, 114 people were identified by an Gardaí Síochána as potential victims of human trafficking, a significant increase on the 67 people identified in 2024. Of the 114 victims identified in 2025, some 75 (66%) were identified as victims of sexual exploitation, with the remaining cases relating to other forms of exploitation, including labour exploitation and criminal exploitation.
Given the transnational nature of human trafficking, victims identified by An Garda Síochána may have been trafficked or exploited in Ireland or in another jurisdiction. Accordingly, these figures should not be interpreted as indicating the location where the trafficking or exploitation occurred.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the PULSE recording system currently requires an injured party to be recorded for every human trafficking incident. However, given the nature of human trafficking investigations, particularly those that are intelligence led or proactive, it is not always possible to identify a victim at the outset of an investigation.
As a result, current recording practices may under-represent the full extent of human trafficking investigations in Ireland. This can also mean that subsequent operational activity, such as, arrests and criminal proceedings commenced, may be recorded in other offence categories.
An Garda Síochána is undertaking work to define revised recording practices which will capture all relevant information which is part of a human trafficking investigation. At this time, An Garda Síochána anticipate this will be progressed sufficiently to enable them to commence proactive publication on arrests and charges/summons in the area of human trafficking towards the end of this year.
611. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total criminal legal aid expenditure in each of the past ten years; the number of practitioners undertaking criminal legal aid work in each year; and the average fee paid per criminal legal aid case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51891/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, it is the Courts, through the judiciary, that are responsible for the granting of legal aid. There has been a significant increase in the granting of legal aid certificates over the past number of years with a corresponding increase in expenditure.
The tables below set out the cost of Criminal Legal Aid from 2015 to 2025.
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Total cost |
€50,879,582 |
€52,998,216 |
€58,139,968 |
€64,809,398 |
€65,091,656 |
€62,224,084 |
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Total cost |
€73,465,933 |
€76,652,987 |
€89,204,634 |
€89,250,708 |
€120,643,206 |
My Department significantly simplified the procedures for Criminal Legal Aid panel membership both for solicitors and counsel last year by waiving the requirement to apply yearly to be retained on panels, with the commencement on 26 November 2025 of S.I. 539 of 2025.
Solicitors may apply to the Court Service to be placed on the Criminal Legal Aid panel for any county using a single application form, which is processed by a centralised courts office in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. This system, introduced in 2021, replaced the previous requirement to apply separately to individual local court offices.
In order to be added to the Barristers panel, a barrister will advise the Bar Council of their willingness to accept instructions and the Bar Council in turn informs my Department.
The table below sets out the number of solicitors and barristers assigned to the Criminal Legal Aid Panel from 2015 to 2025. Not all solicitors and barristers who are panel members may undertake work under the Scheme in any given year.
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
No of solicitors |
1,166 |
1,143 |
1,075 |
1,058 |
990 |
944 |
933 |
867 |
672 |
695 |
825 |
|
No of barristers |
890 |
850 |
833 |
844 |
820 |
812 |
812 |
760 |
740 |
712 |
760 |
The information is not recorded in such a way to provide the Deputy with an average fee paid per criminal legal aid case.
612. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount spent on Garda overtime in each of the past ten years; the amount that has been spent to date in 2026; the proportion of that expenditure which relates to vacancies that have not been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51892/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all internal HR matters, the setting of overtime budgets for each Garda Division/national unit, and the recording of overtime data.
The nature of Garda work and the requirement that the Garda authorities respond, in some cases at short notice, to immediate policing demands means that there is a necessity to use overtime to ensure effective policing. Accordingly, there will always be a need for a certain level of overtime to allow An Garda Síochána flexibility when responding to circumstances that require additional resources for specific operations. These additional resources will have to be over and above those available from Gardaí on rostered duty thus ensuring the continuation of normal policing duties unabated.
An Garda Síochána publishes data on the overtime payments made to members of An Garda Síochána. The data for 2017 to Q2 2025, the latest date for which figures are available can be found at the following link:
https://www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/freedom-of-information/publication-scheme/budgets-and-spending/overtime-reports.html
When available, these reports will be updated for Q3 and Q4 of 2025 and Q1 and Q2 of 2026.
Additionally the published appropriation account for An Garda Síochána include the final audited overtime figures for each year.
