Written Answers Nos. 933-952
934. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of stinger courses held for gardaí within Waterford-Kilkenny division in 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of gardaí that participated in each of those courses, in tabular form. [65420/26]
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 responsibility for the recruitment and training of Garda personnel. The Commissioner is independent in the exercise of his functions under section 34 of the Act.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that no stinger courses were held within the Waterford-Kilkenny Division during 2025 or to date in 2026. Accordingly, no Garda members participated in such courses during the period in question.
I am further informed by An Garda Síochána that 92 members of the Waterford-Kilkenny Division have been trained in the use of the Stinger Stopping Device prior to 2025. In addition, two trainers completed Stinger instructor training in June 2026 and are expected to commence delivering training within the Division across the remainder of 2026.
935. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in cases in which a building under his control is not wheelchair accessible, the reason for this; his plans to remedy this; and the timeline for measures to be completed. [65351/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra946. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the wheelchair accessibility of all buildings under his control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65321/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 935 and 946 together.
My Department conducts its operations predominantly in buildings which are either State owned or rented or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of my Department. These buildings come under the OPW's centralised portfolio management for accommodation across the Government estate, including accessibility. All of the buildings occupied by my Department are wheelchair accessible.
940. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether there are currently delays or technical or administrative issues affecting the e-vetting process for citizenship applicants, particularly where applicants have submitted an e-vetting invitation but have not received the subsequent email required to progress the vetting process; the steps being taken to address any such issues; and the position regarding an applicant who has been required to submit the e-vetting invitation on a number of occasions (details supplied). [65492/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll adult applicants must undertake the Gardaí e-vetting process or other police vetting processes as deemed necessary.
As part of this process, Citizenship Division will initiate this request before passing to the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB). The GNVB invites applicants to complete the process by issuing a link, this link is only valid for 30 days and will then expire.
As part of this process, applicants are first required to fill out a vetting form. Once this has been checked by the Citizenship Division, the applicants should then receive a link from Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) to complete the vetting process. The invitation issued by the GNVB is valid for 30 days only. If the invitation is not acted upon within that period, it expires and the process must be recommenced.
I am advised that there are currently no known technical or administrative issues affecting the operation of the e-vetting process for citizenship applicants.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the applicant successfully completed the initial stage of the process on a number of occasions. However, the applicant did not complete the subsequent stage of the vetting process within the validity period of the invitation issued by the GNVB. As a result, the invitation expired and a new e-vetting process was required to be initiated.
Applicants awaiting correspondence from the GNVB are advised to check their spam or junk folders and, where possible, add the GNVB to their safe sender list to help ensure that correspondence is received and acted upon within the required timeframe.
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.
945. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to ensure that a person (details supplied) receives the appropriate medical and mental health treatment as a matter of urgency before it becomes fatal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65550/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am working to ensure our prison system is equipped to deal with the complex needs of people with acute mental illness and am working closely with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Mental Health to achieve this.
I have been advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that all people committed to prison undergo a comprehensive medical assessment on committal, including a mental health assessment. Urgent healthcare needs are triaged and responded to immediately by the prison healthcare team. Where clinically indicated, referrals to an in?reach Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist or IPS Psychologist are made without delay. All people in custody in closed prisons have 24-hour access to healthcare services, and protocols are in place to respond to immediate concerns to ensure their safety.
I can assure the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is committed to ensuring that all people in custody are treated with dignity, provided with appropriate healthcare, and managed in a manner that prioritises their safety and well-being.
In-reach psychiatric services are provided by the HSE’s National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS), which delivers weekly forensic psychiatric sessions in all prisons except Limerick Prison and Loughan House. Any decision regarding admission to the Central Mental Hospital or other Approved Centres rest solely with the NFMHS and HSE. The Irish Prison Service facilitates transfers as soon as a bed becomes available.
The multidisciplinary teams providing mental healthcare in prisons include General Practitioners, Nurses, Psychologists and Prison Healthcare Support Workers, with additional support from Chaplaincy Services and limited Occupational Therapy services. However, it must be noted that Irish prisons are not clinical settings.
I am advised by the IPS that where a family member has concerns about a person in custody, they may contact info@irishprisons.ie. Such correspondence is reviewed promptly and directed to appropriate personnel.
947. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the Government's position on the proposed EU Cybersecurity Act 2 (CSA2); and the timeline for consideration of the matter during the current EU Presidency. [65562/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Proposal for a revised Cybersecurity Act, known as the Cybersecurity Act 2 (CSA2), was published on 20 January 2026. It is now under active discussion by the Council of the European Union through the work of the Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues. As Ireland now holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we must set aside our national position and chair the discussions on this file in the Council in a neutral manner. I am not therefore able to comment on Ireland's position on this file.
The One Europe, One Market Roadmap has committed the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament to agreeing this file by the end of 2026. This is a very ambitious timeline, but officials in my Department are progressing this file within the Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues with a view to bringing it to general approach by the end of our Presidency in December.
949. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) whose family visit visa application was submitted on 27 November 2025 and remained under consideration for approximately seven months before being refused; if he is concerned that the refusal cited issues including expired travel dates, an outdated itinerary and documentation that had become out of date during the processing period; and if consideration will be given to reviewing the case. [65524/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant on 7 July 2026.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision. Applicants are advised to make sure that the supporting documentation is as up to date as possible. Applicants may use my Department's Customer Service Portal to upload updated documents, such as a revised travel itinerary, after the initial application has been submitted.
The Customer Service Portal can be accessed at the following link:
portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
It should also be noted that should any person, who has been refused a visa, wishes to make another application at a future point, their application will be assessed on its own merits taking all relevant information into consideration at that time. Their prior immigration history is a matter of record but does not preclude them from seeking a visa in the future.
If the applicant decides to make a new visa application, they should consider the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. Their application should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered.
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.
