Written Answers Nos. 576-595
576. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the way in which the protected disclosures process has been carried out in An Garda Síochána over the past ten years. [68416/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Protected Disclosures Acts 2014 and 2022 have established a strong legislative framework to support and protect people with concerns about actions or omissions in their workplace. In addition, the development of An Garda Síochána’s Protected Disclosures Policy during this period was informed by a review undertaken by the then Policing Authority.
Under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, Garda members and Garda staff may confidentially disclose allegations of wrongdoing through established mechanisms within An Garda Síochána, or to Fiosrú, formerly the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).
An Garda Síochána and Fiosrú are operationally independent and both bodies have their own mechanisms in place for the receipt, assessment, and management of protected disclosures received.
In accordance with section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended), both An Garda Síochána and Fiosrú publish annual reports in relation to Protected Disclosures and complaints and these are published on their respective websites.
The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced in April 2025, established the Garda Board; the Policing and Community Safety Authority (replacing the Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate) and Fiosrú - the independent Police Ombudsman.
The Act was designed to enhance governance, oversight and accountability in relation to the delivery of policing and security services by An Garda Síochána.
Section 206 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 provides for the investigation of Protected Disclosures relating to An Garda Síochána by Fiosrú.
Where Protected Disclosures are made internally within An Garda Síochána, the 2024 Act gives the Garda Board and the Audit Committee important oversight roles in relation to the operation of the Protected Disclosure system in An Garda Síochána.
I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that all Protected Disclosures made to An Garda Síochána are treated seriously. In addition to the reforms provided for in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, a number of measures have been taken to strengthen protected disclosure mechanisms within An Garda Síochána including the assignment of additional resources to the Protected Disclosures Unit and the transfer of responsibility for Protected Disclosures to the Office of Assistant Commissioner, Governance & Accountability which also has responsibility for the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit and the Professional Standards Unit. Furthermore, Transparency International Ireland have provided training to the Protected Disclosures Unit and senior Garda managers, and provide support and confidential advice to any member of An Garda Síochána who may be considering making a Protected Disclosure.
Having regard to the substantial programme of Garda reform that has been undertaken over the last decade, I am satisfied that there is in place a robust system to deal with, and oversee the handling of, Protected Disclosures in An Garda Síochána.
577. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the significant backlog in processing of join family visas at the Abu Dhabi office; whether measures are being taken to address it, particularly for spouses of Irish citizens; whether his Department recognises the impact that delays approaching two years is having on Irish citizens and their spouses; and whether a temporary visit mechanism can be made available to Irish citizens while their family members await these long-stay decisions. [68417/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that my Department currently operates seven overseas visa offices, in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. These offices are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs process certain visa applications at Irish embassies abroad under delegated authority from my Department.
While processing times vary across visa offices and Irish embassies, the majority of visa applications are processed within the relevant business targets. The business target of 12 months reflects the detailed and often complex assessment required in relation to family reunification applications. My Department aims to process the majority of Join Family visa applications within this target.
While every effort is made to process visa applications within the relevant business targets, local operational conditions, including ongoing conflict, embassy closures and shelter-in-place alerts, have had a particular impact on processing in Abu Dhabi.
Current processing times and visa decisions for applications handled by the Visa Office in Dublin and overseas offices can be viewed at: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions.
An applicant may apply for a Type C Short Stay (Visit Family/Friend) visa while awaiting the outcome of a Join Family visa application. In considering such an application, the decision-maker will be aware of the pending Join Family application and will take into account the fact that the applicant's longer-term intention is to reside permanently in Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, a visit visa permits the holder to travel to Ireland, subject to visitor conditions, for a period of up to 90 days. All visitors must leave the State and return to their normal country of residence on or before the expiry of their immigration permission.
In December 2025, the Immigration Service of my Department introduced online payment functionality to its online visa application system. This allows applicants to pay visa fees as part of the online application process. The initiative is being rolled out on a phased basis and is currently available in 40 countries, with South Africa added in January 2026. This enhancement reduces the administrative burden on Irish missions abroad.
578. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a full and itemised list of all land, property and buildings owned or otherwise held by his Department and by each body and agency under the aegis of his Department in Cork city and in Cork county; the location; a description of the land or property; the current use; the floor area or acreage as appropriate; the manner in which it is held (whether owned, leased or otherwise); the body or agency responsible for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68475/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department conducts its operations predominantly in property and buildings which are either State owned or rented or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of my Department.
Details regarding the land, property and buildings owned or otherwise held by my Department and the agencies under its aegis are provided in the tables below. The first table lists buildings, properties owned, leased or otherwise held by my Department. The second table sets out the relevant buildings and properties held by bodies and agencies under my remit.
In relation to international protection accommodation, a total of 37 in-community properties were purchased by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the accommodation of vulnerable applicants, for whom group accommodation would not be suitable. 5 of these properties are located in Co. Cork. Information about the addresses of centres or residents is treated as confidential in order to preserve people's privacy, safety and anonymity. Accordingly, the individual addresses of these properties are not included in the table below.
It is not my intention as Minister to purchase any further properties of this type. In line with the Programme for Government, the State is working to develop more State-owned international protection accommodation and reduce reliance on commercially contracted accommodation.
As the Deputy may be aware, as property owners and building agents for An Garda Síochána, the OPW either owns or leases properties on behalf of An Garda Síochána. Details of all such properties that are leased or owned are held by the OPW. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
|
Location |
Property / Description |
Current Use |
Floor Area / Acreage |
Owned/ Leased |
Department / Body / Agency |
|
5 locations, Co. Cork |
Residential properties with 3 or 4 bedrooms |
International Protection accommodation for vulnerable residents |
N/A |
Owned |
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
|
Mahon, Cork, Co. Cork |
64 modular homes delivered under the Rapid Build Programme |
Accommodation for persons fleeing the war in Ukraine |
45m² per unit |
Owned |
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
|
Mahon, Cork, Co. Cork, T12 HX8Y |
Land |
Site for rapid build homes |
2.87 hectares |
Leased from Cork City Council |
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
|
Limerick Road, Charleville, Co. Cork |
66 modular homes delivered under the Rapid Build Programme |
Accommodation for persons fleeing the war in Ukraine |
45m² per unit |
Owned |
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
|
Charleville, Co. Cork, P56 EF62 |
Land |
Site for rapid build homes |
3.87 hectares |
Under licence from Cork County Council |
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
|
Location |
Property / Description |
Current Use |
Floor Area / Acreage |
Owned / Leased |
Department / Body / Agency |
|
Anglesea Street, Cork |
Courthouse and offices |
6 courtrooms and public offices |
8,490m² |
PPP |
Courts Service |
|
Washington Street, Cork |
Courthouse and offices |
7 courtrooms and public offices |
7,660m² |
Owned |
Courts Service |
|
Midleton, Co. Cork |
Courthouse |
Courtroom |
304m² |
Owned |
Courts Service |
|
Mallow, Co. Cork |
Courthouse and offices |
Closed and undergoing refurbishment |
744m² |
Owned |
Courts Service |
|
Kanturk, Co. Cork |
Courthouse |
Closed and not in use |
297m² |
Owned |
Courts Service |
|
Clonakilty, Co. Cork |
Courthouse |
Courtroom |
190m² |
Owned |
Courts Service |
|
Clonakilty, Co. Cork |
Office |
Public office |
213m² |
Leased |
Courts Service / Private landlord |
|
Macroom, Co. Cork |
Courthouse |
Courtroom |
362m² |
Owned |
Courts Service |
|
Fermoy, Co. Cork* |
Courthouse and offices |
Courtroom and public office |
Not available |
Owned |
Cork County Council* |
|
Bandon, Co. Cork* |
Courthouse |
Courtroom |
347m² |
Owned |
Cork County Council* |
|
Bantry, Co. Cork* |
Courthouse |
Courtroom |
Not available |
Leased |
Cork County Council* |
|
Skibbereen, Co. Cork* |
Courthouse |
Courtroom |
340m² |
Leased |
Cork County Council* |
|
Cork New Prison, Rathmore Road, Cork City, Co. Cork |
The property comprises a two and three story complex. |
A closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is the committal prison for counties Cork, Kerry and Waterford. |
Building - 21,276 sq. m Gross External Area. Site - 2.87 ha/7.09 acres |
Owned |
Irish Prison Service |
|
Cork Old Prison Site, Rathmore Road, Cork City, Co. Cork |
All buildings are derelict and are unfit for use since it decommissioning in 2016. |
Decommissioned and no longer in use since 2016. |
Building - 10,859 sq m (116,886 sq ft) Gross Internal Area. Site - 1.82 ha/4.51 acres |
Owned |
Irish Prison Service |
|
17 Audley Place, St. Patrick's Hill, Cork |
Terraced property |
Vacant |
Not available |
Owned |
Probation Service |
|
Cork South Law Centre, 1st Floor, 6 Lapps Quay, Cork, T12 VY7W |
Office building |
Law Centre |
398m² |
Leased |
Legal Aid Board |
|
Cork North Law Centre, North Quay House, Pope's Quay, Cork, T23 HV26 |
Office building |
Law Centre |
499m² |
Leased |
Legal Aid Board |
|
Family Mediation Office, 3rd and 4th Floors, Hibernian House, 80A South Mall, Cork, T12 ACR7 |
Office building |
Family Mediation Office |
222m² |
OPW building |
OPW** |
*These properties are included for completeness as premises used by the Courts Service in County Cork. However, they are owned or leased by Cork County Council and the Courts Service does not hold any ownership, leasehold or other property interest in them.
**Used by the Legal Aid Board
579. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by a person (details supplied) in renewing their Stamp 4 permission through the Immigration Online Portal; if he will examine the circumstances whereby the persons renewal application was refused due to non-payment despite no payment option being available following submission of requested documentation; and if he will outline the steps required to regularise their immigration permission and have the matter resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68486/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that the applicant concerned has been granted permission to remain in the State as a de facto Partner of an Irish citizen, which is a fee-paying category for the purposes of immigration permission renewal, and they selected the incorrect fee category on their initial application.
The applicant cited will need to submit a new online renewal application and select the following fee paying category: “None of the above, including de facto and adult dependant of an Irish child.”
Once all of the required documents have been submitted, they will be brought to the payment page to pay the required fee.
If the applicant has any queries relating to their immigration permission or renewal, they can contact the registration office using my Departments Customer Service Portal. The Customer Service Portal can be accessed at the following link: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
Details on how to submit a query to the registration office can be found at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/submitting-registration-or-renewal-queries/.
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.
580. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to clarify if a person (details supplied) who is currently on a stamp 4 visa, can apply for citizenship; to clarify the steps to take if the current stamp 4 visa expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68483/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the person referred to was granted temporary Stamp 4 permission, which is currently valid until 26 February 2027.
Residence accrued under a Stamp 4 permission granted by the Repatriation Unit is reckonable for citizenship purposes. In this case, reckonable residence commenced on 27 February 2024, when the person was first granted Stamp 4 permission by the Repatriation Unit.
Under the current legislative provisions, applicants, with the exception of spouses of Irish citizens, are generally required to have accumulated five years of reckonable residence in the State before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship. Based on the information provided, the person concerned would not currently meet that requirement.
Full details of the eligibility criteria for naturalisation are available on my Department's website: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-an-irish-citizen-guide/
In relation to the renewal of their permission, the individual should make an application to the Repatriation Unit before their current permission expires. If a further permission is granted, they may then renew their Irish Residence Permit accordingly.
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.
582. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide an update on citizenship applications (details supplied). [68494/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe naturalisation applications referred to by the Deputy have been approved.
A request for final documentation and a Certificate fee will issue directly to your constituent. Once provided and accepted the one of the people cited will be added to the potential list for an upcoming Citizenship Ceremony. Minor applicants are not required to attend Citizenship Ceremonies.
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.
583. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the online portal for uploading evidence of road traffic offences will be in place. [68513/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation and deployment of Garda resources under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, as well as the management and administration of operational policing matters, including the Traffic Watch online reporting system.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as part of An Garda Síochána's ongoing commitment to road safety, an online Traffic Watch reporting form has been available since August 2024. Traffic Watch is a partnership approach which enables road users to work with An Garda Síochána in improving driver behaviour, reducing road collisions and preventing fatalities.
An Garda Síochána has also committed to developing a system that will enable members of the public to report incidents and upload video footage through an online portal, including footage relating to alleged road traffic offences.
Delivering this capability requires the procurement and implementation of a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) to securely store, manage and process digital evidence. The DEMS procurement forms part of the wider Body-Worn Camera programme currently being progressed by An Garda Síochána. Garda authorities have advised that the DEMS public upload portal will not be introduced until the procurement process and national rollout of body-worn cameras has advanced. This initial phase will manage digital evidence from BWCs and will be expanded at a later date to integrate with an enterprise DEMS to accommodate a wide range of other digital evidence sources and also introduce the public upload portal for online submission of digital evidence by members of the public.
584. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of an application for permission to remain in the State as the spouse of an Irish citizen and parent of Irish citizen children (details supplied); if he will confirm that the application has been received, processed, and assigned an application reference number; if he will confirm that the applicant is permitted to remain legally in the State while a decision is pending; if he will prioritise this case given the imminent expiry of the applicant's current permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68534/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA non-EEA national wishing to join their family in Ireland should apply for a Join Family D visa from their home country or a country where they are ordinarily resident.
The person cited has made an application for an Extension of Visitor Conditions (EVIC) and also as a Spouse of an Irish National (SOIN). These applications are under consideration.
It should be noted that any Extension of Visitor Conditions (EVIC) application will only be granted where the circumstances have changed from the time the person was granted the original visa. EVIC applications are not granted for the applicant to reside with their family. More information is available here: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/extension-of-visitor-permission/
More information about applications as the spouse of an Irish national (SOIN) can be found here: www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/spouse-civil-partner-of-irish-national-scheme/.
The applicant is permitted to remain legally in the State while their applications are under consideration. The person concerned will be contacted as soon as a decision has been reached.
In relation to travel any person intending to travel should ensure that they hold an appropriate immigration permission and any visa required for re-entry to the State.
As an Oireachtas member, you can 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.
585. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 516 of 14 July 2026, the legal and policy basis for granting Stamp 3 rather than Stamp 1G to spouses and partners of Stamp 4 holders under the Turkish Association Agreement; whether this represents a change from previous policy or practice; the way in which the employment restriction attached to Stamp 3 is reconciled (details supplied); the procedure and immigration permission available to enable such rights to be exercised once acquired; and the way in which the current arrangements are considered compatible with Ireland’s obligations. [68561/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Turkish Association Agreement (TAA) allows family members of Turkish nationals resident in the State under the Agreement to join them in the State, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions are set out in my Department's Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification.
The entitlement of family members of TAA beneficiaries to access the labour market is set out in Article 7 of Decision No. 1/80, which provides that:
Members of the family of a Turkish worker duly registered as belonging to the labour force of a Member State who have been authorised to join that worker:
• shall, subject to the priority to be given to workers of Member States of the Community, be entitled to respond to any offer of employment after they have been legally resident for at least three years in that Member State;
• shall enjoy free access to any paid employment of their choice, provided they have been legally resident there for at least five years.
Children of Turkish workers who have completed a course of vocational training in the host country may respond to any offer of employment there, irrespective of the length of time they have been resident in that Member State, provided that one of their parents has been legally employed in the Member State concerned for at least three years.
There is no contradiction between Article 7 of Decision No. 1/80 and the practice of granting qualifying family members Stamp 3 immigration permissions. Family members of Turkish Association Agreement beneficiaries receive a Stamp 3 permission endorsed on their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card and are not entitled to access the labour market until they have accumulated at least three years' legal residence in the State.
Article 13 of Decision No. 1/80 provides that:
The Member States of the Community and Turkey may not introduce new restrictions on the conditions of access to employment applicable to workers and members of their families legally resident and employed in their respective territories.
I can confirm that there has been no change to the immigration permission granted to persons residing in the State under the Turkish Association Agreement, nor to the permission granted to their qualifying family members.
586. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the percentage of the Garda motorcycle fleet that also have off-road capabilities. [68642/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
587. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of pending criminal prosecutions in County Tipperary in which drugs seized have been submitted for forensic analysis; the number of prosecutions in County Tipperary that have been delayed, adjourned, withdrawn, struck out, or otherwise affected due to delays in obtaining forensic drug analysis reports in each of the past five years and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68669/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraProsecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). As Minister I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Office of the DPP, which is an independent statutory agency that does not come under my remit. As such I am unable to provide any statistical information on the work of the Office of the DPP.
Similarly, the management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service who are independent in their functions under the Constitution and the law. The Courts Service maintains a dedicated email address for queries from members of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
588. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration will be given to the circumstances of a person (details supplied) currently awaiting an oral hearing before the International Protection Appeals Tribunal following a negative decision on a subsequent application for International Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68621/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.
My officials and I are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential. Section 26(1) sets out that:
“the Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential”.
As I am sure you will appreciate, these confidentiality requirements are especially important for an asylum-seeker, whose claim inherently supposes a fear of persecution by the authorities of their home country and whose situation, or that of their family or friends still living in the country from which they have sought protection, can be jeopardised if the protection of their personal information is not ensured.
An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate if they wish to receive an update on the status of their case.
Contact information for The International Protection Office can be found at: https://ipo.irishimmigration.ie/contact-us/.
Contact information for The International Protection Appeals Tribunal can be found at: www.protectionappeals.ie/contact-us/.
Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) are fully independent in deciding whether or not to grant international protection. Each application is examined individually on its own merits, in line with national and international asylum law. They are also bound by confidentiality provisions in respect of applicants as set out in the International Protection 2015 Act.
A new international protection appeals body, the Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA) was established on June 12 to process all appeals received under the International Protection Act 2026.
Contact information for the Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals can be found at: https://asylumappeals.ie/contact-us/.
589. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of alcohol test purchases that Gardai within Clare-Tipperary division carried out on pubs, clubs and restaurants to ensure full compliance with alcohol licensing regulations in the years of 2025 and to-date in 2026; and the number of premises checked the number that were found in breach of alcohol licensing regulations in each of the years in question, in tabular form. [68643/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that between 1 January 2025 and 25 September 2026, there were 1,189 inspections of licensed premises in which no offence was disclosed in the Clare Tipperary Division.
Over the same period there were less than 10 incidents in which premises were found to be in breach of liquor licensing regulations and less than 10 test purchases of intoxicating liquor incidents recorded.
That data covering the time period 1 January 2025 to date in 2026 is set out in the table below:
|
Incident type |
Incident count |
|
Liquor licensing inspection of premises - no offence disclosed |
1189 |
|
Tests purchases of intoxicating liquor |
less than 10 |
|
Premises found in breach |
less than 10 |
Liquor licensing inspections are performed on a continuous basis.
590. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Further to PQ64808/26 and PQ64809/26 of 16 September 2026, in which the Minister stated that officials have been asked to examine whether the confidentiality provisions of the International Protection Acts 2015 and 2026 can be clarified or amended, the date on which that examination was commissioned; its terms of reference; whether any paper, submission or assessment has been prepared to date; whether the Attorney General has been consulted; the date by which it is expected to conclude; and whether its outcome will be published. [68776/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in my reply of 16 September 2026, the principle of confidentiality is a fundamental element of asylum law and is reflected both in the Asylum Procedures Regulation and in domestic legislation, namely the International Protection Act 2015, which applies to applications made before 12 June 2026, and the International Protection Act 2026, which applies to applications made on or after that date.
I have asked my officials to examine this matter with a view to determining whether the provisions of those Acts relating to the publication of information that is likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as an applicant for international protection, without that person's consent, can be amended or clarified to provide greater flexibility regarding what may be reported in the media, particularly in the context of reporting on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.
This examination is ongoing within my Department, with a view to developing a legislative proposal that complies with the Asylum Procedures Regulation, which is binding on Ireland as a matter of EU law, as well as with other international instruments in the field of asylum law to which Ireland is a party.
As regards timing, I have asked my officials to bring forward proposals at an early date.
591. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will a prepare an impact assessment and transition plan to support licensed shotgun owners in Ireland who will be impacted by the recent EU decision to phase out the use of lead in ammunition. [68713/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of lead ammunition is being discussed under the REACH Regulation (EC no. 1907/2006) on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is coordinating the Irish position on this matter.
Given that the breadth of this draft Regulation spans the remit of several Government Departments, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has established an interdepartmental group to coordinate engagement on the Regulation. I can confirm that an official from my Department has been nominated to this group.
592. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the totals paid out in expenses for solicitors on the free legal aid scheme, for each of the past ten years, to date; and to provide a breakdown provided of those expenses into categories of expenses as applicable such as travel expenses/mileage, subsistence and incidentals. [68740/26]
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. My Department is responsible for the administration of, and has budgetary responsibility for, the Statutory Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
As outlined in the Programme for Government 2025, the Government has committed to reforming the operation of Criminal Legal Aid, and work is continuing on the drafting of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023. The General Scheme of the Bill was published in 2023, and its key purpose is to transfer the administration of and budgetary responsibility for the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to the Legal Aid Board in order to strengthen oversight and governance structures for the Scheme.
Under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, claims for payment for expenses including and not limited to, mileage, travel, parking, accommodation and consultation fees are received from any number of individuals associated with a case including, solicitors, barristers, interpreters, translators and witnesses. Therefore, the information is not available in such a way as to provide a breakdown of particular expenses claimed by one type of profession only.
However, I can inform the Deputy, that the table below sets out the total amount of expenses paid under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme for the years 2016 to 2025 and up to 22 July 2026.
|
Year |
€ |
|
2016 |
€10,651,289 |
|
2017 |
€975,084 |
|
2018 |
€1,124,406 |
|
2019 |
€1,169,182 |
|
2020 |
€1,159,237 |
|
2021 |
€1,398,868 |
|
2022 |
€1,493,956 |
|
2023 |
€1,555,622 |
|
2024 |
€1,541,777 |
|
2025 |
€1,747,712 |
|
2026 |
€626,419 * |
*up to 22 July 2026
593. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of accommodation centres contracted by the State for the provision of accommodation to International Protection applicants that, on 31 December of each year from 2021 to 2025 inclusive, had no residents accommodated in the centre; the name and location of each such centre; the value of the contract in place for each centre; and the amount paid by the State in respect of each such contract in each year concerned. [68742/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra598. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount expended by the State on contracts for accommodation centres used by the International Protection Accommodation Service that had no residents in occupation for periods exceeding three months in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by centre and county. [68743/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 598 together.
Providing reception conditions, including accommodation, to people who are applying for international protection is provided for under EU and Irish law.
The then Government responded to a sudden and sustained increased in asylum applications from 2022 to 2024, which coincided with the arrival of over 120,000 people from Ukraine. During this period, the IPAS accommodation capacity grew by over 400%.
The State was unable to accommodation all eligible applicants with accommodation from 2023 to the middle of 2026.
Any instance of an operational IPAS centre being unoccupied would be extremely rare, and associated with operational or contractual issues. These might include a centre being closed to residents for health, wellbeing or infection control reasons, or as part of a response related to regulatory matters, include building regulation or fire safety. Where a contract is coming to an end, residents may be relocated in advance of a closure.
According to available records, instances where an operational IPAS accommodation centre was not occupied on 31 December from 2021 to 2025 were as follows:
|
Year |
Centres |
|
2021 |
1 |
|
2022 |
2 |
|
2023 |
0 |
|
2024 |
2 |
|
2025 |
1 |
Data on accommodation centres being unoccupied for more than three months during this period is not available.
Once an IPAS accommodation centre is in operation, IPAS does not publish details of the specific locations, resident profile, and occupancy of our individual accommodation centres. This is to protect the privacy and security of accommodation centres.
Details of contractual arrangements in relation to IPAS accommodation centres are treated as confidential and commercially sensitive.
However, there is full transparency from the Department in terms of payments, with details of all payments over €20,000 published quarterly online at Gov.ie.
Details of payments while IPAS accommodation was provided through the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality (DCDE) are available here: Purchase Orders for €20,000 or above. (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/)
Since 1 May 2025, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is responsible for sourcing and providing accommodation for people applying for international protection, and the details of payments since this date are available here: Purchase Orders Issued over €20,000 in value. (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/department-of-justice-purchase-orders-issued-over-20000-in-value/).
Separate to the question at hand, security is currently being maintained at two State-owned centres that are now closed to residents, the Midlands Accommodation Centre, Lissywollen in Westmeath and River Lodge, Newtownmountkennedy, in Wicklow, while works are underway associated with remediation of the sites.
594. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the twenty accommodation providers that received the highest payments under IPAS contracts in 2025; the amount paid to each provider; the number of centres operated by each provider; and the county location of each centre. [68747/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra595. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department holds a breakdown of accommodation costs and security costs for IPAS centres; if so, the breakdown; and if not, the reason expenditure is not separately recorded. [68746/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra596. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount paid by the State to each IPAS accommodation centre in 2025, broken down by centre name, county and accommodation provider. [68745/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra597. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the name, county, operator and accommodation provider of each centre currently under contract with the International Protection Accommodation Service; the maximum annual contract value of each contract; and the amount paid to each provider in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [68744/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra602. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS accommodation centres in each county as of 1 September 2026; the maximum contracted capacity of each centre; the current occupancy of each centre; and the accommodation provider operating each facility. [68748/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 594, 595, 596, 597 and 602 together.
Providing reception conditions to people who are applying for international protection is part of EU and Irish law, and people are entitled to accommodation for the duration of their application process.
The State is currently accommodating over 31,800 people seeking international protection in 297 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country.
The allocation for IPAS accommodation and supports for 2025 was €1.27 billion and this reduced to €1.1 billion for accommodation and supports in 2026. This is the first time in five years that the budget for international protection accommodation and supports is less than the previous year.
The table below outlines the total spend on IPAS accommodation in commercial and State-owned accommodation since 2021. Please note the 2025 figure is provisional pending completion of the 2025 Appropriation Accounts.
Table 1: Total spend on IPAS accommodation in commercial and State-owned accommodation since 2021.
|
2021 |
€190,856,000 |
|
2022 |
€356,554,000 |
|
2023 |
€651,756,000 |
|
2024 |
€1,005,000,000 |
|
2025 |
€1.2 Billion |
The costs outlined above pertain to accommodation for international protection applicants, including transport, facilities management, utilities and other related costs.
Security costs and service provision at accommodation centres are included in the overall contracted rate with the accommodation service provider. As such, the Department does not hold details of individual security contracts, service providers, or costs, which are included in the overall contracted costs.
The Department treats individual accommodation centres' contractual details as commercially sensitive, and does not publish details of contractual information on the basis that it could place the State at a disadvantage in ongoing commercial negotiations.
However, there is full transparency from the Department in terms of providers receiving payments, with details of all payments over €20,000 and the recipients published quarterly online at Gov.ie.
Details of payments while the IPAS accommodation was provided through the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality (DCDE) are available here: Purchase Orders for €20,000 or above (www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/).
Details of payments since transfer to this Department are available here: Department of Justice Purchase Orders Issued over €20,000 in value (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/department-of-justice-purchase-orders-issued-over-20000-in-value/).
The Department does not publish information on the locations, occupancy or capacity of accommodation centres. This is to protect the privacy and safety of residents and staff. The Department publishes figures detailing the numbers of residents and centres, with a breakdown of numbers of emergency accommodation centres, on a regular basis and these reports are available here: Statistics 2004 to 2026 (www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/collections/statistics-2004-to-2026/#latest-ipas-statistics-weekly-report).
Details of the numbers of accommodation centres in each county are provided below:
|
County |
No. of Centres |
|
Carlow |
5 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
|
Clare |
11 |
|
Cork |
22 |
|
Donegal |
28 |
|
Dublin |
73 |
|
Galway |
24 |
|
Kerry |
12 |
|
Kildare |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
|
Laois |
4 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
|
Limerick |
6 |
|
Longford |
2 |
|
Louth |
11 |
|
Mayo |
14 |
|
Meath |
9 |
|
Monaghan |
5 |
|
Offaly |
8 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
|
Sligo |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
|
Waterford |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
10 |
|
Wexford |
5 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
|
Total |
297 |
