Parliamentary questions

704. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of dogs currently in training to get into the Garda dog unit. [25850/25]

705. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice if he will clarify the extent to which gardaí who are not part of the dog handling unit are trained to deal with and-#or engage with dogs that are on the schedule of restricted breeds. [25851/25]

706. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of occasions that An Garda Síochána have hired out an external forensic archaeologist to carry out work on its behalf, in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [25852/25]

707. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of horses currently in training to get into the Garda mounted unit. [25853/25]

708. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people that have availed of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme; the total cost to the State each year for the programme; the cost of the support that each refugee receives in total; and the cost on average for each person, since its inception, broken down by year and country of origin [25927/25]

709. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the functions being transferred from his Department to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and when these functions will be transferred. [25930/25]

710. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 26 March 2025 and his plans to engage with community representatives, if he will meet with representative groups (details supplied) on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25963/25]

711. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown of the types of offences committed by minors that led to arrests over the period 2024 to date in 2025, by county and by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26004/25]

117. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if the selection competition for identifying and recommending to the Government a person for appointment as Garda Commissioner has commenced; if he expects that a new Garda Commissioner will be in place when the extension of the current Commissioner's contract ends on 1 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24687/25]

118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the total amount that was spent on IPAS accommodation in 2024; the projected spend on IPAS accommodation in 2025; the plans he has to initiate a value for money review into contracts for the provision of IPAS accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24688/25]

119. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice in light of the worsening crisis of prison overcrowding, where over 350 people are reportedly sleeping on floors and prison numbers are at a record high, the steps he is taking to implement meaningful decarceration policies, including non-custodial sentencing and investment in community supports. [24597/25]

120. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Justice when he will publish the review of the family reunification process that his Department recently undertook; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25027/25]

121. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Justice if he will commit to the removal of the provision that allows counselling notes to be used in all legal proceedings in the proposed general scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25015/25]

122. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice when he expects the heads to be prepared for the criminal justice (disregard of certain convictions related to consensual sexual activity) Bill to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24879/25]

123. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice for the up to date position on the roll-out nationally of distinct family law courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24868/25]

124. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice for the up-to-date position on the roll-out nationally of distinct family law courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24875/25]

125. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the review taking place of family reunification policy, and whether this review will examine the difference in treatment between migrant workers who hold a critical skills permit and those who hold a general skills permit; when this review will be complete; if legislative change will be brought forward on foot of it; and …

126. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of new class intakes that will enter Templemore this year; the expected overall number of students to enter Templemore in 2025; and the number of recruits in 2023 and 2024. [24765/25]

127. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the number of gardaí who have resigned from the force in each of the past three years, broken down by rank; if his Department has conducted any analysis into the reasons behind the increase in resignations; if it is intended to introduce specific retention initiatives, to stem attrition and retain experienced members of…

128. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to outline his strategy towards stemming the tide of domestic abuse and supporting survivors of domestic abuse; the work under way in his Department in this regard; if the number of refuge spaces will increase in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24866/25]

129. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice his plans to increase funding for and expand youth diversion programmes in County Meath and more generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/25]

130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1516 of 29 April 2025, his views on the ‘Impact on Safety and Well-being’ chapter of the Review of the Operation of Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, specifically that sex workers who contributed to the review outlined that the legislation had made their circumstances more d…

131. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline any engagement there has been between his Department and any other agency on the preparation of the establishment of the community safety partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23475/25]

132. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the roll-out of local community safety partnerships in Dublin West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24783/25]

133. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice whether he will bring forward policy changes regarding the right of migrant workers with work permits to reunify with family members here in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24872/25]