Parliamentary questions

137. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice whether his Department has benchmarked Irish prison population rates against comparable EU jurisdictions; to provide that data; and to outline any best practice models being considered to curb unsentenced and short sentence committals. [21489/25]

138. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 27 March 2025, with regard to the four vacancies in the driving training school in Garda College Templemore, the length of time each of these posts has been vacant; when these posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21497/25]

139. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí in County Monaghan, by quarter, for the years 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21588/25]

140. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the average processing time for Palestinian asylum seekers who hold a Palestinian passport and Israeli issued identity document; the average wait time for a decision for such persons following an IPO interview; and the average waiting time for such persons who have also presented a medical legal report and have already been deemed 'vulnerable'…

141. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice his plans to provide international protection to Palestinian protection applicants currently in Ireland through an expedited process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21623/25]

142. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of bench warrants currently outstanding in each Garda division as of 25 April 2025; the number older than 6 months, older than 12 months, and the longest outstanding issue date; the total number of outstanding bench warrants that predate 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21626/25]

143. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice what action is being taken by his Department to improve on the timeline for the processing of entry visa applications, in view that they are currently taking five or six months to process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21644/25]

1493. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice if 30,000 student visas will be given out this year to international students; and the requirements to access these visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19922/25]

1494. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice in light of the housing crisis, whether it is prudent to give 30,000 student visas to international students who will be requiring accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19923/25]

1495. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the provision of security clearance by the State for individuals to work in sensitive roles in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20599/25]

1496. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Justice to report on the reasoning that informs his Department's edition of the 2025 Revised Estimates for Public Services’ 38% annual increase in the funding provided for under the administration heading ‘travel and subsistence’, when compared to the estimate for 2024. [20877/25]

1497. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Justice to report on the reasoning that informs his Department's edition of the 2025 Revised Estimates for Public Services’ significant increase in the funding provided for under the administration heading, ‘policy reviews, consultancy services and research’ when compared to the estimate for 2024. [20878/25]

1498. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on his Department’s involvement in the inaugural Time and Sync Forum; his Department’s position on ending biannual clock changes, otherwise referred to as daylight saving time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21143/25]

1499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of private companies (details supplied) purporting to offer assistance to asylum seekers to submit applications for leave to remain, and charging them fees of over €2,000 for such assistance; and if his Department monitors or regulates the activities of such companies in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

1500. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if he will report on the working group on new Garda staff terms and conditions, and his engagements with stakeholders regarding any potential changes in the terms and conditions of workers within An Garda Síochána arising from the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

1501. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the total number wards of the court which were due to be transferred from wardship arrangements to a decision-making representative arrangements upon the establishment of the Decision Support Service; the date by which all were due to be transferred; the number of which were transferred in each year to date, in tabular form; and if he will ma…

1502. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the traffic policing unit/traffic corp posts in Templemore Garda College, the number of filled posts; the number of vacant posts; if there are any vacant posts; if so, when these will be filled and how they will be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of posts; if so, when they will be increased; [18591/25]

1503. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the defence unit posts in Templemore Garda College, the number of filled posts; the number of vacant posts; if there are any vacant posts; if so, when these will be filled and how they will be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of posts; if so, when they will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the …

1504. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the firearms training unit posts in Templemore Garda College, the number of filled posts; the number of vacant posts; if there are any vacant posts; if so, when these will be filled and how they will be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of posts; if so, when they will be increased; and if he will make a stateme…

1505. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice the total number of vacant teaching and specialist unit posts in Templemore Garda College; to provide a breakdown of the number of vacancies by area/unit, the month and year each aforementioned vacancy arose, whether there is an active panel by which each and any such vacancy could be filled, the establishment and expiry date for said panels…

1506. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 999 of 22 January 2025, if he is now in a position to provide data requested from the Garda Commissioner by his predecessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18624/25]

1507. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Justice if his Department has engaged with representatives of prison officers since January 2024 on the issues with the fast accrual (uniformed) single public service pension scheme for uniformed services recruited after 2013; the dates of those engagements; if his Department has taken any action as a result of these engagements; and if he will mak…

1508. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Justice if his Department has engaged with representatives of an Garda Síochána since January 2024 on the issues with the fast accrual (uniformed) single public service pension scheme for uniformed services recruited after 2013; if he will provide the dates of those engagements; if his Department have taken any action as a result of these engagemen…

1509. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the number of asylum applications in system under appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18647/25]

1510. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the number of asylum applications in courts being appealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18648/25]