Deportation Orders

571. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure on charter deportation flights in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by individual operation, destination, number of persons returned and cost per person; the expenditure on Garda escorts, medical personnel, interpreters and independent human rights observers associated with each operation where these costs are additional to the aircraft charter cost; the criteria used to determine w

Disability Services

667. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in county Cavan who, having completed an assessment of need, are currently awaiting each service or intervention identified in their service statement, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and physiotherapy, in tabular form; the number waiting less than six months, six to twelve months, twelve to twenty-four months and more than twenty-four months for each se

Anti-Racism Measures

556. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the expenditure to date on the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism, by year, department or agency and programme; the measurable outcomes that have been achieved to date; whether a formal evaluation of the plan has been undertaken or is planned, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68363/26]

Deportation Orders

570. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons subject to deportation orders currently in the State; the number of deportation orders signed, enforced and outstanding in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of persons who have availed of voluntary return in each year; the average cost of an enforced return compared with a voluntary return; the measures being taken to increase the proportion of persons without permission to remain wh

Visa Applications

569. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of visa applications received from Palestinian students seeking to undertake third-level education in the State in 2025 and to date in 2026; the number approved, refused and awaiting decision; the number relating to applicants awarded fully-funded scholarships by Irish higher-education institutions; the principal grounds for refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68376/26]

Gambling Sector

557. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the operational implementation of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024; the sections of the Act that remain to be commenced; the number of licence applications received, determined and outstanding by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland to date, by licence type; the current staffing complement of the Authority against its approved staffing complement; the further regulations expected to be mad

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-30

Deputy Matt Carthy Hear, hear.

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-30

Deputy Matt Carthy I implore the Taoiseach again to ensure an emergency funding package is provided to Monaghan and Cavan county councils in respect of local road restoration. In many areas, our local roads are in the most deplorable state I have ever seen. Over the past number of years, in real terms there has been a substantial reduction in the funding provided to those local authorities for these works. This year, bizarrely and amazingly, there has been a decrease at a time when inflation in

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-30

Deputy Matt Carthy Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht seo faoi imirce agus saoránacht. Migration is a critical area of public policy that must be got right. Setting the terms of Irish citizenship is a matter of fundamental importance. Citizenship should reward integration and contribution to our communities and our country. Citizenship laws should be connected to a wider immigration framework but remain distinct. A migration strategy must be underpinned by the needs of the country, recognisin

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-30

Deputy Matt Carthy My party is on record as saying that we believe in a managed migration system. We believe in the first instance that this should be guided by Irish priorities, by the needs and wishes of the Irish people and by an Irish government rather than the European Union. The Minister of State's stated objective with which he concluded a speech in terms of having EU alignment in respect of migration management - is a mistake because it ignores the realities of our own situation and the