Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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458. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases that the Garda Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-Ordination Unit have dealt with in the years of 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and the number of Gardai by rank attached to this unit as of 10 September 2025 [49810/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I 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.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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459. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of rental properties identified by An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years as having been used as brothels; the breakdown by county; and the number of prosecutions and convictions secured in these cases. [49818/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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463. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of victims identified in brothels in Ireland since 2020 who were subsequently referred to State protection and support services; whether he accepts that many victims remain in a precarious or undocumented position; and the reforms he intends to introduce to guarantee their safety and rehabilitation. [49822/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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465. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of investigations opened in the past five years into the use of false identity or employer documentation for the purpose of securing leases later used for brothel-keeping; and the number of prosecutions and convictions that have arisen from such investigations. [49824/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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466. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether his Department collects and publishes regular data on the prevalence of illegal brothels and related prosecutions; and if not, the reason such monitoring has not been established given the evident scale of the problem. [49825/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 459, 463, 465 and 466 together.

It is generally recognised that prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons, mainly women and girls, and that many people are forced into prostitution through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty.

Prostitution is recognised in the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence as a form of gender-based violence, in which there are a number of actions - including to reduce demand for prostitution, to raise awareness of the law around it, and to improve exit pathways.

The Department of Health has put a patient management system in place to facilitate data collection for the Women’s Health Service which aims to ensure people in prostitution have access to safety, healthcare, support and exit routes. In addition, this allows for an analysis of data for future service planning, development and improvement.

My Department has funded NGO-led campaigns to highlight the prevalence of sexual exploitation and human trafficking for sexual exploitation throughout Ireland. And the Programme for Government contains an action to: Initiate a public education campaign highlighting the fact that it is a criminal offence in Ireland to pay for sex. Work is underway to scope research and data to inform an awareness campaign.

Separately, the Review of the Operation of Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, which was published earlier this year, identifies areas for improvement which would allow the legislation to work better and achieve its aim of deterring the demand for commercial sex, which is linked to both sexual exploitation and human trafficking. This Review has been much anticipated by stakeholders in the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) sector and others, and my Department is now working towards implementation.

In addition to Governmental efforts, Ruhama plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive support services and supports people to exit prostitution. My Department provides annual funding to Ruhama for this work.

In November 2023, a specialised accommodation centre - Rosa’s Place - opened for female victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. This is the first service of its kind in Ireland dedicated to providing a safe haven for women who have been trafficked for this purpose.

I have contacted An Garda Síochána and the Central Statistics Office and been informed that much of the data requested by the Deputy is not available.

For example, while investigations into illegal or alleged illegal activity are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no specific incident type available in their PULSE system to capture one description referenced - ie 'the use of false identity or employer documentation for the purpose of securing leases later used for brother-keeping'. The Courts Service advised that there does not appear to be a specific offence in statute for use of false identity or employer documentation for the purpose of securing leases later used for brothel-keeping. This means there is no specific offence code which can be used to run a report which would provide the data sought.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that whether or not a property was a rental property is not recorded in any structured field in the PULSE system. The Garda authorities can, however, provide a count of prosecutions for the offence of Brothel Keeping, and that is included here. A breakdown is not available below national level due to low volumes.

* to 15th Sep 2025.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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460. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the safeguards currently in place to prevent individuals leasing multiple residential properties under false pretences for the purpose of brothel-keeping; and whether he accepts that the recent cases before the courts highlight serious failings in the present system. [49819/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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464. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether he is satisfied that landlords and letting agents have adequate tools, guidance and legal protections to prevent their properties being let under false pretences for use as brothels; and if not, the legislative or regulatory reforms he intends to bring forward. [49823/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 464 together.

It is a criminal offence under section 11 () of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993, to keep a brothel, or knowingly rent property to someone for use as a brothel. It is a matter for An Garda Síochána to investigate any allegations of brothelkeeping.

I am informed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 (RTA) regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the residential rental sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2024 (RTA) to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy.

Section 16 of the RTA provides for obligations of tenants.

Section 16 (m) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004-2025 states:

“In addition to the obligations arising by or under any other enactment, a tenant of a dwelling shall— .....

(m) not use the dwelling or cause it to be used for any purpose other than as a dwelling without the written consent of the landlord (which consent the landlord may, in his or her discretion, withhold),”

A landlord may lawfully end a tenancy should there be a breach of tenant obligations.

A dispute may be referred to the RTB under Part 6 of the Acts and I am informed that more information on the RTB's dispute resolution service can be found on www.rtb.ie.

The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating property services providers, including letting agents and property management agents, in the provision of property services. The PRSA is an agency of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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461. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current number of Gardaí and civilian staff assigned specifically to the investigation of prostitution, human trafficking and related organised crime; whether this represents an increase or decrease compared with a decade ago; and if he is satisfied that current resources are sufficient given the scale of the problem. [49820/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2014, the number of Garda members and Garda staff assigned specifically to the investigation of prostitution, human trafficking and related organised crime within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau is outlined in the following table:

As of 23 September 2025, the number of Garda members and Garda staff assigned specifically to the investigation of prostitution, human trafficking and related organised crime within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau is outlined in this table:

This represents an increase of 12 Garda members and one Garda staff.

I am also informed that there are competition panels currently in place to facilitate future allocation of members to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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462. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total value of assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau in each of the past five years from individuals or networks engaged in brothel-keeping and prostitution; and whether he accepts that the proceeds identified to date represent only a fraction of the wider illegal economy in this area.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49821/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. The Chief Bureau Officer is responsible to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for the administration and business of the Criminal Assets Bureau. As Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, I have no direct role in these functions.

I am informed by CAB that, while the Bureau collate statistics in relation to assets seized, including property, drugs, cash, high value items, it does not collate individual records of the value of assets seized by it by reference to the crime type.

The statistics in relation to those assets deriving solely from "brothel keeping and prostitution" are not readily available and would take considerable time to collate.

I am advised that CAB are in the process of updating its ICT infrastructure and will give consideration to collating these and other relevant records in its update.