Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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593. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the full and final cost of a housing site (details supplied) including all site preparation, ancillary and constructions costs, security costs, landscaping etc; for a breakdown of these costs; the total cost per unit; the annual cost of operating these housing units by the approved housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56972/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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While the site at Haywood, Clonmel has been completed and all 82 units now occupied by families fleeing the war in Ukraine, final costs for this site have not yet been signed off and agreed.

I am advised that the Final Account for the overall Programme will be concluded over the coming weeks. I understand that this process is currently underway between the OPW and John Sisk & Son, to whom the contract was awarded.

Full Rapid Build Programme costs are estimated to be in the region of €285.3m. I will be happy to provide definitive final costs for Haywood to the deputy when these are available.

Using current estimated Rapid Build Programme costs, this equates to an average projected cost of the development and delivery of each unit across all sites of €436k. This includes the cost of the physical units, inclusive of supply, delivery and provision of loose electrical and household items. It should be noted that this figure also includes average site development and utility connection costs which amount to approximately €271k per unit.

Security has been provided at all of the Rapid Build Sites during development and up until handover. These costs are included in the overall estimated costs. In the case of Haywood Road, there has been some anti-social behaviour incidents impacting on residents in the weeks following the moving in of residents.

These incidents have been reported to An Garda Siochana and are being followed up. My department subsequently met with local Gardai, Tipperary County Council, and Tuath, the approved Housing Body managing the site, on this matter. Following which the Department agreed with Tuath to extend security for a short time to allow the 82 families to settle in. This transitional arrangement was ultimately phased out with the additional transitional security arrangement for this site costing €140k.

The approved Housing Body, Tuath, has been contracted to manage facilities across all 11 sites. The cost of facilities management is offset by contributions made by the residents comprising €40 per week per unit for utilities and 16% of their weekly income. Given that they are linked to income, contribution amounts fluctuate with the circumstances of residents in the Rapid Build units. Since July, monthly Tuath costs across all Rapid Build sites average at €86k.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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594. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of approvals issued under the Afghan Admissions Programme; the number of persons that have arrived in Ireland to-date in 2025 under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56973/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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595. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to detail the supports in place to assist persons who arrived in Ireland under the Afghan Admissions Programme; if their sponsor can no longer financially support them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56974/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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596. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the path to Irish citizenship for persons who arrived in Ireland under the Afghan Admission Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56975/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594, 595 and 596 together.

In 2021, my Department opened the Afghan Admission Programme (AAP) in response to the humanitarian situation in that country. This programme allowed Afghan nationals already resident in Ireland to apply to bring their close family members to join them, upon satisfying the relevant programme criteria.

The AAP closed on 11 March 2022, and my Department received 532 applications in respect of 1,549 potential beneficiaries.

The AAP unit commenced issuing decisions in the last quarter of 2022. To the end of September 2025, 339 positive decisions have issued in respect of more than 984 beneficiaries.

One of the conditions of the programme is that sponsors must have sufficient financial resources to support all of their successful beneficiaries from the date of their arrival in the State, until they are able to support themselves. The sponsor must also be in a position to arrange and pay for necessary travel arrangements for all beneficiaries for their travel to the State.

I can advise the Deputy that the AAP is not a visa category recorded by my Department, therefore the exact data requested is not available.

It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.

Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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597. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received to the 2025 Humanitarian Admission Programme; the number of applications that have been approved; the number refused; the number of persons who have arrived in Ireland to date in 2025 under the programme; his plans to increase the number of spaces on the programme beyond the promised 50, given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and in particular the deepening women's rights crisis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56976/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Between 2021 and 2024, Ireland supported more than 700 people to move to Ireland from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.

This work continues through the Humanitarian Admissions Programme, prioritising at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary and journalists.

For 2025, The Open Community has been appointed to administer the programme, supporting the admission of 50 individuals through a community sponsorship (CS) framework.

The 2025 Humanitarian Admissions Programme was divided into two phases and the table below sets out the position in relation to the applications received by my Department under Phase 1 of the Programme.

Applications received under Phase 2 of the Programme are currently under consideration. It is planned to complete the balance of the 50 pledged arrivals under this Programme before the end of 2025.

Humanitarian Admission Programme 2025 as at 17th October 2025