177. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the evidence that exists that Ireland has the capacity to absorb any additional obligations under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact; whether different minimum/maximum scenarios have been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44442/26]

178. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment that has been conducted regarding the cumulative impact of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on housing demand, accommodation requirements and public services in Ireland versus pre-existing law; if the Government has published any projections regarding the likely financial cost of implementing the pact over the next five-to-ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44443/26]

179. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measurable benefits that will accrue to Irish citizens because of Ireland’s participation in the EU Migration and Asylum Pact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44444/26]

180. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the point at which the Government would conclude that Ireland’s accommodation and service capacity has been exceeded vis-a-vis our capacity to service our own population in terms of permitted international protection and non-essential immigration employment levels; the autonomy that exists in this regard after the EU Migration and Asylum Pact is implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44445/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 178, 179 and 180 together.

It is a central priority of this Government that our immigration laws are robust and enforced.

The International Protection Act 2026 is the most comprehensive reform of immigration law in the history of the State. It will implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure and will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.

Having a common system across the EU makes sure that all applicants are treated the same in every Member State with no incentive to move from one to another. If Ireland had not opted into the Pact, it is likely that we would face higher levels of secondary movement, slower processing and a less efficient returns system. This would result in applicants staying in the system for much longer, at much greater cost to the State, in terms of the provision of accommodation and other supports.

While projections for future levels of international protections applications are uncertain and impacted by a range of factors, the introduction of the Pact is expected to better respond, firstly by reducing secondary movement through the EU, and secondly through the increased use of significantly accelerated processes.

In relation to processing costs to the State, this will be settled annually in the course of engagement on the Estimates process, as is currently the case. In the medium to long-term this investment will show a return in the form of decreasing annual costs because of the improved, faster processing it will enable, thereby reducing the time an applicant remains in the system, and reducing significant accommodation and other costs.

Finally, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how Government intends to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade.

My Department is currently working collaboratively with a wide range of other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy later this year.

The scope of the Strategy will include issues such as labour market needs, legal pathways, international education and planning for public service provision including housing, amongst other issues relating to migration.