Budget 2025: Funding for 400 new staff at International Protection Office

Funding to recruit around 400 new staff for the International Protection Office will form part of Budget 2025, amid efforts to accelerate the processing of asylum applications.
The number of asylum applications pending in the International Protection Office rose to more than 23,000 in August, with a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers also appealing the outcome of their decision.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is also understood to have secured funding targeted at tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, expanding prison capacity and speeding up the courts system.
Funding has been earmarked to recruit between 800 and 1,000 gardaí and the Garda training allowance is to rise from €305 to €354.
It comes as the Government prepares to deliver a bumper package nearing €2 billion aimed at helping households with the increased cost of living in what will be viewed by many as a giveaway budget in advance of a general election.
Earlier on Monday Tánaiste Micheál Martin signalled pension payments would increase by €12 per week, as deliberations on the final welfare package neared their conclusion.
Mr Martin dismissed reports that Fine Gael has been seeking a €15 increase for pensioners, with a lower increase for jobseekers, as “spinning” and “completely overplayed”.
The once-off payments in the budget to households, most of which will be paid before the end of the year, will be greater than the €1.5 billion expected, with two double child benefit payments potentially being distributed before Christmas.
Meanwhile, The Irish Times understands that the Arts Council is to be allocated some €140 million in funding as part of Tuesday’s Budget. The funding will be aimed at additional support for artists, venues and production companies and will also be invested in young people and children.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin has also secured an extension of the Basic Income for Artists scheme to the end of 2025.
The pilot scheme covering some 2,000 artists – who are paid €325 per week – was due to end in August next year.
While it will be a matter for the next Government to decide if it will be continued beyond the three-year pilot – some €35 million has been earmarked to cover the full year in 2025.
Culture Ireland is to get €8 million next year in part to enhance the promotion of Irish creatives overseas.
Tourism supports meanwhile are to be provided for initiatives to attract more visitors to regions facing challenges and into the country during offpeak seasons. There will also be funding to draw new tourism business events to Ireland and there is to be a new initiative to boost inward tourism numbers at Halloween towards Cork, Galway, Waterford and Killarney.
A tourism marketing funding of €61m is set to be provided in 2025 and Fáilte Ireland is to get €36 million to allow the agency to continue and expand product development.
The overall allocation for sport is expected to be more than €230 million, a 10 per cent increase on this year.
Additional funding will go towards Sport Ireland to build on the success of this year’s Olympics and Paralympics as well as funding for the Football Association of Ireland to support inclusion initiatives.