Written Answers Nos. 383-397
383. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of means-tested, non-contributory State pension in each of the past five years to date, the number, if any, reviewed or disallowed in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46738/23]
View answerThe table below shows the number of state pension non-contributory recipients over the past 5 years, the number of control reviews undertaken and the number of reviews which resulted in a pension termination.
|
Number of Recipients (year-end) |
Number of Control Reviews Undertaken |
Number of Control Reviews Which Resulted in Claim Termination |
|
|
30 September 2023 |
99,452 |
10,191 |
605 |
|
2022 |
97,729 |
12,869 |
459 |
|
2021 |
95,010 |
8,075 |
253 |
|
2020 |
95,465 |
4,248 |
218 |
|
2019 |
94,854 |
7,161 |
537 |
State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
For the purposes of the means test, at initial application stage and throughout the lifetime of the pension claim, an applicant must provide full and up to date details of any income(s), asset(s), savings and investments they and, if applicable, their spouse/civil-partner/cohabitant hold. Once a state pension non-contributory is awarded, there is a legal obligation on every recipient and, where relevant, their qualified adult dependant, personal representative or agent, to notify the Department of any changes in circumstance that might impact on the pension recipient’s entitlement.
All state pension non-contributory recipients are notified at the time of their initial claim award and in subsequent claim review decision communications and periodic ‘changes in circumstance’ mail shots issuing, that their pension is a means-tested payment and that they are obliged (under provisions set out in social welfare legislation) to notify the Department of any change in their circumstances that may affect their continuing pension entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
384. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a longer-term payment might be made available to applicants who ordinarily would qualify for benefit payments, but due to inadequate contributions can only qualify for a basic social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46739/23]
View answerThe social welfare system is a State financial support for people who need assistance to cover a range of contingencies that may arise including unemployment, illness, etc.
Entitlement to social welfare benefit payments are contingent on a person's PRSI contributions. Where a person does not qualify for a benefit payment, they may be eligible for a means tested payment to cover the specific contingency. For example, if a person has no entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit, they may be eligible for support under the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme.
If the Deputy has a particular case, he should forward for the details to the Department to assess the options that may be available.
385. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the full extent of payments, entitlements and benefits available on a means-tested basis; the extent to which these have been enhanced in Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46740/23]
View answerAs part of Budget 2024, I secured a €2.3 billion Social Protection package. This is, for the second year in a row, the largest in the history of the State.
This package provides a mixture of exceptional cost of living payments delivered over the coming weeks, along with an across the board €12 weekly rate increase in primary payments, including both benefits and means assessed social assistance payments and an increase of €4 per week for an increase for a qualified child both of which take effect from early January. This approach will ease the pressure that many households face over the winter months - acting quickly to provide lump sum supports and providing ongoing support through the provision of the weekly rate increase from January.
Post-Budget analysis from the ESRI shows that this package will insulate most households from rising prices next year.
As part of this package, a wide range of lump-sum payments will be paid in the coming weeks and months.
In the week beginning 20th of November:
• To support low-income working families, a cost-of-living payment of €400 will be paid to 46,000 recipients of the Working Family Payment recipients;
• A lump sum of €400 will be paid to 214,000 people receiving Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension in recognition of the additional cost of living pressures that they face; and
• A lump sum of €300 for over 400,000 people who receive Fuel Allowance. This is particularly important as we come into colder weather for pensioners and people with disabilities who may need extra heating.
In the week beginning the 27th of November three further payments will be made:
• A €400 lump sum will be paid to 130,000 carers;
• Because people living on their own face similar energy costs as couples, a payment of €200 will be paid to 237,000 people who receive the Living Alone Allowance; and
• A targeted lump sum of €100 for each child for those receiving an ‘Increase for a Qualified Child.
On the 5th of December, families with children will receive a double payment of Child Benefit benefitting about 1.2 million children.
There will be two double payment weeks. In the week beginning 4th of December, a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid to 1.3 million people on long-term schemes.
A double payment will also be paid in the week commencing 29th January on the same basis as the Christmas Bonus. And as the rate increases will have taken effect, this will be paid at the higher rates.
I was also very pleased to announce key reforms such as the introduction of a pay-related jobseeker’s benefit from next year, subject to final Government approval, as well as an extension to Parent’s Benefit to 9 weeks, improvements to the Wage Subsidy Scheme, extending Free Travel to those who are medically unfit to drive, as well as further extending hot school meals, among other measures.
My Department operates over 90 schemes and services. Detailed information on these schemes, including operational guidelines, can be found can be found on www.gov.ie/en/category/social-welfare/.
I trust this clarifies the issues raised by the Deputy.
386. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the benefits accruing to families as a result of Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46741/23]
View answerThe Government is keenly aware of issues in relation to child poverty, and these issues have formed a critical input into the development of the Budget 2024 package; and at €2.3 billion it delivered the largest social welfare Budget package in the history of the State.
I provided for weekly rate increases in all social welfare primary payments of €12 per week and the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child will increase by €4 to €46 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €4 to €54 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. These increases will take effect from January at an estimated cost of €661 million in 2024. As a result, these rates will have increased by €10 for under 12s and by €14 for over 12s over the last four years.
I have also provided for a €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child, to be paid in respect of each qualified child, at an estimated cost of €37 million in November 2023.
In addition, Budget 2024 provides for a €54 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January. I have also provided for a €400 lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the payment in November 2023 at an estimated cost of €18.4 million. Recipients of this payment are by definition, low income employees with children.
The double payment of Child Benefit in November will benefit 650,000 recipients in respect of over 1.2 million children at a cost of €178.8 million.
I have also extended Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education from next September. This was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024 and I believe it is a long-term change for the better which will support families across Ireland into the future.
As a result of Budget 2024, families in receipt of payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will also benefit from a double week payment in December as well as a double week payment in January. Families in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a €300 lump sum payment in November.
In addition, the Budget provided for a €12 increase in the weekly personal rate of working age payments bringing the rate of Jobseeker's Benefit to €232 from January.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
387. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which it is possible to seamlessly transfer suitable applicants from domiciliary care allowance to disability allowance payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46742/23]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly allowance payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention in the home, that is substantially over and above the level of care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 months.
Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance is not based entirely on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child, as provided for in the governing legislation.
Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases to be payable when a child turns 16. An application for Disability Allowance may be made at 16 years of age. Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for people who are aged between 16 and 66 with a specified disability that may be expected to continue for at least a year.
Each year approximately half of the children for whom Domiciliary Care Allowance was paid in respect of transferred to Disability Allowance once they reach the scheme's maximum age limit of 16 years.
As the basis for these two payments, care and disability, and the person to which the payment is made are different if is not possible to have a seamless transition between the two payments.
I am committed to restructuring long-term disability payments and to simplify the social welfare system to make it work better for people with disabilities. On 20 September, I published a Green Paper on Disability Reform and launched the associated public consultation.
The Green Paper contains a proposal to standardise the qualifying age and medical criteria for disability payments. The qualifying age for adult disability payments would be standardised to 18, as recommended by numerous reports before. In parallel with this, the payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance would be extended to age 18 with transitional arrangements in place for a few years.
The Paper’s key proposal is to introduce a new long-term disability payment that has three tiers of payment with associated employment supports. The aim of this is two-fold. Firstly it aims to encourage a higher level of employment for people with disabilities, which will improve their outcomes; and secondly to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty and deprivation.
It is important to note that under this new tiered proposal nobody will lose their payment or have their payment reduced. The objective is to increase people’s payments and provide more employment supports for those who can and want to work.
I cannot emphasise enough that the proposals of the Green Paper are not final. They represent a starting point for a structured discussion on what the future of long-term disability payments could look like. They are intended to provoke discussion, debate and suggestions.
I would like to encourage all those with an interest to express their views as part of the public consultation process, which will last until 15 December 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
388. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate the degree to which dental benefit is available through the GMS system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46743/23]
View answerFollowing consultation with the Deputy's office it is understood that the question seeks the description of the dental benefits available under both my Department’s Treatment Benefit scheme and under my colleague the Minister’s for Health’s GMS system. For information relating to the GMS system, I would ask the Deputy to forward his query to my colleague the Minister for Health.
As regards my Department's Treatment Benefit scheme, this a social insurance based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners.
Under dental services, my department pays the full cost of an oral examination once a calendar year.
In addition, a payment of €42 is provided towards either:
• a scale and polish
• a periodontal treatment (if clinically necessary)
If the cost of either scale and polish or periodontal treatment is more than €42, the customer must pay the remainder. This is capped at €15 for a scale and polish. There is no cap on the balance charged for periodontal treatment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which applicants for working family payment have received an increase in Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46744/23]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.
Budget 2024 included the provision of a once off €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all WFP recipients and is scheduled to be paid on the 23rd November 2023.
An increase in the income thresholds applicable to WFP customers was also announced in Budget 2024. This increase will take effect from 4 January 2024 and will see the income threshold for all family sizes increase by €54. This will see an increase in payment across all awarded claims of at least €32 per week while also increasing the income qualification thresholds for new or reapplying claimants.
The current WFP threshold rates together with details of the increase announced in Budget 2024 are set out in the following table.
Working Family Payment Income Thresholds
|
Family Size |
Income Thresholds effective from 5 January 2023 |
Income Thresholds effective from 4 January 2024 |
|
One child |
€591 |
€645 |
|
Two children |
€692 |
€746 |
|
Three children |
€793 |
€847 |
|
Four children |
€884 |
€938 |
|
Five children |
€1,010 |
€1,064 |
|
Six children |
€1,126 |
€1,180 |
|
Seven children |
€1,262 |
€1,316 |
|
Eight or more children |
€1,358 |
€1,412 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
390. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which social welfare payment of an urgent nature can be made available to a wider variety of people now living in this country on a permanent basis but who are disallowed from such payments due to an inadequacy of contributions; whether the habitual residency clause/requirement can be waived in cases where the applicant is dependent on a family member who has been permanently living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46745/23]
View answerState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. In order to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition, as a first step, it must be established that the person has an unconditional right of residence in the State, that does not preclude them from receipt of relevant social assistance payments. It is not possible to apply discretion in relation to the application of the Habitual Residence Condition or to waive the condition.
I am aware that the Deputy has, in recent weeks, raised a number of Parliamentary Questions on this topic, arising from a particular state pension non-contributory claim. As the Deputy has been previously informed, in the case of an EU citizen claiming state pension non-contributory (or any means-tested social assistance scheme administered by the Department), in order to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition, it is necessary for them to provide a verified record of at least five years continuous residency in the State.
Should a person be experiencing financial hardship, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department can make additional needs payments to help meet essential expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all of the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.Additional needs payments (excluding supplements) are not subject to the Habitual Residence Condition and payments can be made to people who do not qualify for other social welfare supports.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
391. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if an individual availing of criminal legal aid must make a contribution or any repayment of the costs of the provision of same; if so, the total amount that has been repaid to the criminal legal aid service over the past five years, broken down by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46227/23]
View answerThe Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and gives effect to the Constitutional right that legal aid may be granted for the defence of people with insufficient means in criminal proceedings.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the current legislation, the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid.
To be eligible for Criminal Legal Aid, an applicant must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are insufficient to enable the applicant to pay for legal representation themselves. The court must also be satisfied that by reason of the ‘gravity of the charge’ or ‘exceptional circumstances’, it is essential in the interests of justice that the applicant should have legal aid. The Act does not provide for a contribution to be made to, or for the repayment of any costs associated with, the provision of criminal legal aid.
The Deputy will wish to be aware that earlier this year I received Government approval for the drafting of a Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill. The key purpose of the Bill will be to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to otherwise update the administration of criminal legal aid.
The Bill will modernise the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, introducing strengthened oversight and governance structures for the Scheme.
Under the new legislation, the Courts will continue to grant legal aid but will be able to impose a condition that the granting of legal aid is subject to a further assessment of income by the Legal Aid Board, where deemed necessary.
Under the new legislation, the Legal Aid Board will be able to make a recommendation that the applicant is of sufficient means to pay some of their legal costs themselves by making a contribution to the cost of providing legal aid.
It will also be open to the court to refer a person to the Legal Aid Board for an assessment of income if they fail or refuse to provide information on their financial means. Under the new legislation, anyone who knowingly or recklessly makes false or misleading statements in relation to their financial circumstances, or another person’s financial circumstances, will be guilty of an offence that could lead to a €4,000 fine or six month’s imprisonment.
The Scheme has been referred to the Justice Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny and was considered by the Justice Committee on 3 October.
392. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number and location of Garda stations closed over the period 2013 to 2023 to date, annually, in tabular form. [46337/23]
View answer393. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number and location of new Garda stations opened over the period 2013 to 2023 to date, annually, in tabular form. [46338/23]
View answer|
Garda Station |
Year Opened/Refurbished |
|
Donard Garda Station, Co. Wicklow |
2018 Refurbished |
|
Kevin Street Divisional Headquarters, Dublin 2 |
2018 NEW |
|
Galway Regional Headquarters, Co. Galway |
2018 NEW |
|
Wexford Divisional Headquarters, Co. Wexford |
2018 NEW |
|
Ballinspittle Garda Station, Co. Cork |
2019 Refurbished |
|
Dublin Airport Garda Station, Co. Dublin |
2019 Refurbished |
|
*Glanmire Garda Station, Co. Cork |
2019 Refurbished |
|
Stepaside Garda Station, Co. Dublin |
2020 Refurbished |
|
Rush Garda Station, Co. Dublin |
2020 Refurbished |
|
Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station, Co. Dublin |
2021 Refurbished |
|
O’Connell Street Garda Station, Co. Dublin |
2023 NEW |
|
County |
Garda Station |
Closed |
|
Carlow |
Leighlinbridge |
2013 |
|
Cavan |
Bawnboy |
2013 |
|
Cavan |
Fineak |
2013 |
|
Cavan |
Redhills |
2013 |
|
Cavan |
Stradone |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Broadford |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Doonbeg |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Inagh |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Kilmihil |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Labasheeda |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Mountshannon |
2013 |
|
Clare |
Quin |
2013 |
|
Cork |
Adrigole |
2013 |
|
Cork |
Ballinspittle |
2013 |
|
Cork |
Barrack Street |
2013 |
|
Cork |
Mallow Road |
2013 |
|
Cork |
McCurtain St |
2013 |
|
Cork |
Meelin |
2013 |
|
Cork |
Rathduff |
2013 |
|
Donegal |
Annagaire |
2013 |
|
Donegal |
Church Hill (Min an Lábain) |
2013 |
|
Donegal |
Gleann Cholm Cille |
2013 |
|
Donegal |
Malin |
2013 |
|
Donegal |
Na Brocacha / Cloghan |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
Dalkey |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
Harcourt Terrace |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
Kill O The Grange |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
Rush |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
Stepaside |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
Whitehall |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Ballymoe |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Kilchreest |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Kilcolgan |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Kilconly |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Kiltullagh |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Leenane |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Menlough |
2013 |
|
Galway |
New Inn |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Shanaglish |
2013 |
|
Galway |
Tynagh |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Abbeydorney |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Ballinskelligs |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Beaufort |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Brosna |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Camp |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Fenit |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Kilgarvan |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Lauragh |
2013 |
|
Kerry |
Valentia Island |
2013 |
|
Kildare |
Ballymore Eustace |
2013 |
|
Kildare |
Ballytore |
2013 |
|
Kildare |
Kill |
2013 |
|
Kilkenny |
Ballyragget |
2013 |
|
Kilkenny |
Inistioge |
2013 |
|
Kilkenny |
Johnstown |
2013 |
|
Laois |
Ballacolla |
2013 |
|
Laois |
Ballinakill |
2013 |
|
Leitrim |
Cloone |
2013 |
|
Leitrim |
Dromahair |
2013 |
|
Leitrim |
Dromod |
2013 |
|
Leitrim |
Glenfarne |
2013 |
|
Leitrim |
Keshcarrigan |
2013 |
|
Leitrim |
Keshcarrigan |
2013 |
|
Limerick |
Castletown Conyers |
2013 |
|
Limerick |
Galbally |
2013 |
|
Limerick |
Kilfinnane |
2013 |
|
Limerick |
Kilmeedy |
2013 |
|
Limerick |
Mary Street |
2013 |
|
Limerick |
Tournafolla |
2013 |
|
Longford |
Ardagh |
2013 |
|
Longford |
Ballinalee |
2013 |
|
Longford |
Newtowncashel |
2013 |
|
Mayo |
Ballycastle |
2013 |
|
Mayo |
Ballyglass |
2013 |
|
Mayo |
Ballyvary |
2013 |
|
Mayo |
Blacksod |
2013 |
|
Mayo |
Hollymount |
2013 |
|
Mayo |
Lahardane |
2013 |
|
Meath |
Crossakiel |
2013 |
|
Meath |
Kilmessan |
2013 |
|
Monaghan |
Corrinshigagh |
2013 |
|
Monaghan |
Newbliss |
2013 |
|
Monaghan |
Shantonagh |
2013 |
|
Offaly |
Geashill |
2013 |
|
Offaly |
Shannonbridge |
2013 |
|
Roscommon |
Ballintubber |
2013 |
|
Roscommon |
Ballyfarnon |
2013 |
|
Roscommon |
Ballyforan |
2013 |
|
Roscommon |
Knockcroghery |
2013 |
|
Sligo |
Aclare |
2013 |
|
Sligo |
Cliffoney |
2013 |
|
Sligo |
Easkey |
2013 |
|
Tipperary |
Dundrum |
2013 |
|
Tipperary |
Grangemockler |
2013 |
|
Tipperary |
New Inn |
2013 |
|
Tipperary |
Rearcross |
2013 |
|
Tipperary |
Terryglass |
2013 |
|
Waterford |
Ballyduff |
2013 |
|
Waterford |
Stradbally |
2013 |
|
Westmeath |
Ballinahowan |
2013 |
|
Westmeath |
Castletown Geoghegan |
2013 |
|
Westmeath |
Rathowen |
2013 |
|
Wexford |
Kiltealy |
2013 |
|
Wicklow |
Donard |
2013 |
|
Wicklow |
Hollywood |
2013 |
I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together.
It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
394. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of providing seven new crime prevention officers per annum, including all associated costs such as administrative and technological support. [46467/23]
View answerI have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the estimated cost of providing one Crime Prevention Officer is approximately €82,000 per annum. As such, the estimated cost of providing seven new crime prevention officers per annum is €574,000. This includes the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances, employer’s PRSI, technology equipment and licensing.
I am further advised that salary costs are estimated using the midpoint of the current Garda Sergeant salary scale. There may be additional costs for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard briefing time are not included. Future pension costs are also not included.
I am informed that there is no cost breakdown available for specific administrative support costs for Crime Prevention Officers.
I am also informed that, generally, Crime Prevention Officers may require support material when engaging with groups and members of the public such as leaflets/reading material and merchandise with regard to ongoing campaigns or community engagement, for example Bloom Festival, the National Ploughing Championships, and various other days of action. The costs for such material are not included in the estimate provided above.
Crime Prevention Officers also receive data analysis support from the Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS), with the level of input varying on a case by case basis, and such costs are also not included above.
395. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number and percentage of Garda members that currently have the APNR app activated on their mobility devices. [46468/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service.
Through Government investment, over 13,000 mobility devices have been rolled out. This is the highest ever level of mobility devices and allows Gardaí to conduct policing tasks outside of the station.
The Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that on 19 October 2023 there were 200 Roads Policing members participating in the Pilot of the ANPR Application on their Active Mobility Device. This represents 1.4% of all sworn members.
I am further advised that when the joint work on Insurance Data is completed with the Motor Insurer’s Bureau of Ireland, it is anticipated that the ANPR Application will be extended to all members.
396. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of unmarked Garda vans attached to each division within DMR as of 17 October 2023, in tabular form. [46469/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 30 September 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 47 unmarked vans assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR).
The following table sets out the location of these vans by Division.
|
Division |
Number of Unmarked Vans |
|
DMR East |
7 |
|
DMR North |
5 |
|
DMR North Central |
7 |
|
DMR Regional Office |
5 |
|
DMR South |
7 |
|
DMR South Central |
8 |
|
DMR Traffic |
2 |
|
DMR West |
6 |
|
Total |
47 |
397. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the date on which the next recruitment campaign will commence. [46484/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. Following Budget 2024, I announced that this allocation would allow for the recruitment of between 800 -to 1,000 new Garda recruits.
As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including Garda recruitment competitions and when they are held. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The Commissioner has informed me of his intention that annual recruitment campaigns will be held.
Additional funding made available in Budget 2024 will provide for an increase in the allowance payable to Garda trainees to €305, per week, a 66% increase.
The level of funding provided to An Garda Síochána has allowed for a steady pipeline of new Gardaí, with a new batch of recruits entering the Garda College every 11 weeks or so this year. The next recruitment competition will launch in the coming months.
