Written Answers Nos. 260-274
260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time taken to determine entitlement to disability allowance; the extent to which this has fluctuated in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54426/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to everybody. This includes ensuring that Disability Allowance applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Disability Allowance (DA) has a number of complex qualifying conditions and can take longer to process. Before a decision can be made on an entitlement to DA, evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency.
The target processing time for the DA scheme is to award 75% of applications within 10 weeks. Currently, the average waiting time to award for new DA applications is 10 weeks.
The volume of DA applications received to date in 2023 has increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2022. However, I wish to reassure the Deputy that claim processing is kept under active review, with all possible steps taken to improve processing times.? This includes the assignment of additional resources, where available, and the review of business processes, to ensure the efficient processing of applications.
|
Yearly average processing times for DA |
Weeks |
|
2018 |
13 |
|
2019 |
13 |
|
2020 |
7 |
|
2021 |
6 |
|
2022 |
7 |
|
Jan-Nov 2023: |
10 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time taken to determine entitlement to invalidity pension; the extent to which this has fluctuated in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54427/23]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The average processing target for the IP scheme is to award 90% of applications within 10 weeks. The following table outlines the average weeks to award an IP application.
Average Weeks to Award
|
Scheme |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to end November |
|
Invalidity Pension |
7 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
My Department is committed to ensuring that applications are processed promptly.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which any backlogs have been addressed in respect of various headings and payments operated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54429/23]
View answerMy Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are processed quickly and efficiently.
Processing times for new applications vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested schemes can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision-making process. Delays can also arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding.
I am pleased to report that claims processing is generally up to date, with processing targets met and exceeded for most of the primary schemes. My Department continues to ensure that customer service is maintained at a high level.
The table below shows the current processing times (end of October 2023) and the performance targets for each scheme.
|
Scheme Type |
Target Weeks to Process Claims |
Average Processing Times (Weeks) |
Percentage of claims awarded within target |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
90% by date of entitlement |
8 |
92% |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
75% in 10 weeks |
6 |
88% |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
90% in 12 weeks |
4 |
Not available |
|
Child Benefit |
90% in 4 weeks |
1 |
72% |
|
Disability Allowance |
75% in 10 weeks |
10 |
62% |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
90% in 10 weeks |
6 |
95% |
|
Free Travel |
90% in 2 weeks |
8 |
96% |
|
Household Benefits |
90% in 4 weeks |
1 |
99% |
|
Illness Benefit |
90% in 1 week |
1 |
95% |
|
Invalidity Pension |
90% in 10 weeks |
8 |
95% |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
90% in 6 weeks |
2 |
96% |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
90% in 3 weeks |
1 |
95% |
|
Maternity Benefit |
90% by due date |
6 |
94% |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
90% in 1 week |
1 |
63% |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
90% in 10 weeks |
4 |
97% |
|
Parent’s Benefit |
90% by commencement of leave |
1 |
97% |
|
Paternity Benefit |
90% by commencement of leave |
6 |
93% |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
75% in 12 weeks |
6 |
88% |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
90% in 1 week |
1 |
85% |
|
Widow(er)’s Contributory Pension |
90% in 6 weeks |
1 |
96% |
|
Working Family Payment |
90% in 6 weeks |
5 |
Not available |
Overall, I am pleased that my department continues to ensure that the customer service has been maintained at a high level.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
263. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of the State pension (contributory) that will apply to those who have an entitlement to the maximum rate of contributory pension from January 2024, should they decide to defer drawing down their pension until they reach ages 67, 68, 69, and 70 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50752/23]
View answerIn September 2022, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the measures I announced is the introduction of flexibility to the State Pension (Contributory) from 1 January 2024. This will allow a person to defer access to their State Pension (Contributory) up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate.
The rates will be set out in the Budget annually and based on actuarial factors, which will be reviewed every five years in line with the actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund.
Based on the January 2024 rate of State Pension (contributory) of €277.30, the proposed maximum rates for each year of deferral in 2024 are:
• €290.30 at age 67
• €304.80 at age 68
• €320.30 at age 69 and
• €337.20 at age 70.
As the measure is being introduced for those who turn 66 from January 2024, the first people to be eligible for a higher rate will be those who turn 67 in January 2025. While the base rate of €277.30 may increase in the next budget, these rates provide an indication of the scale of the actuarial increases that will apply.
As the State Pension age remains at 66 years, a person can still draw their State Pension (Contributory) at State Pension age.
As the Deputy is aware, a Bill to give effect to this and other State pension reforms is currently before the Oireachtas, and I expect the legislation to be enacted by the end of the year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
264. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 244 and 245 of 1 June 2023, the number of reported cases made to An Garda Síochána with respect to financial fraud; the number of cases investigated with respect to same; the number of cases closed with conviction with respect to same; the value of money recovered with respect to same in each of the years 2016 to date in 2023, in tabular form, across relevant categories as per aforementioned replies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54230/23]
View answer265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 244 and 245 of 1 June 2023, the number of reported cases made to An Garda Síochána with respect to authorised push payment fraud; the number of cases investigated with respect to same; the number of cases closed with conviction with respect to same; the value of money recovered with respect to same in each of the years 2016 to date in 2023, in tabular form across relevant categories as per aforementioned parliamentary question replies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54231/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.
It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
|
Incident Type |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
*2023 |
|
Incident Type |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
*2023 |
|
Accommodation Fraud |
232 |
229 |
275 |
382 |
291 |
|
Account Take Over Fraud |
363 |
552 |
3549 |
2340 |
1353 |
|
ATM Fraud/Black Box attacks |
66 |
14 |
15 |
29 |
14 |
|
Bogus Tradesman Fraud |
120 |
123 |
130 |
144 |
134 |
|
Bribery & Corruption |
< |
< |
< |
< |
< |
|
Business E-Mail Compromise |
457 |
333 |
289 |
259 |
184 |
|
Card Not Present Fraud |
609 |
545 |
3781 |
1555 |
740 |
|
Cheque Fraud |
129 |
72 |
39 |
33 |
51 |
|
Companies Act Offences |
12 |
14 |
< |
< |
< |
|
Counterfeiting Notes and Coins |
1006 |
396 |
287 |
218 |
171 |
|
Counterfeiting of Goods |
34 |
26 |
17 |
18 |
11 |
|
Deception/Other |
3125 |
2780 |
3968 |
3114 |
3733 |
|
Employee/Internal Fraud |
169 |
103 |
75 |
99 |
83 |
|
European Communities Fraud |
0 |
0 |
0 |
< |
0 |
|
False Pretences |
< |
< |
< |
< |
< |
|
Falsification of Accounts |
< |
< |
< |
0 |
< |
|
Forgery / False Instrument Offences |
867 |
862 |
694 |
618 |
518 |
|
Insurance Fraud |
155 |
122 |
109 |
105 |
63 |
|
Investment Fraud |
50 |
141 |
248 |
183 |
328 |
|
Investment Intermediaries Act |
0 |
0 |
0 |
< |
< |
|
Loan/Mortgage Fraud |
42 |
37 |
40 |
50 |
51 |
|
Money Laundering |
255 |
633 |
854 |
572 |
542 |
|
Phishing/Vishing/Smishing Frauds |
320 |
479 |
2340 |
1718 |
2240 |
|
Possession of an Article (Fraud) |
10 |
10 |
< |
< |
< |
|
Romance Fraud |
36 |
44 |
87 |
67 |
38 |
|
Shopping/Online Auction Fraud |
414 |
702 |
817 |
697 |
777 |
|
Welfare/Benefit Fraud |
62 |
102 |
166 |
56 |
80 |
266. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the criteria used by her Department to assess applications from foreign nationals who have become naturalised citizens, who wish to have dependent children, spouses, and other relatives join them in this country; if there are limits on the number granted entry; the number of such persons granted entry to join their naturalised citizen from 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54258/23]
View answerThe position in regard to applications for family reunification is set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which is available on my Department's website. This policy document sets out the criteria used by my Department to assess all Non-EEA Family Reunification applications.
The policy document can be viewed here
www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf
I can also inform the Deputy that my Department does not distinguish between applications made by persons that have been naturalised and those that are Irish by birth. If a person wishes to come to Ireland to reside for longer than 3 months with their Irish family member then they must, if they are a visa-required national, apply for and be granted a long stay (join family) D visa in order to travel to Ireland.
All visa applications must be made using the Departments on-line facility available at the following link www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome2.aspx
The below table, outlines statistics in respect of visa applications where the sponsor is an Irish citizen from 2019 to date.
|
Applications for Join Family (Irish nat.)(de facto partner) Join Family (Irish nat.)(other) ‘Join Family (Irish nat.)(spouse) |
Applications Received |
Applications Granted |
Applications Refused |
Granted on Appeal |
|
2019 |
1,738 |
1,047 |
630 |
127 |
|
2020 |
1,145 |
778 |
518 |
103 |
|
2021 |
1,673 |
960 |
521 |
274 |
|
2022 |
1,964 |
962 |
686 |
276 |
|
2023 (1 January to 3 December) |
2,025 |
1,048 |
716 |
190 |
267. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if, having regard to the provisions of the EU treaties, any non-Irish EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in Ireland have been expelled on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54284/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State.
Under Section 20(b) of the European Communities (Freedom of Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015, the Minster may make a removal order in respect of a person, who is a citizen of an EU member state and who represents a danger for public policy or public security.
Since 2018, 266 people have been removed from the State under this process.
|
Year Effected |
Number |
|
2018 |
70 |
|
2019 |
64 |
|
2020 |
33 |
|
2021 |
42 |
|
2022 |
37 |
|
2023 (to date) |
20 |
|
Total |
266 |
268. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda recruits that completed phase 1, phase 2, phase 3 and phase 4 training, respectively, in the Garda College for each of the years 2016 to 2023, inclusive, and the number of Garda recruits that were attested as Gardaí between 2016 and 2023, in tabular form by phase and year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54299/23]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
|
Year |
Number Attested |
Phase I completed |
Phase II completed |
Phase III completed |
|
Year |
Number Attested |
Phase I completed |
Phase II completed |
Phase III completed |
|
2016 |
393 |
393 |
394 |
182 |
|
2017 |
883 |
883 |
557 |
312 |
|
2018 |
789 |
789 |
790 |
570 |
|
2019 |
605 |
605 |
784 |
764 |
|
2020 |
522 |
505 |
217 |
386 |
|
2021 |
148 |
144 |
654 |
456 |
|
2022 |
370 |
370 |
571 |
556 |
|
2023* |
388 |
388 |
59 |
678 |
|
Total |
4,098 |
4,077 |
4,026 |
3,904 |
269. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the large number of days that the school remained closed in Castlerea Prison this year up to 31 August 2023; the steps taken to rectify this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54353/23]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody. These programmes include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes are available in all prisons and all people in custody are eligible to use these services.
The average monthly school attendance in Castlerea Prison for 2023 ranged from 18% - 29% of the prison population. The school was closed due to staff shortages for 36 days in the period January 2023 to August 2023. School closures are also impacted by the overall increase in numbers resulting in a significant increase in the use of Castlerea Prison staff to escort people for court appearances and/or hospital appointments.
Castlerea Prison has recently reviewed and amended its Regime Management Plan (RMP) in order to address the issue of school closures and this has resulted in fewer closures since September 2023.
In order to minimise impact on services, the Prison Service is committed to strengthening the numbers of staff assigned to the Prison Service Escort Corps to limit the burden on prison based staff being reassigned to escorting duties. Increased funding was made available in Q4 of 2022 and, under Budget 2023, a €6.5m additional staffing package was secured for the Prison Service to provide for additional staff recruitment to support rehabilitation and training. This will support both improvements in opening hours and access to prisoner services including education services.
To date in 2023, the Irish Prison Service have recruited 183 Recruit Prison Officers (RPO), a further class of RPOs are due to be recruited by year end and it is expected that 300 prison officers will be recruited in 2024. Additional hours have also been provided to prisons pending staff recruitment to maximise service delivery. The requirement to support prisons remains under review each quarter to allow for improvements in opening hours and access to services including education services.
270. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if, in light of recent events in Dublin city, additional security measures will be considered for upcoming citizenship ceremonies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54359/23]
View answerFirstly, I want to you congratulate all those who have received an invitation to attend a Citizenship Ceremony. I am sure it is a cause of celebration for them and their family.
Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 and have been universally well received, marking the grant of Irish citizenship in a solemn, dignified and appropriate manner.
I can assure the Deputy that, for all Citizenship Ceremonies, my Department liaises with An Garda Síochána and security personnel at the venue in order to ensure the safety and well-being of candidates and their guests, Departmental officials, venue staff and the general public.
Further information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/
271. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons on remand in places of detention pending criminal trials as of 1 December 2023. [54360/23]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that on 1 December 2023, there were 946 people held in prison custody solely on a remand or trial warrant.
I can further advise the Deputy that this figure does not include people who are serving a sentence, and who also have a remand or trial warrant that will become active once the sentence expires. The process to identify people in custody serving a sentence and whose remand/trial warrant will become active at the end of the sentence requires a manual review of individual files and the Irish Prison Service will write to the Deputy with this figure in due course.
The Irish Prison Service is managing significant numbers of people held on remand or trial warrants which is contributing to pressures on prison accommodation. As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the courts into custody and does not have the option to refuse to take people into custody whether sentenced, remand or awaiting trial.
I am advised that there are no prisoners held solely on remand in the Training Unit, Loughan House Open Centre or in Shelton Abbey Open Centre.
272. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm what action will be taken to recruit additional staff to provide support to coroners, particularly in light of the fact that the coronial service, and families affected, have been experiencing significant delays in cases being listed for inquest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54370/23]
View answerThe coroners service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, are the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. My Department does not have a role in directing the work of coroners nor do I have any function in the conduct of coronial business.
My Department does not have any function in relation to the provision of administrative supports or the recruitment of staff for Coroners outside of Dublin.
My Department has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative supports to the Dublin District Coroner’s Office since 1st January 2018. My Department has significantly increased the administrative supports to the Dublin District Coroner’s Office (DDCO) during 2023. There are now more Coroners (4 in total) and more support staff working in the Dublin District Coroner’s Office than at any time in the past. Additional staff are in the process of being recruited for the Dublin District Mortuary facility, with a key post due to be filled early in the New Year, alongside further recruitment campaigns.
Three additional Temporary Coroners have been appointed to facilitate the growing workload of the District whilst the Senior Coroner holds the inquests in to the Stardust Fire deaths. Two additional Coroner’s Courts (in addition to the Store Street Coroner’s Court) in the Richmond Education Centre are in operation and, when combined with the additional administrative staff assigned to the DDCO in 2023, has increased the capacity of the DDCO to hold inquests. Furthermore, a DDCO modernisation programme commenced earlier in 2023, which has identified a series of process improvements that will improve the service provided to bereaved families. A dedicated modernisation team will be established early in the New Year to ensure the recommendations get implemented in a timely manner.
On 20 October 2023, I launched a wide-ranging consultation to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland. The consultation is an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholder groups to express their views, observations and proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.
The public consultation will be open until the 19 January 2024. Following its conclusion, it is intended that proposals on a renewed Coroner system, including a proposed plan as to how this will be achieved, will be brought to Government.
Further information on the public consultation, along with the two associated questionnaires, can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/consultation/473f5-Coroner-reform-consultation/.
273. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the key initiatives taken to fight crime and anti-social behaviour in both urban and rural areas since 27 June 2020. [54398/23]
View answerAt the outset, I would like to assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities in our towns and cities and in rural Ireland. Everybody has the right to feel safe and to be safe in their homes and on their land and property.
I have prioritised the enactment of a series of laws intended to increase the safety and security of communities. Recent legislation provides for substantially increased sentences for a range of offences. This has included:
• doubling the maximum sentence for assault causing harm to 10 years;
• increasing the sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life;
• and increasing the sentence for assaulting a Garda or emergency worker from 7 to 12 years.
The Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024, published by Minister Browne, sets out a vision for people and communities in rural Ireland to feel safe and be safe in their homes, their places of work, and their local environments. The plan identified five key areas in relation to rural safety which needed to be addressed: Community Safety, Burglary and Theft, Roads Policing, Animal Crime and Heritage Crime and outlines the key actions underway in these priority areas.
I have also brought through legislation that will put An Garda Síochána on a clear path to start rolling out bodyworn cameras on front-line Gardaí from next year. I intend to bring a general scheme for a Garda Síochána (Digital Management and Facial Recognition Technology) Bill to Government in the coming weeks. This Bill will enable Gardaí to use facial recognition technology in limited circumstances to assist in identifying offenders in respect of serious violent offences.
My top priority is building stronger, safer communities and that is reflected in the budget allocation of €2.31 billion announced for An Garda Síochána, which has grown considerably since I took office in 2020. High visibility policing is of course a vital part of our efforts to fight crime and anti-social behaviour. Recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Garda College due to Covid-19, and we are now seeing Garda recruits regularly enter Templemore.
An Garda Síochána runs a number of initiatives aimed at improving community safety and tackling crime. These include:
• Operation Tara, which tackles street-level drug dealing, focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved at every level across the country.
• Crime Prevention Officers across the country who are available to offer safety advice and answer concerns from various members of the community, including young people, at community engagement events.
• Operation Soteria - the national operation that has the aim of preventing assaults occurring, through targeted, timely patrols and engaging with community partners to promote personal safety. This initiative continues and has raised awareness of the consequences of assaults on victims, their families and convicted persons.
• 'Use Your Brain, Not Your Fists' - awareness raising campaign that aims to reduce the number of assaults carried out by males between 18 and 39 years of age. It appeals to young males to think of the consequences for themselves and others of being involved in assaults.
A number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government and Justice Plan 2023 to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities. These include:
• setting up of the expert forum on antisocial behaviour;
• expanding youth diversion to the 18-24 year old age group;
• implementing the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2017;
• criminalising adults who groom children into criminality;
• delivering a programme to tackle the misuse of scramblers and similar vehicles.
In addition, the Minister for Transport has enacted legislation to give the Gardaí stronger powers to seize scrambler bikes.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, which is chaired by Minister Browne, is developing measures which will address the factors which give rise to ASB and its impact on community morale and quality of life. The forum met most recently on 24 October 2023. Three subgroups of the Forum have been established to consider the specific issues of knife crime, the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes, and responses to Anti-Social Behaviour impacts on housing complexes managed by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
I have enacted a law to improve post release supervision of sex offenders and to provide for electronic tagging. I have also introduced and enacted a law to facilitate access to certain communications data to protect national security and tackle serious crime.
Other important pieces of legislation include a new Police Powers Bill and a Bill to update the powers available to security and law enforcement services to lawfully access communications to ensure these important powers are fit for purpose in dealing with online threats and criminal activity.
The Commission on the Future of Policing recognised that community safety is a whole of Government responsibility. To help achieve this goal, three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) have been established. The Partnerships will build upon and replace the existing Joint Policing Committees, bringing together Gardaí, local representatives, community organisations and State bodies, to draft a Community Safety Plan tailored to the community's needs. Nobody understands the needs of a community better than those who live there.
I published the Government’s Zero Tolerance plan to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence in June 2022 . The Strategy is an ambitious, five-year, whole-of-Government programme of reform and its publication was accompanied by a detailed implementation plan covering the first 18 months, with yearly implementation plans thereafter. This will ensure the strategy is a living document and emerging issues can be incorporated.
There is a huge body of work underway. Key elements include a range of policies and legislation, as well as increases in budgetary allocations:
• Key to delivering on its ambition is the establishment of the new statutory based DSGBV Agency will bring the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue, which will be operational early next year.
• Under Budget 2024 , an additional €12m in funding for combatting DSGBV has been allocated. This represents a record 25% increase and will support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance plan - including by facilitating the establishment of the new agency. It will also assist the agency in meeting the acute needs for services throughout the country.
• The doubling of the overall number of refuge units over the lifetime of the Strategy. To achieve this we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year.
• Development of up to 36 refuge units is underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. There will be 98 refuge units in priority locations delivered by end 2025 along with a further 19 additional and upgraded units by the end of the strategy.
• Under the current implementation plan there are 144 actions assigned to various Departments, the majority of which have, or are, progressing in line with the specified timeframes.
• introducing new offences of stalking and non fatal strangulation and doubles the maximum penalty for assault causing harm to 10 years.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the likely future residency position in the case of a person (details supplied); if the current situation can be confirmed, including receipt of details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54407/23]
View answerAn application for a Change of Status was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 30 March 2023 and continues to be examined by my Department.
An acknowledgement of receipt of documents issued on 09 May 23 from my Department to the person's legal representative in respect of all documents sought by letter dated 12 April 23.
My Department endeavours to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
