Written Answers Nos. 198-216
198. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice what level of proficiency in English and-or Irish is expected of an applicant for naturalisation before their application will be decided on; how this is monitored; whether she proposes to make any legislative or policy changes in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8463/24]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
No language proficiency requirements apply with respect to naturalisation applications. I have no plans to amend the legislation in this regard.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals and people granted International Protection 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.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation will be made.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
200. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 30 May 2023, when a response will issue from the Garda to this Deputy. [8484/24]
View answerI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 30 May 2023 refers to the number of people arrested for burglaries in each county in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form.
I can confirm that a response issued to the Deputy on the 29 June 2023 which is set out at the link below for information.
201. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the cost of the asylum process for each of the past five years. [8512/24]
View answerMy Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. I am taking a number of steps to improve how our International Protection system works. In increasing capacity and speeding up decision making, we can ensure that those who have a right to international protection are given that status as quickly as possible, and those who are found not to have a right to international protection, or other basis for remaining, return to their country of origin.
In July of 2023, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
Over the course of the last year, the IPO increased the number of monthly determinations to over 1,000 in November 2023, and plans to deliver at least 14,000 decisions in 2024, a further increase of 5,000 cases.
The table below details core funding to the IPO and the IPAT since 2019. This significant increase in funding has allowed us to increase the number of decisions being issued every month.
Certain ancillary costs are incurred by the Department centrally and not captured by the budgets specifically assigned to IPO and IPAT.
Costs detailed in this PQ do not cover costs incurred by other Departments and agencies including those incurred by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Total estimate of IPO and IPAT expenditure 2019-2023 (pay and non-pay)
|
IPO |
IPAT |
Total |
|
|
€000's |
€000's |
€000's |
|
|
2019 |
10,314 |
4,243 |
14,557 |
|
2020 |
8,155 |
3,305 |
11,460 |
|
2021 |
8,204 |
3,369 |
11,573 |
|
2022 |
11,864 |
3,255 |
15,119 |
|
2023 |
23,122 |
3,805 |
26,927 |
Note:
In 2020 DOJ implemented a transformation programme moving from a subject-based structure to a functional operating model. As a result the costs from 2020 onward are not directly comparable with the costs incurred pre transformation as a number of expenditure areas were restructured as core departmental functions.
In 2020 as part of the transformation programme IPO Salary costs were included in ISD Administration salaries and an estimated adjustment has been made to include those values in the total costs for IPO.
IPAT has a separate cost centre and no estimate adjustment required - all IPAT costs are actuals.
202. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people issued with deportation orders in the past five years; the number of deportation orders enforced for each of the past five years; and the process in place at airports and ports to confirm whether a person has voluntarily deported. [8513/24]
View answerIt 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.
203. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the estimated number of people residing in Ireland illegally. [8514/24]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that it is in it is inherently difficult to estimate the number of persons living in the State without permission owing to the nature of irregular migration. As a consequence my Department is not in a position to provide a reliable estimate of their number.
204. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the average, total and highest cost of deportation for each of the past five years. [8515/24]
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.The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations.
The below table sets out the number of deportations ordered and completed for the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and the associated costs for those years. The figure for costs covers flights (often through hubs and long-distance) and some accommodation costs, where required, for all removals including Dublin 3 transfers and EU Removals.
A number of factors impact on costs in each instance and these account for the higher than average cost reflected for certain cases in the table below.
In particular, the costs for any particular deportation reflect the numbers travelling in each instance. In some cases a person may resist deportation and the GNIB will conduct a risk assessment to determine how many escorts are required. In addition, in cases where persons convicted of offences are being removed a higher number of escorts are typically required.
Flight costs also can often be impacted by the need to make arrangements to enable escorts to return on the same flight in some instances, for the personal safety of the escorts. Travel bookings are approved on a case by case basis at senior level in both GNIB and Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). Additionally, only certain airport hubs allow deportations to be conducted which impacts on routes available and consequently the costs incurred.
A final very significant contributor to higher than average costs are the additional costs incurred where flights have to be cancelled and rebooked at short notice, due to last minute legal or logistical issues. In complex cases this can arise on more than one instance in connection with an individual deportation.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Deportation orders issued |
2009 |
872 |
29 |
271 |
957 |
174 |
|
Deportation order enforced by GNIB |
155 |
43 |
5 |
26 |
52 |
12 |
|
Dublin 3 Transfers |
30 |
15 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
EU Removals |
64 |
33 |
42 |
37 |
21 |
1 |
|
Total Deportation/Removals * |
249 |
91 |
51 |
66 |
76 |
14 |
|
Costs of total deportations/removals ** |
€1,202,239 |
€1,628,266 |
€428,131 |
€467,289 |
€494,829 |
€71,843**** |
|
Average cost of total deportations/removals outlined above *** |
€4, 828.27 |
€17,893.03 |
€8,394.73 |
€7,080.14 |
€6,510.91 |
€5,131.64 |
|
Highest cost |
€186,274.70***** |
€22,216.79 |
€15,887.74 |
€16,640.50 |
€20,983.71 |
€34,914.78 |
* Total Deportation/Removals include persons who held a deportation order who were escorted from the State, along with Dublin 3 removals and EU removals. These figures do not include persons who self-deported or availed of the voluntary return programmes.
** Total Deportation/Removals costs including the flight costs and some accommodation costs, where required, for all removals including Dublin 3 transfers, EU Removals as well as deportations. These figures do not include persons who self-deported, and the costs for people who availed of the voluntary return programmes.
*** Average costs for Total Deportation/Removals including the flight costs and some accommodation costs, where required, for all removals including Dublin 3 transfers, EU Removals as well as deportations. These figures do not include persons who self-deported, and the costs for people who availed of the voluntary return programmes.
**** Please note that the figures for 2024 are provisional and subject to change.
***** Charter flight cost incurred in 2019, paid in 2020. This charter was for the deportation of 19 Albanian nationals and 4 Georgian nationals which was effected on 04/12/2019.
205. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people arriving in Ireland without travel documents, with false travel documents or with damaged travel documents in each of the past five years; and the location of entry. [8516/24]
View answerThe Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only, as such the below figures reflect the position at Dublin Airport. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and data as requested is not collated in this manner for other ports of entry.
Dublin Airport
|
Year |
Total Arriving Passengers |
Total Refusals |
Arrivals Without Documentation |
False Documents + Identity Issues |
|
2019 |
16,318,300 |
6,151 |
1,579 |
1,849 |
|
2020 |
3,636,256 |
2,077 |
712 |
169 |
|
2021 |
4,118,027 |
3,210 |
2,082 |
279 |
|
2022 |
13,930,041 |
7,662 |
4,968 |
832 |
|
2023 |
16,628,545 |
5,826 |
3,287 |
872 |
*May be subject to slight variance following data cleansing.
Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004.
The BMU and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have the appropriate travel documentation when boarding. Immigration officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries in relation to immigration matters.
In addition to providing advice to airlines on specific queries, training is provided to airline ground staff on current travel documentation requirements to help them reduce the number of passengers boarding flights without correct documentation. The Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without appropriate documentation.
Section 2(1) of the Immigration Act 2003 places obligations on carriers to ensure that passengers travelling to the State are in possession of a valid travel document that establishes the person’s identity and nationality, and that they have the appropriate visa if required.
Where airlines are found to not have conducted appropriate checks on the documentation of people boarding they are issued with a fine for each individual case concerned. Airlines have been levied with fines for over €1.4m in 2023 and over €1.1m in 2022 in this regard.
My officials have begun a review into the current level of Carrier Liability fines.
When a person is refused leave to land at Dublin airport, the Immigration Officer will arrange for the person to be referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) for removal from the State. The priority is to return them on the next available return flight to the last point of embarkation.
206. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons, by county, currently waiting for their Garda vetting application to be processed. [8572/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly.
I am advised by An Garda Síochána that vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
To be of assistance I have contacted the Garda authorities but have been advised that it is not possible to provide statistical information in respect of the number of vetting applications waiting to be processed by county, as such information would require a manual trawl of individual records and would involve a disproportionate use of resources.
For the Deputy's information, in 2023, the number of vetting applications processed by the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) was 588,690.
The current average turnaround time for processing vetting applications is 4 working days for 85% of applications.
I can confirm that the total number of applications currently with GNVB for processing is 13,266, as of 20 February, the latest date for when figures are available.
207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she has engaged with An Garda Síochána in respect of providing a blanket clearance for persons cleared by gardaí that can be used across multiple roles by the person; and if she will consider a time-limited certificate persons could present in lieu of separate Garda clearance requests. [8573/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly.
Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Vetting Review Group was established in April 2021 and meets regularly to discuss potential amendments to vetting legislation. This group includes members of the Vetting Bureau, officials from my Department, from Tusla, and from other relevant stakeholders.The primary focus of the Group is on strengthening the vetting legislation in an effective manner, including any changes that may be possible in relation to multi-purpose vetting or re-vetting.
I expect to receive the Group’s report on arrangements for Garda Vetting in the context of the introduction of a statutory re-vetting regime early this year.
208. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8575/24]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy is advised to apply for an Extension of their Student conditions.
The Domestic Residence and Permissions Division (DRP) of my Department has introduced an application form for Extension of Student Conditions. Further information can be found at www.irishimmigration.ie/introduction-of-application-form-for-extension-of-student-permission/
Applications are only accepted by post. Our DRP Helpdesk cannot process these applications.
The person concerned should post this form along with the required documents to:
Student PermissionsDomestic Residence and Permissions Division13-14 Burgh QuayDublin 2DO2 XK70.
All applicants are required to keep their immigration permission up to date at all times.
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 IMoireachtasmail@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 questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and-or expected residency entitlement in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8585/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the persons referred to were notified of the intention to make a Deportation Order in respect of them. In response to this notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted their behalf. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made. These cases are amongst many to be considered at present and, as such, it is not possible to provide a specific indication as to when the cases will be finalised. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8587/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.
My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department continues to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed as to updates on processing times and arrangements.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@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 e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department can facilitate a change of immigration status from stamp 2 to stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8588/24]
View answerI am advised that the person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a change of immigration status which was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department on 31 October 2023.
Applications are dealt with in strict chronological order of receipt. The Division endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible, however, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of an application and whether or not further information is required.
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 IMoireachtasmail@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 cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which she and her Department are successfully combatting organised crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8592/24]
View answerTackling serious and organised crime is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice and I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.
This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024. The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda Síochána in recent years have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime, including the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Since 2015, over €345m in drugs have been seized by the Gardaí.
An Garda Síochána remains resolute in its determination to act against those engaged in organised crime. Cooperation with international law enforcement agencies remains a key element of the Garda response in view of the global nature of organised crime and the drugs trade, with Gardaí working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL and Europol to target drug trafficking.
Last week, following a joint operation at Cork Port between An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service, Gardaí along with Revenue Officers seized 546kg of a synthetic drug, with an estimated value of €32.8 million. In the same week Gardaí also arrested a man following a seizure of drugs worth over €6.4 million at Rosslare Europort by Revenue Officers.
Last December I received Government approval to open extradition and mutual legal assistance negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is important that criminals see there can be no hiding place from the law, and that the State will do everything in its power to bring those who spread misery in our communities to justice.
The Government is committed to taking a number of direct actions to tackle organised criminal groups, including by:
• Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct organised and drug related crime;
• Introducing new legislation which will criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Supporting the roll-out of Greentown, a pilot programme which is seeking to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit.
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the degree to which educational or rehabilitative provision continues to be made for first-time offenders while in prison, with a view to preventing recidivism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8593/24]
View answerPrisoner care and rehabilitation is a core aim of the Irish Prison Service. The organisation works hard to achieve a balanced approach in relation to its care and custody functions, and seeks to manage sentences in a way that encourages and supports prisoners in their efforts to live law abiding and purposeful lives on release.
I can advise the Deputy that on 31st January 2024 there were 4,777 individuals in custody; of these 1,474 (31%) were in custody for the first time. Various rehabilitative options are made available to all prisoners, including first time offenders. I can assure the Deputy that all services are available to this cohort of people. These include integrated sentence management, education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, offence related treatment, psychological, addiction counselling, welfare, employment, resettlement and spiritual services. These offer purposeful activity to all those in custody, including first-time offenders.
Education in prisons is delivered in partnership with the Education Training Boards (ETBs). A broad and flexible curriculum is provided from basic literacy through to state examinations and Open University. A priority for the Irish Prison Service is supporting those with literacy problems, and to this end, peer mentoring programmes are currently active in all prisons.
The Irish Prison Service has also expanded the number of accredited courses and opportunities available to prisoners in the area of work-training. Enhanced partnership arrangements with accrediting bodies such as City and Guilds, the Guild of Cleaners and Launderers and Cleanpass have enabled the Irish Prison Service to extend the number of available courses and activities with certification.
The Prison Education Taskforce, chaired by Minister Harris and Minister Browne comprises of key agencies such as the Irish Prison Service, Solas, the Probation Service, and the Education and Training Boards. The aim of the taskforce is to ensure greater alignment between prison education and work training and the tertiary education system to support prisoners in benefitting from education and training opportunities while in custody to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release. An example of this is the Retrofit Skills Course QQI Level 5 component award – which will be made available in Midlands and Wheatfield Prisons and will give the individual the skillset to gain well-paid meaningful employment in the area of retrofitting. The National Construction Centre, Mount Lucas has worked closely with the IPS over this past year to make this course available.
Other initiatives available to people in custody, depending on their location, include Men’s Shed, Horses of Hope, Gaisce, Red Cross and Listeners Scheme.
I can further advise the Deputy that all people committed to custody are medically assessed by the primary healthcare team. This includes a mental health assessment, which can be employed to develop an individual care plan. Where clinically indicated, a person may be referred to a specialist clinician e.g. psychologist or psychiatrist. For people coming into custody presenting with an addiction or dependence on prescription medications, they will undergo a full health assessment prior to a plan of treatment being agreed.
The Irish Prison Psychology Service pro-actively engages with 18-24 year olds who are committed to custody with a sentence of one year or more (without Post Release Supervision with the Probation Service). This initiative, known as the Building Identity Programme, is a specific, psychologically informed programme focussed on early engagement, assessment and the development of a psychological formulation. This initiative allows young people to learn more about themselves and why they came to prison, and to support their sentence management through the development of a bespoke care plan linked to their risks and needs. Working collaboratively with the young person, key rehabilitation services are identified, and the young person is encouraged to engage with those services in order to support desistance on release from prison.
214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which membership of criminal gangs or those associated with drug crimes has decreased or increased in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8594/24]
View answerAt the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government. The social and economic costs of organised crime are significant and the activities of organised crime groups are an ongoing threat to the safety and lives of our citizens.
Serious and organised crime does not respect international borders, and Ireland is working closely with other States to fight this criminal activity and bring criminals to justice. The challenges we face are by definition transnational, and Ireland welcomes all efforts to develop a joined-up EU approach to confront them.
While we should not underestimate the difficulties the Gardaí face in tackling organised crime activity, we continue to see the significant results of its efforts in the arrests made and the people brought before the courts, both here and, importantly, in other jurisdictions, as well as the ongoing drugs and firearms seizures.
The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda Síochána in recent years have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime, including the Armed Support Unit, GNDOCB, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the recording of incidents/crime data on the Garda PULSE system. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am advised by the Garda authorities that membership of a 'criminal gang' is not recorded on PULSE and therefore the data requested by the Deputy is unavailable.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics, including drug related crime.
Given the fluid nature of such criminal groupings, it is extremely difficult to quantify the number of criminal groups operating at a particular time. Organised crime is constantly evolving and splinter groups can form overnight.
However, criminal legislation has been strengthened in recent years, ensuring that it provides a comprehensive range of provisions for the prosecution and punishment of crime, in particular the activities of those involved in organised crime. The Government is committed to taking a number of direct actions to tackle organised criminal groups, including by:
• Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct organised and drug related crime;
• Introducing new legislation which will criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Extending the Greentown Programme for a further three years. Greentown is a pilot programme which is seeking to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit.
215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of accused persons currently on bail throughout the country; the extent to which the number has fluctuated in each of the past six years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8595/24]
View answerAs previously advised, in relation to the specific information sought by the Deputy, the provision of figures in relation to decisions of the Courts as to whether or not to grant bail are a matter for the Courts Service.
Management of the courts, operational and logistical matters are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As the Deputy will be aware, I have no role in this regard. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
In order to be of assistance, my Department contacted the Courts Service to see if the statistics requested by the Deputy are available. I am advised by the Courts Service that statistics are not compiled in such a way as to provide the specific information sought.
216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of positions to be filled on the benches of the District, Circuit and High courts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8596/24]
View answerIt is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. The Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity to ensure access to justice for citizens.
As of 20 February 2024, there are two vacancies to be filled in the Circuit Court and work is under way to fill these vacancies as soon as possible. There are no vacancies in the District Court or High Court.
Following the publication in February 2023 of the final report of the Judicial Planning Working Group, the Government committed to an historic increase of the number of judges to facilitate greater access to justice. The final Report recommended that 44 additional judges be appointed in two phases.
A first tranche of 24 additional judges were approved by Government on 21 February 2023 and the legislative provisions for judicial posts were increased to a maximum of 198 under the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 and the Courts Act 2023 to allow for the 24 additional posts. The 24 additional judges included 8 extra judges for the District Court, 8 for the Circuit Court, 6 for the High Court and 2 for the Court of Appeal. All of these 24 additional positions have been filled in 2023.
