Vol. 969 No. 5
32. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sergeants and inspectors, respectively, in County Wexford on 21 April 2018; the district to which each was posted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22372/18]
I wish to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sergeants and inspectors in County Wexford on 21 April 2018, the district to which each officer was posted and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The distribution of Garda personnel is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. Notwithstanding the acting Commissioner's responsibility, I have provided for the record, in tabular form, the detailed information requested by the Deputy.
I am informed by the acting Commissioner that, as of 30 April 2018, the most recent date for which figures are readily available, the strength of the Wexford division was 294, of whom 38 are sergeants and six are inspectors. There are also 17 Garda reservists and 32 civilians attached to the division. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the armed support unit, the Garda national economic crime bureau and the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau.
As I have stated in the House previously, the Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan for an overall Garda strength of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members. Real and tangible progress has been made towards this goal. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017, a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.
Funding is in place to ensure that the 2021 vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 remains very much on track. This year, a further 800 new Garda recruits will enter the Garda College - 400 have already done so. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year. The Deputy will be aware of the current recruitment campaign which was recently inaugurated by An Garda Síochána. I am keen that every part of the country, including the south-east region, will benefit from increased Garda numbers.
|
WEXFORD DIVISION 30 APRIL 2018 |
|||
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
SG |
IN |
|
ENNISCORTHY |
BUNCLODY |
2 |
0 |
|
COURTOWN HARBOUR |
1 |
0 |
|
|
ENNISCORTHY |
6 |
2 |
|
|
GOREY |
6 |
1 |
|
|
OYLEGATE |
1 |
0 |
|
|
TOTAL |
16 |
3 |
|
|
NEW ROSS |
NEW ROSS |
7 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
7 |
1 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
CASTLEBRIDGE |
1 |
0 |
|
ROSSLARE HARBOUR |
1 |
0 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
13 |
2 |
|
|
TOTAL |
15 |
2 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
Total |
38 |
6 |
I thank the Minister. I raised the issue of under-resourcing in the context of sergeants and inspectors in County Wexford in order to convince the Government of the need to provide additional resources. I commend sergeants, inspectors and superintendents who are doing their duty across the country, including those officers in County Wexford who are working with insufficient resources.
Garda representative organisations have consistently pointed out that a lack of resources is hampering their ability to tackle criminal gangs that are targeting rural areas. Fianna Fáil secured a commitment in the confidence and supply agreement to bring Garda numbers up to at least 15,000. Wexford Garda stations need more sergeants and inspectors to help bolster their positive policing abilities. The problem is particularly acute in north Wexford, where Gorey district was downgraded during the term of office of the previous Government. It lost its superintendent and now has only one covering Enniscorthy and Gorey. An extra 50,000 people visit Gorey during the summer period. This means that Garda resources are being spread thinly across the area and that is having a serious impact.
On Garda strength in the Wexford division, the Deputy will be aware that there are now more gardaí than has been the case since before 2009. I am sure he is very keen that the numbers continue to increase. He mentioned Gorey Garda station. I recently had the opportunity to visit it and acknowledged the ongoing very positive and constructive work in which gardaí in the Gorey region are engaged. Next week, I will visit Wexford town and will have the opportunity to see the state-of-the-art Garda station there at first hand. I recently performed the official opening of the state-of-the-art courthouse, which is a multi-million euro development in Wexford town.
I acknowledge what Deputy Browne said in respect of vacancies in the supervisory ranks of sergeant and inspector. While acknowledging that these are issue for the Garda Commissioner, I understand that competition for promotion to the ranks of sergeant and inspector are currently in train and that should be of assistance.
Gardaí in Gorey recently reacted very quickly and arrested two men in a field near the town. When the Minister visited Gorey Garda station he probably noticed that the superintendent had to travel from Enniscorthy because that is where he is based. It is a very large area, encompassing Bunclody in the west of Enniscorthy to Blackwater, south to New Ross and all the way up to the border with Wicklow.
If the superintendent is not reinstated, the supervisory roles need to be expanded, particularly in the Gorey area. A major issue in Wexford is the fact that the drugs unit was effectively disbanded because of a lack of resources. That has become a significant problem. Drugs are being brought in through Rosslare Europort. In fairness, gardaí and customs officers are doing the best they can, but supervisory roles are hampering Garda procedures in County Wexford and it is something that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It is important that we ensure members of the Garda are doing the job for which they are trained, that is, both availability and visibility. I acknowledge the point Deputy Browne raised in respect of the supervisory ranks. I am advised by the acting Garda Commissioner that competitions for the positions of sergeant and inspector are currently in train. In that regard the requirements of each Garda division, including that of Wexford, will be considered by the acting Garda Commissioner when assigning the successful candidates from the competitions. I assure the Deputy that my priority is to ensure that An Garda Síochána is adequately resourced. Budget 2018 has provided for the recruitment of 800 more gardaí this year, many of whom will be fully trained, ambitious, energetic and stationed to posts in the Wexford region.
The Minister said his priority is to make sure the Garda is adequately resourced. Gorey was downgraded, which was madness as it is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
The Minister also said the Minister for Justice and Equality should not interfere with the Commissioner but if the Commissioner is not responsible to the Minister who in God's name is he or she accountable to? Who is carrying out the disciplinary investigation into those investigations? Somebody is doing it but the Garda Síochána will not tell us. Could the Minister find out for us? It has been more than four years yet nobody has been arrested in connection with heroin. At least one person has died since because of heroin. Local gardaí were involved and investigations were carried out yet nothing has been done about them. How can no one be arrested for four years? Who is doing the investigation now into the disciplinary side of it?
I assure Deputy Wallace, as I assured Deputy Browne, that every consideration will be given by the Commissioner to areas where specific needs are highlighted. I am happy to convey to the acting Garda Commissioner the views of Deputy Browne. The competitions for promotion in respect of inspectors and sergeants are in the course of completion. I expect that in the coming months consideration will be given by the acting Garda Commissioner to ensuring that if there are vacant posts that have been outstanding for some time, arrangements will be made to fill them at the earliest opportunity. I want to see gardaí on the streets and I want to see sergeants in a position to carry out their duties and to help and assist with probationer gardaí who are coming out from the Garda College in Templemore in a very positive stream. I am sure they will be stationed to some Garda stations in Wexford and will need the assistance, goodwill and mentoring of the station sergeants in the area.
33. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans in regard to the referendums to take place in autumn 2018. [18892/18]
I am very interested in hearing an update from the Minister on the Government's plans for referendums in October which were announced in September 2017. There were plans for a referendum on the removal of Article 40.6.1° on blasphemy. What work has been done in that regard? I presume the Department has a key role to play in preparing for that referendum. I am keen to get an update on the Government's plans for the process.
In September 2017 the Government decided on an indicative timetable for a number of referendums to be held in 2018 and 2019. Under this timetable, and subject to passage of the necessary Bills by the Houses of the Oireachtas and formal confirmation of the polling date, it is proposed to hold referendums in October 2018 on the offence of blasphemy - Article 40.6.1°.i - and on a woman's life within the home - Article 41.2. These referendums were the subject of recommendations made by the Constitutional Convention and are included in A Programme for a Partnership Government.
I am fully committed to ensuring that we adhere to the timetable agreed by Government. The necessary preparatory work within my Department in conjunction with colleagues in other Departments and the Office of the Attorney General is now drawing to a close.
Deputy Eamon Ryan specifically mentioned blasphemy. I wish to inform him that work on such a referendum has involved consideration of the legal issues which exist in respect of the nature of the question which should be put to the people.
The issue of the provision on a woman's life within the home is being examined by my Department in collaboration with other relevant Departments and the Office of the Attorney General with a view to determining the best legal approach as regards the question to be put to the people.
More generally, funding arrangements have been put in place within my Department and contact has been maintained both with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Office of the Ombudsman, both of which will have key roles to play in relation to the referendum process.
It is my intention to seek Government approval in the near future on the approaches to be followed in respect of both referendum proposals. Securing such approval will facilitate the publication of the relevant amendment Bills before the start of the summer recess. This will ensure that a referendum commission can be established in a timely manner and will ensure that the commission will have adequate time within which to begin its preparatory work.
I had not realised the Minister's Department would also take the lead role on the provision relating to the role of women in the home and I would welcome any further information he can provide in that regard.
The recommendations contained in the report of the Constitutional Convention provided for a variety of different options. In terms of blasphemy it was fairly split on whether there should be any sort of statutory prohibition and there was support for a new provision against the incitement to religious hatred. The Minister said he has concluded consideration of the issue but we have to wait for a decision on the referendum before he publishes any Bill or sets out what is in the provision.
If we do not proceed with a presidential election - no one knows yet what will happen in that regard - is there a risk that the referendum will be put off? The Minister said he has to go to Government with the specific proposals. Is the Minister clear that the Government will agree to hold a series of referendums in October and possibly plebiscites no matter what happens in regard to a presidential election?
Yes, it is the intention of the Government to hold these two referendums in the autumn. If we do have a presidential election, which is not certain at this stage, that would seem to me to be the most obvious opportunity to ask the people of the country to cast their views on the referendums. In any event, the question to be put before the people has not yet been fully determined by the Government. Deputy Eamon Ryan mentioned the Constitutional Convention of which I was a member. The convention very much informed the preliminary thinking as to what the question might be that will be the subject matter of the referendum. The context is that there is need for a referendum on the specific issue of blasphemy because unless the constitutional reference is removed, the offence will be maintained on the Statute Book. In the past, the existence of this offence has been misconstrued and used to justify the maintenance of blasphemy regimes in other jurisdictions where freedom of expression is not accorded the same respect as is the case here.
I asked the Minister whether his Department is the lead Department with regard to the framing of any proposed legislation on a referendum question relating to the role of women in the home. Both of the issues I raised and the question of a plebiscite on a mayor are complex issues. I seek a change in the constitutional provision on the role of women in the home but in so doing, there is a whole variety of options that we could seek to frame. I put it to the Minister that the timeline is very tight. It is now almost the end of May and we have two complex issues to consider. The first one is probably less complex than the second but they are both worthy of consideration. Is the Minister not concerned about the tightness of the timeline? When does he think the Government will make a final call on it?
I am very conscious of the timeframe, and given that the Dáil intends to conclude its work on the legislative programme, and otherwise, by the end of July, it is intended to hold the referendums in conjunction with and on the same day as a presidential election. That would require an early decision by Government. While I am not in a position to advise the House on the nature of the question to be put, I would expect to bring a proposal to the Government within the next few weeks. Following that, I would be very keen to come forward with the appropriate and necessary legislation within the timeframe, as referenced by Deputy Ryan, so we would have the legislation at an advanced stage by the end of July for the referendum commission to be established and the statutory timeframe to be met, and to have an appropriate lead-in time for the autumn.
34. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department’s plans to deal with the high rate of recidivism among burglars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22646/18]
The Minister will be aware that burglary and aggravated burglary are two of the most serious offences on our Statute Book. The figures also realise that when a burglary is committed and an individual is convicted of the offence, there is high likelihood that the same individual will come back again and commit further burglary offences. The recidivism rate for burglary is much higher than any other criminal act. What are the Government's proposals to deal with this issue from a policy perspective?
My Department recognises that, in order to protect the public and reduce reoffending behaviour, a joined up approach to the management of offenders is crucial and essential. There are a number of ongoing joint initiatives and policies that my Department leads across the criminal justice agencies aimed at preventing crime, increasing detection of crime, rehabilitation and supporting desistance from crime by persistent offenders. The first joint strategy on the management of offenders was developed in 2016 between my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service and is being implemented on an ongoing basis.
I acknowledge the importance of initiatives such as the successful joint agency response to crime, J-ARC, which involves these four bodies. This is a strategic response to the management of prioritised prolific offenders. The evidence-based, intelligence-led objectives of J-ARC target the 25% of recidivists responsible for 75% of crime; manage identified prolific offenders in order to reduce crime; and enhance public safety by strengthening the co-ordination and integration of policy, practice and research. In 2017, the Irish Prison Service in conjunction with the Probation Service and An Garda Síochána extended J-ARC to three new locations in Dundalk, the Kilkenny side of Waterford city and in Limerick city.
A further development in this area is the youth joint agency response to crime initiative, YJ-ARC, launched in 2017. This targets young people aged 16 to 21 who are the most prolific in their offending and provides a structured co-ordination between the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Youth Justice Service, Tusla and the Department of Education and Skills.
The Government remains fully committed to tackling all forms of criminality and this is evidenced by the increased allocations of resources provided by the Government, with particular reference to these specific streams of funding provided by the Government.
I thank the Minister. I am glad that the Minister mentioned the Irish Prison Service. Data from the Irish Prison Service shows that recidivism rates in respect of burglary and related offences is at 79.5%. This is the highest rate for any offence and it is considerably above the overall rate for recidivism of 62%.
I also raise this question in the context of the recent comments by Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll when he referred to the large number of prolific burglars for whom the convictions and sentences imposed on them are not having any effect, be it a deterrent effect or otherwise. Assistant Commissioner O'Driscoll has said that when the Garda drew up a list last autumn of burglary gangs it wanted to target during the winter phase of Operation Thor, the sheer extent of some of their criminal records stood out. We need to recognise that this issue causes great concern to the public. Although burglary and aggravated burglary is referred to as a property offence, it is in fact much more serious because there is a huge impact on the persons affected.
I welcome the proposals the Minister spoke of with regard to his Department's policy developments but we need to do something else by way of a deterrent. Does the Minister have any proposals around deterrents?
The Deputy has brought up the role of the Irish Prison Service and I acknowledge its importance. In recent years, prison services have placed a much greater emphasis on support services to prevent re-offending, and offering support towards desistance of criminal activity. The Deputy is aware there is a wide range of rehabilitative programmes including education and vocational training; healthcare; psychiatric services; psychological services; counselling; welfare; and spiritual services. Access to these services remains a critical feature for offenders in addressing their offending behaviour. A greater emphasis is now being placed on pre-release planning, on putting supports in place and on making links to services in the community for offenders who leave custody. On a recent visit to a joint agency response to crime centre, J-ARC, outside Waterford city, we saw the manner in which the service is keyed in through other services in the community, for example, in the sponsoring of employment initiatives. There is no doubt, and I invite Deputy O'Callaghan to agree with me, that the best possible course of action for young offenders of a persistent nature, once they have discharged their debt to society and are released from prison, is the provision of a job. That is a key plank of Government policy.
I agree with the Minister on that point. He is correct that if any person coming out of prison can get a job, it can reduce enormously the prospect that he or she will become involved with criminality again. Unfortunately, however, the statistics reveal something more serious. The Irish Prison Service data reveals a huge high rate of recidivism of individuals who are committing burglaries. We must put forward some form of deterrent approach to the issue, as well as the admirable solutions the Minister has identified. We need to see whether we change the sentencing process. If an individual is involved in a series of burglaries that have been committed over a period of time, and where it looks as though there will be no change in that individual's behaviour, we need to look at whether stronger sentencing is required for that person.
We also need to recognise that the primary purpose of burglary is to try to increase the wealth of the burglar. We need to think about imposing fines and sanctions that can be properly levied on individuals who have been convicted of these offences. There is more to this than simply trying to remedy the individual and in trying to put him or her back on the path to a proper life. Unfortunately, there are some cases where we cannot do this and we need to have stronger sanctions for them.
The prison recidivism statistics study to which the Deputy refers is a detailed examination of those who were released from custodial prison sentences in 2010 and whether they were subsequently convicted of a further offence up to the end of 2013. The study findings indicate that the recidivism and re-offending rate was 45.1% for the cohort of offenders released in 2010. When compared to the equivalent cohort for the previous year, there is a fall in recidivism, albeit modest, of 2.4%. This follows a 3.5% decrease that was seen for the 2009 cohort from the previous report. I acknowledge that these are modest figures but we are moving in a positive direction. Last year saw the continued successful implementation of the joint Irish Prison Service and Probation Service community return programme and the community support scheme. These are structured, temporary release schemes that provide for supervised community service. I assure Deputy O'Callaghan and the House that I am very conscious of the issues raised and I want to ensure that every effort is made through legislation and otherwise to move towards the reduction of crime, especially in the cohort referred to by the Deputy.
35. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda numbers within the Donegal division to date; his plans for improving Garda numbers within the county in the years ahead; his plans for maintaining and improving Garda stations within the county; if he will consider designating Glenties station to its former district status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22467/18]
Will the Minister for Justice and Equality update the House on the current situation on Garda numbers in Donegal, the programme for the maintenance and improvement of Garda stations and the consideration that is to be given to the Glenties Garda station, which was a former district headquarters, and if this should be reopened?
The distribution of Garda personnel, including the allocation of newly attested gardaí, is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner.
I am informed by the acting Garda Commissioner that, as of 30 April 2018, the most recent date for which figures are available, the strength of the Donegal division was 394. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units, namely, the national bureau of criminal investigation, the armed support unit, the national economic crime bureau and the national drugs and organised crime bureau.
I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2010 a previous Government closed the Garda College at Templemore and imposed a moratorium. The measures imposed at that time had a negative impact on Garda numbers across all divisions and the legacy of these decisions continues to have consequences for policing. When it had brought about an early exit from the bailout and stabilised the public finances in September 2014, the then Government reopened the college. Since then, just under 1,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and are performing mainstream duties nationwide. A total of 32 of these officers have been assigned to the Donegal division.
I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall complement of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track.
I have no doubt about the Minister's commitment to ensuring that Donegal would receive a fair and equitable share of gardaí. In 2009, Donegal had 488 gardaí. The Minister gives the most recent figure as 294, down approximately 20% since 2009. I know there have been difficulties over the years but the Minister hopes to have a total of 21,000 gardaí by 2021. There have been 1,800 recruits attested since 2014 and this year, 800 will attest. We have received only an insignificant number of those. While it may not be the Minister's responsibility, he has a duty to at least speak with the Garda authorities and tell them that I and many others have raised this matter in the Dáil. We are seeking additional gardaí for a county that has a few kilometres of border with the South, while, in the context of the North, we will have to deal with Brexit. In addition, there is our Atlantic coastline and the fact that we fear it might be used to bring drugs into the country. Donegal is different from the rest of the country. I would like the Minister to speak to the acting Commissioner or the relevant assistant or deputy commissioner and ask them to give specific consideration to Donegal.
I welcome the fact that there is a pipeline of recruits to An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware that only last week the acting Commissioner introduced a recruitment plan which closes on 6 June. The focus on and investment in personnel are critical. We are now rebuilding the organisation, providing the acting Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí. The ongoing nature of the recruitment will undoubtedly support Garda activities across all regions, with enhanced visibility within communities, and will enable the acting Commissioner to provide additional resources to parts of the country such Deputy Gallagher's constituency in Donegal. This can happen as the new Garda recruits come on stream.
Are the 1,400 or 800 recruits net, taking retirements into consideration? That looks very good but I doubt whether it is the case. I presume the Minister has given us the gross number.
The refurbishment of the Garda station in Donegal town is absolutely necessary. I am pleased that progress will be made. Donegal town also has a problem with numbers. The Glenties station has been there all my life. To access the two divisional headquarters one has to go right around the whole Wild Atlantic Way, the N56 from Ballyshannon. The deputy commissioner with responsibility for policing and security should examine this closely with a view to reopening the Glenties station which served the Gaeltacht areas for many years.
In respect of Glenties Garda station and its former status as a district headquarters for the area, it should be noted that the designation of these stations is a matter for the deputy commissioner, in conjunction with the local district and divisional officers, having regard to the policing requirements of Glenties and the surrounding communities. I can however confirm that the Garda building and refurbishment programme includes the full upgrade and refurbishment of the Garda station in Donegal town. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Office of Public Works, OPW, has advised that the tender documents are being prepared and it is expected that this project will be tendered in autumn of this year.
There is no doubt that the increase in Garda numbers is very welcome. In Tubbercurry, a Garda station was built for a sergeant and two gardaí but there are now two sergeants, eight gardaí and two bean gardaí, which is totally unsuitable. There is a building next door to the Garda station that is up for sale. It was used by the national Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais, CLÁR, office which employed 110 people and housed them in two buildings. It is an ideal building. The OPW intends purchasing land to renovate the Garda station to make it more suitable for the staff there. This is an ideal opportunity. The building is being sold by the bank and could be bought at an opportune price to accommodate the badly-needed new Garda station.
I acknowledge the importance of what Deputy Scanlon says now that the numbers of Garda Síochána are increasing, towards the target of 21,000 by 2021 because there will be consequences. One of the consequences is the need for increased facilities, one of which is the Garda stations, bricks and mortar. I would be happy to engage with the Deputy on an update on Tubbercurry Garda station, particulars of which I do not have to hand.
The Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, will carry out a detailed review of the dispersal and use of resources in delivering policing services to the communities. What might be required for a large urban area, such as Dublin or Galway, may well be different for Deputy Gallagher in Donegal or Deputy Scanlon in Sligo but I will be happy to communicate with an update on the issue of Tubbercurry Garda station and to keep the House fully informed on the ongoing developments in the review between the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate.
36. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to protect against social media platforms being used for cyberbullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22693/18]
The cyberbully knows no boundaries. I have spoken to many parents in my area who are very concerned about the safety of their children because the cyberbully can follow them home from school and reach all the way into the bedroom. It is relentless. They need to know action is being taken to support families and to protect children. What action is the Government taking to support people who are being bullied online?
I assure the Deputy that the Government recognises the importance of integrated actions across all relevant Departments to address online safety, including in order to tackle cyberbullying.
Together with my colleagues, the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs, Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Education and Skills, Deputies Zappone, Denis Naughten and Bruton, I appeared before the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs as part of its examination of cybersecurity for children and young adults. In March, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment hosted an open policy debate with a wide range of stakeholders to consider future actions in this area.
On foot of this, all relevant Departments with responsibility in this area are working together to develop a whole-of-Government approach in the form of an integrated action plan. This work is being taken forward under the auspices of the relevant Cabinet committee.
It is important to remember that many forms of harmful online content and behaviours, including cyberbullying, are not necessarily criminal in nature. There is a general consensus that the appropriate response to addressing such online issues is one that encompasses educational and awareness-raising campaigns, as well as effective actions and policies on the part of Internet companies.
A number of initiatives are under way across Government to promote Internet safety, particularly where children are concerned. My Department, for example, operates the Office for Internet Safety, which provides information and guidance on various aspects of Internet safety, principally in the form of online material on subjects such as filtering, using social media and the vexed question of cyberbullying. Similarly, Webwise, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, develops guidance on internet safety for use in the education sector.
As Minister for Justice and Equality, my primary responsibilities in this area relate to the development of effective responses under the criminal law. An important consideration is that the criminal law targets behaviour that is illegal, whether online or offline.
The Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs published a comprehensive report in March which contains recommendations on various issues of concern to families and outlines some practical steps to make children safer online. Those recommendations include: the establishment of a digital safety commissioner; and the updating of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to include the specific offences of harassment and stalking. What action has been taken to implement the recommendations? These are clear and measurable actions that can be taken by the Government. The Minister referred briefly to a new action plan for Internet safety which is due to be launched in June. Is that on target? If it is not, why is that the case? We need to see greater urgency in respect of this matter. Many of these issues have been highlighted previously, some as long ago as 2014.
I accept that there is an urgency here and that this is extremely important. The Deputy will appreciate that the best means by which this issue is addressed is through a whole-of-Government approach. That is why my colleagues, the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs, Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Education and Skills share responsibility in this area. From my perspective, the Department of Justice and Equality has been working to bring forward additional legislation on foot of the report of the Law Reform Commission, LRC, on harmful communications and digital safety published in September 2016.
As Minister for Justice and Equality, I am committed to working with colleagues across politics to ensure that we make the rapid progress that Deputy Aindrias Moynihan feels is essential. I agree with him that progress is essential and I would be happy to hear from all and any Deputies who are in a position to work with me on this. I recently accepted a Labour Party Private Member's Bill along broadly similar lines to the legislation that was in the course of being drafted in my Department. This Bill has now progressed through Second Stage in the Dáil and I look forward to working on its further development as part of the overall integrated approach we are putting in place across Government to tackle these important issues.
The Minister and I both referred to the Oireachtas committee's report and the specifics with regard to updating legislation. What action has been taken by the Department on updating the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act? The specific offence of stalking must be provided for in legislation and this was highlighted in 2016. The Minister did not refer to a digital safety commissioner at all in his reply. The recommendation in that regard is that a digital safety commissioner would implement existing safety measures, support parents with information and education and inform the Minister in respect of policy. What action has been taken on the recommendation regarding a digital safety commissioner? The setting up of such an office is one step that could happen quite quickly while we wait for the aforementioned legislative measures.
This issue was raised yesterday in the audiovisual room of Leinster House, where the mother of a young girl who took her own life gave a very powerful and telling presentation on what her daughter endured as a result of physical bullying and cyberbullying. She spoke of the impact of her daughter's suicide on herself and on her 14 year old son who found his sister hanging from a dog lead in the hallway of their house. She called for a review of and an amendment to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, as referred to by Deputy Andrias Moynihan. The bullying had been known about for a long time and gardaí had been involved but they felt powerless to act. I was really taken by that lady's presentation yesterday and I ask the Minister to consider meeting her. That would add a sense of urgency to where we go with this issue.
I received a detailed briefing from my colleague, Deputy Neville, on that meeting yesterday, which was very much in line with what Deputy Curran has described. I would say to both Deputies that what we are seeing here is a whole-of-Government approach to this issue. A senior officials' group, convened by the Department of the Taoiseach, is working on the development of an appropriate action plan and feedback from the recent open policy seminar has informed the development of that plan. This work is being taken forward under the auspices of an appropriate Cabinet committee.
I assure the Deputies that I am very mindful of the need to urgently review the body of relevant legislation. I refer Deputies to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which amended the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 and significantly strengthened the criminal law in the matter of combating child exploitation. We are working on a whole-of-Government response. My responsibility, in the context of criminal law, is to feed into the legislative process and I hope to bring forward amending legislation shortly along the lines recommended in the LRC's report, with the assistance of Bills already drafted by other Members of this House.
38. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that the Garda cybercrime bureau has sufficient resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22645/18]
This question is related to the previous question posed by Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. I want to find out the level of resources that have been allocated to the Garda's cybercrime bureau. As the Minister knows, the bureau was set up in September 2016 and it plays a vital role in ensuring that cybercrime is properly investigated. I await the Minister's response with regard to the resources for same.
I should say at the outset that the distribution of Garda personnel is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. That said, I am informed by the acting Commissioner, on foot of a review of the computer crime investigation unit under the modernisation programme, that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capability to deal with cybercrime and cybersecurity threats.
The cybercrime bureau is under the direction of the assistant commissioner, special crime operations and is part of the Garda national economic crime bureau headed by a detective chief superintendent. The bureau has responsibility for the forensic examination of all seized computer media, international liaison regarding cyber matters and the investigation of cybercrime. Cases examined include all crime types including banking and financial crime matters in particular, as well as the examination of equipment and media to assess images in the context of offences relating to child pornography and exploitation.
I am informed that as of 30 April, the latest date for which figures are currently available, the number of personnel attached to the bureau was 33, including one detective superintendent, one detective inspector, six detective sergeants, 21 detective gardaí, one higher executive officer, one executive officer and two clerical officers. Approximately 120 replacement and additional personnel have been assigned to the specialist units that have formed the special crime operation since 2017. The bureau has benefited from some of these additional resources. I understand that this has allowed some backlogs of cases to be progressed and for many outstanding cases to be completed. This is tangible evidence of the Government's focus on rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí and civilian staff across the country.
