Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
154 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures his Department has put in place to ensure that section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 is not used against families living on sides of roads waiting on local authority accommodation as recently happened in Ennis, County Clare. [16999/04]
View answer155 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the use of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 by the Garda is monitored; the number of times the legislation has been used since the Act was brought into force; and the circumstances under which it was used. [17000/04]
View answer173 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures his Department has put in place to ensure that section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 is not used against families living on the side of the road waiting on local authority accommodation; if the application of this legislation by the Garda is monitored in any way; the number of times it has been used since the Act was brought into force; and the circumstances under which it was used. [17108/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 173 together.
I have requested a report on the matters raised by the Deputies from the Garda authorities and I have been informed that any complaint made to the Garda under this provision is properly investigated by the Garda Síochána and the full facts established. I have been further informed that direct action is only taken by the Garda as a last resort and when all other avenues have been fully explored.
On the subject of the number of occasions the provision has been used since it came into force, I am informed by the Garda authorities that it has not been possible to obtain the detailed information sought by the Deputies in the time available. The information will be supplied to the Deputies when it is to hand.
