Written Answers Nos. 182-189
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of Gardaí, male and female that have retired in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which redeployment or replacement has taken place to fill any emerging vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39599/12]
View answerThe total number of retirements in An Garda Síochána in 2009, 2010, 2011 and this year up to 31 August is as set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Voluntary |
Compulsory |
Medical Discharge |
*CNER |
|
2009 |
719 |
3 |
9 |
n/a |
|
2010 |
353 |
9 |
16 |
1 |
|
2011 |
428 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
|
2012 |
322 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
*Cost Neutral Early Retirement
As of the 31 July 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 13,547 Gardaí, just over 900 Reserve Gardaí and over 2,000 civilian staff in the Garda Síochána. With the exception of recruitment to the Garda Reserve which is of a voluntary nature, the moratorium on recruitment still applies to the Garda Síochána. Notwithstanding this, there have been a number of supervisory and senior management appointments in the Garda Síochána, including 51 in 2012 at Assistant Commissioner, Chief Superintendent and Superintendent levels, to ensure the supervisory and management capacity of the force is maintained.
The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the number of crimes committed by prisoners while on bail continues to be monitored on an ongoing basis; the degree to which such incidents can be minimised with particular reference to serious criminality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39600/12]
View answerWhile figures available from the Central Statistics Office show some reduction in recent years in the number of recorded crimes where the suspected offenders were on bail, I share the public concern about the extent to which offences continue to be committed by persons on bail.
As the Deputy will be aware, the criminal law takes a serious view of offences committed by persons on bail. Section 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 provides that any sentence of imprisonment passed on a person for an offence committed while on bail must be consecutive on any sentence passed on him or her for a previous offence, or on the sentence last due to expire, if more than one is being served. It also provides that the fact that an offence was committed while on bail must be treated as an aggravating factor at sentencing and that the court shall impose a sentence that is greater than that which would have been imposed otherwise, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
A decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of its judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of bail, since, in the eyes of the law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. The provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights also restrict the extent to which the right to bail can be limited.
Prior to the Sixteenth Amendment of the Constitution, bail could be refused essentially only on the grounds that a person would be likely to abscond or interfere with witnesses. The Bail Act 1997, which gave effect to the terms of the Sixteenth Amendment of the Constitution, provides for the refusal of bail to a person charged with a serious offence where it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person.
In addition, section 6 of that Act, as amended by section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, provides that every bail recognisance is subject to the condition that the accused person shall not commit an offence while on bail. I believe that bail law must be continually reviewed to ensure that all possible avenues are taken to protect the public against the commission of crime, particularly serious crime, by persons on bail. Accordingly, my Department has been engaged in work to consolidate and update bail law with a view to presenting a clear, accessible and modern statement of the law. In the context of that modernisation of the law, I will be seeking to restructure the law so that it has a focus on the protection of the individual and of the public. My intention is that the new proposals will provide better guidance to the courts on how such protection might be provided. I am also taking the opportunity to introduce some general improvements to bail law to improve the overall working of the bail system. I will bring proposals to Government on the matter in the near future.
184. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline in tabular format the annual salary costs for private and constituency offices of Ministers in his Department in each of the years 2009 and 2010; the same figures for any Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39646/12]
View answerMr. Dermot Ahern served as Minister in my Department during the years in question. The staffing of his Private and Constituency offices for the years 2009 and 2010, and the salary ranges of the staff concerned, was as follows:
|
Private Office |
Salary (as of December 2009) |
|
1 Private Secretary |
€35,132 - €62,210 + appropriate Private Secretary allowance |
|
0.5 Executive Officer |
€30,566 - €48,504 |
|
2.5 Executive Officers |
€32,179 - €51,054 |
|
3 Clerical Officers |
€24,397 - €39,558 |
|
2 Special Advisors |
€86,168 - €106,582 |
|
Constituency Office |
|
|
3 Clerical Officers |
€24,397 - €39,558 |
|
1 Clerical Officer |
€23,174 - €37,584 |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
€46,558 - €59,097 |
|
1 Personal Secretary |
€30,566 - €48,504 |
|
Private Office |
Salary (as of December 2010) |
|
1 Private Secretary |
€33,247 - €58,294 + appropriate Private Secretary allowance |
|
3 Executive Officers |
€30,516 - €47,975 |
|
3 Clerical Officers |
€23,177 - €37,341 |
|
2 Special Advisors |
€80,051 - €98,424 |
|
Constituency Office |
|
|
3 Clerical Officers |
€23,177 - €37,341 |
|
1 Clerical Officer |
€22,015 - €35,515 |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
€43,816 - €55,415 |
|
1 Personal Secretary |
€29,024 - €45,616 |
During the periods in question, 4 Ministers of State have held office in my Department. However, with the exception of Minister of State, Mr Conor Lenihan, their offices were staffed in their entirety by other Departments. The staffing of the Private and Constituency offices of Mr Conor Lenihan when he ceased office in this Department in April 2009 and the salary ranges of the staff concerned, was as follows:
|
Private Office |
Salary (as of April 2009) |
|
1 Private Secretary |
€49,379 - €61,082 + appropriate Private Secretary allowance |
|
1 Executive Officer |
€32,179 - €51,054 |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
€24,397 - €39,558 |
|
Constituency Office |
|
|
1 Executive Officer |
€30,566 - €48,504 |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
€24,397 - €39,558 |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
€46,558 - €59,097 |
|
1 Personal Secretary |
One point scale €44,316 |
185. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify the issue regarding the closure of Garda stations; the role the Office of Public Works has in closures; if the decision comes from Department of Justice and Equality or if any report on the condition of station is first sought from the OPW; specifically in relation to Whitehall Garda Station, Dublin recently closed, if he will outline the considerable refurbishment project done in recent years; the cost of same when completed; if the long term need of the station was not determined at that stage; the plans now for this recently refurbished building; if he will examine internal procedures to avoid waste in future in order that buildings will not have resources spent on them and be closed as soon as project is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39663/12]
View answerIn accordance with Section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner must each year prepare a policing plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the State for the following year, including any proposal to cease stationing members in a Garda station.
With regard to Whitehall station, the Deputy will be aware that this was one of a number of stations where closure was proposed by the Commissioner in the Garda Policing Plan for 2012. In that context the position is that, in making his recommendations on the closure of each Garda station, the Commissioner reviewed all aspects of An Garda Síochána’s policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, both in terms of opening hours and possible closures. In addition, I am advised by the Garda authorities that all Divisional Officers were asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda Station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of any station closure is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure modest cash savings.
The Deputy will be aware that the Whitehall Garda station premises forms part of the portfolio of State properties owned and maintained by the Office of Public Works and I am advised that they have previously undertaken maintenance works at the station with a view to securing the overall fabric of the building. Expenditure on the relevant refurbishment works was undertaken from the Vote of the Office of Public Works. The question of the possible future use of the property is also a matter for the Office of Public Works and I understand that they are open to proposals as to how best to utilise the premises.
186. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the military equipment the EU Battlegroups will have. [39632/12]
View answer187. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the cost of training the EU Battlegroups before they form. [39633/12]
View answer188. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence in view of the projected cost, €10.7 million, of the EU Battlegroups is based on an estimate of 120 days if activated, the cost to the tax payer if the battlegroups exceed this period. [39634/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 188, inclusive, together.
Ireland is currently participating in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which will be on stand-by until 31 December 2012. In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland’s participation in this Battlegroup. The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Our contribution is a Reconnaissance Company together with staff posts at both the Operational and Force Headquarters amounting to approximately 175 personnel. During the standby period one officer has been deployed to the Battlegroup Headquarters in Ulm, Germany. This officer is engaged in training and planning activities.
Ireland has previously participated in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2008 and 2011. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Croatia (2011 only). Any decision by Ireland to participate in a specific Battlegroup operation is subject to our national sovereign decision-making procedures - “Triple Lock”, i.e. UN mandate, Government and Dáil approval.
The capabilities and the requisite high-end equipment in respect of Ireland's contributions to the Battlegroups already reside within the Defence Forces. No military equipment has been purchased specifically for EU Battlegroups. Training of the manoeuvre elements of the Austro-German Battlegroup took place in the contributing Member States - Irish troops were trained in Ireland. Unlike the Nordic Battlegroup, there were no joint field exercises or manoeuvre training with other elements in the Austro-German Battlegroup. Battlegroup training in Ireland is part and parcel of the overall programme of training for rapid deployment elements of the Defence Forces for overseas operations and, in the case of the current Battlegroup, comprises mainly the standard training of reconnaissance formations. As such, any additional training costs are marginal.
Under the Battlegroup Concept, Battlegroups are designed to be operational within 5-10 days of approval from the Council of the European Union and must be sustainable for at least 30 days which could be extended to 120 days, if resupplied. Based on previous deployments, the current estimated additional cost for a maximum 120 day Battlegroup deployment is €10.7 million (excluding allowances and ammunition which are generally already provided for in the Defence Vote). This cost will arise in 2012 only if the Battlegroup is actually deployed. There are no proposals under consideration at this time for the deployment of the Austro/German Battlegroup. Additional costs if the Battlegroup is deployed for a period of longer than 4 months should not arise as the Battlegroup concept only allows for a deployment of 120 days.
189. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the percentage of his Department's budget which has already been spent. [39635/12]
View answerThe gross total allocated for Defence related expenditure (including Army Pensions) in 2012 was €902m. At the end of August 2012, gross expenditure was in the order of 65% of the total allocation.
