Thursday, 18 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 188-199

Residency Permits

Questions (188)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

188. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action an American citizen must take if they wish to move here permanently (details supplied). [45582/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Non-EEA nationals who have been granted a period of residence in the State for longer than three months are required to register with the Garda Registration Office for the area in which they intend to reside. The onus is on each individual to ensure that their permission to remain in the State is up to date at all times.

Legal residency in the State is granted for a number of reasons including for purposes of work, study and engaging in the running of a business, and for the Investment and Entrepreneur scheme which sets out specific terms of residence for successful candidates. Full details of the scheme and of residency requirements generally are available from the INIS website, www.inis.gov.ie.

It is open to a non-EEA national who has resided legally in the State to apply for long term residency. These applications are considered in respect of persons who have resided legally in the State for a period of 60 months or longer on the basis of Work Permit, Work Authorisation, or Working Visa conditions.

Queries in relation to individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility 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 from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Garda Deployment

Questions (189, 190)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí employed at present by region; the grades in which they are employed; the numbers who have applied under the early retirement scheme by location and grade; the minimum number of Gardaí deemed necessary for the security of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45374/12]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

190. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide up to date figures detailing the total deployment of Gardaí by region, division, district and sub-district across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45375/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

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.

Most members of An Garda Síochána who are aged 50 or over and have attained 30 years approved service with An Garda Síochána may apply to retire on a voluntary basis. The following table outlines a breakdown of voluntary retirements from 1 January 2012 to 12 October 2012:

-	Com	D/Com	A/Com	C/Supt	Supt	Insp	Sgt	Garda	Total
Cavan/Monaghan	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	13	16
Clare	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	10	14
Cork	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	20	24
Harcourt Sq	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	11	13
DMR East	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	10	18
DMR North	0	0	0	0	1	2	9	4	16
DMR North Central	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	3
DMR West	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	6	11
DMR South	0	0	0	1	1	2	1	6	11
DMR South Central	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	5	10
Garda HQ	0	0	0	3	1	1	3	11	19
G.N.I.B	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	8	12
Dublin Castle	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	5
NSS	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	5	13
Donegal	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	9	15
Galway	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	9	12
Kerry	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	9	13
Kildare	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	5
Kilkenny/Carlow	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	5
Laois/Offaly	0	0	0	1	2	1	3	5	12
Limerick	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	13	22
Louth	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	7	10
Mayo	0	0	0	0	1	1	4	8	14
Meath	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	2	5
Roscommon/Longford	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	7	11
Sligo/Leitrim	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	8
Tipperary	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	7	13
Waterford	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	6	10
Westmeath	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	5
Wexford	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	3	7
Wicklow	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	5
Total	0	0	1	5	16	21	95	219	357

The only early retirement scheme available to members of An Garda Síochána is the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme.

The following members have availed of Cost Neutral Early Retirement from 1 January 2012 to 12 October 2012:

-	Com	D/Com	A/Com	C/Supt	Supt	Insp.	Sgt	Garda	Total
01.01.12 – 12.10.12	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2

For security and operational reasons, it is not Garda Policy to disclose the number or percentage of personnel on duty in any specific area or over any given period of time.

I have however been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 30 September 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the allocation of Gardaí across Garda Region, Garda Divisions, Garda Districts and Garda Stations was as set out in the table.

The table is available as attachment Q189.xls at the top of the web page.

Garda Transport Provision

Questions (191)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

191. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide detailed up to date information on the current Garda vehicle fleet, including the manufacturer, model and current distribution of vehicles by district and division; the current arrangements governing the use of Garda vehicles, including the upper acceptable mileage and upper acceptable age for use as Garda vehicles; the number of vehicles which are nearing these upper limits currently in use; his plans to purchase new vehicles in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45376/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In turn, at Garda Divisional level, the allocation of Garda vehicles is a matter for the Chief Superintendent who may make and revise arrangements for the deployment of vehicles throughout the Division in response to policing demands.

This flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is crucial to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not practicable to provide details of permanent allocations of Garda vehicles. However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current Garda fleet consists of 2,457 vehicles, comprised of a number of makes/models, including: Ford Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta and Toyota Avensis and Corolla.

Garda vehicles are retired for a variety of reasons, including where vehicles are considered beyond economic repair or as a result of accidents. I understand from the Garda authorities that the relevant manufacturers have indicated that, for safety reasons, patrol cars should be withdrawn from service when the odometer reading reaches 300,000 kilometres. Accordingly, this is the operational policy that is applied by the Garda authorities. Based on current usage, it is estimated that 145 vehicles may be retired between now and the end of the year.

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced a substantial additional investment in Garda transport, with funding of approximately €3 million being made available for the purchase of new vehicles. Arrangements for the provision of these vehicles are currently being made and it is anticipated that 170 new cars will come on stream in December and January.

Garda Stations Refurbishment

Questions (192)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

192. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the facilities at a Garda station (details supplied) in County Kildare, which lacks wheelchair access or any private interview space for victims of personal crime including sexual and domestic incidents, has a unisex toilet which contains the only source of water for hand-washing, drinking and cleaning utensils, and lacks basic changing or shower facilities to support Gardaí on duty in inclement weather or on poor terrain; if he will report on the progress of plans to refit the empty adjacent station building which has stood idle for nearly three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45391/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The programme of refurbishment of Garda stations is based on accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that plans for the refurbishment of the Garda station referred to by the Deputy are currently being developed. This project will be progressed in the context of An Garda Síochána's identified accommodation priorities and in the light of available resources within the Vote for the Office of Public Works.

Passport Applications

Questions (193)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

193. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45394/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Since 1 January 2005, children born in the State, inter alia, to Polish or Slovak nationals, who have had residence of less than three years in the four year period immediately prior to the birth, do not have an entitlement to Irish citizenship.

Children born in the state who are not entitled to Irish Citizenship by birth may become Irish citizens through naturalisation if their parents lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation on the child's behalf. However, they must comply with the residence criteria for naturalisation, a minimum of 5 years in this case, with the last year continuous and that the child intends to continue to reside in state.

The difficulties that the persons concerned face in getting their child's Polish passport renewed are a matter for the Polish authorities and they should contact the Polish Embassy in relation to the matter.

Criminal Prosecutions

Questions (194)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

194. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers prosecuted for driving a vehicle without a tax, insurance or driving licence in the Dublin Region for the years 2009; 2010; 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45422/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.

Garda Deployment

Questions (195)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

195. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardai who have been approved for transfer to another station; the number of those who have been waiting for their transfers to proceed for more than three months; the number of those who have been waiting for their transfers to proceed for more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45423/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that transfers within a Garda Division or District are subject to the direction of the relevant Chief Superintendent and approval by the Commissioner. That information is not readily available and its compilation would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources relative to the information sought.

In relation to Intra-Divisional transfers, I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that a total of 317 transfers have taken place to-date in 2012. Transfer applications are not categorised on an annual basis and as such statistics in relation to the length of time a member is on a transfer list are not readily available.

Transfers of Garda personnel are determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and as the policing needs of each individual Division dictates. Having regard to these criteria, it is not possible to indicate when or if a transfer application will be acceded to.

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Questions (196)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

196. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding Garda vetting applications in respect of an association (details supplied) in County Limerick. [45441/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have sought information from the Garda authorities with regard to the individuals to whom the Deputy refers and any applications that may have been made. I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Questions (197)

Clare Daly

Question:

197. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is examining issues surrounding the operation of the Bethany Homes and the way in which justice can be secured for former residents. [45496/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

While I cannot be more specific at this time,consideration continues to be given to issues relating to the former Bethany Home and how they might be addressed.

Crime Investigation

Questions (198)

Finian McGrath

Question:

198. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a case of alleged abuse in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [45579/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (199)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

199. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will be paid their 2012 disadvantaged area based payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45396/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 27 April 2012. A dual claim in respect of one of the land parcels declared was identified during processing. Responding to my Department, the person concerned acknowledged that they did not have the right to the parcel in question. The application was processed on this basis, the over-declaration being calculated at 35.19%.

In keeping with the governing Terms and Conditions, where a difference of more than 20% of the area determined is found, no payment is granted for the year in question. The applicant is being formally written to and afforded the right of appeal.