Written Answers Nos. 354 to 370
354. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of An Garda Síochána, male and female, all ranks at present, the number of posts if any to be filled or waiting to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55693/12]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 30 November 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 13,459 Gardaí, 993 Reserve Gardaí and 2,028 civilian staff in the Garda Síochána. With the exception of recruitment to the Garda Reserve, which is of a voluntary, unpaid 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.
A promotion competition has been held for promotion from Sergeant to Inspector and 34 successful candidates were placed on a list for future promotions. Promotion competitions for promotion from Garda to Sergeant, from Inspector to Superintendent and from Superintendent to Chief Superintendent are currently ongoing. There are four vacancies at Chief Superintendent rank and thirteen vacancies at Superintendent rank, where the current strength is 41 and 153 respectively, and these will be filled from the promotion competition currently under way. The approved numbers in those ranks are 45 and 166 respectively. Discussions are ongoing with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on settling the precise strengths at the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector in the Garda Síochána.
The personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 30 November 2012, broken down by rank and gender, was as set out in the table.
|
Rank |
Total |
Male |
Female |
|
Commissioner |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
D/Commissioner |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
A/Commissioner |
9 |
9 |
0 |
|
C/Superintendent |
41 |
37 |
4 |
|
Superintendent |
153 |
138 |
15 |
|
Inspector |
263 |
242 |
21 |
|
Sergeant |
1912 |
1630 |
282 |
|
Garda |
11078 |
8034 |
3044 |
|
Total |
13459 |
10092 |
3367 |
355. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the trends if any emerging in respect of violent crimes in respect of death and or serious injury that continue to be monitored by his Department; the likely action to be taken to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55694/12]
View answerI am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of serious and violent crime and the Gardaí respond robustly to those who engage in such offences. While incidents of serious and violent crime continue to be committed and have a substantial impact on victims and their families, it is important to note that the most recent recorded crime statistics, which are for the 12 month period to the end of June 2012, show that most categories of crime are in fact falling. This reflects well on the work of An Garda Síochána and the figures show that murder had decreased by 8% and assault offences were down by 9.7%. Public order and damage to property offences were also down (by 13.1% and 10.8% respectively).
Notwithstanding the positive messages from the latest crime figures, it remains imperative that we confront and disrupt violent criminals and the Gardaí have the full support of the Government in this. I am advised that Garda management closely monitors the allocation of all resources 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. There is already a range of strong legislation in place to counter the sorts of crime referred to by the Deputy and I have also made it clear to the Garda Commissioner that if he feels there are other measures which might usefully be taken I will look at that very positively.
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which modern technology and upgraded transport continues to be made available to An Garda Síochána throughout the country with particular reference to the need to focus on areas suffering from high incidents of organised crime and criminality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55695/12]
View answerThe provision and deployment of Garda resources, including modern technologies and transport, are matters for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified policing needs. In this context the Garda authorities have indicated that significant resources have been, and will continue to be, devoted to tackling organised crime.
As the Deputy will be aware the Gardaí are bearing down very hard on criminal gangs. Week in week out, An Garda Síochána is making arrests and bringing persons before the courts, with substantial sentences being imposed in many cases. Considerable success has also been achieved in disrupting the illicit drugs trade on which much organised crime depends. In excess of €90m of drugs were seized in the first nine months of the year, including the largest inland seizure of cocaine in Ireland. Other seizures are taking place on a continuous basis.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that in recent years considerable progress has been made within the Force in the deployment of modern technological support in the fight against organised crime. These advances include the full roll out of the National Digital Radio System, the Automated Fingerprint Information System and Automated Number Plate Recognition.
With regard to transport, the Deputy will be aware that a recent investment of €3 million in the Garda fleet has resulted in an order for 170 new vehicles being placed this year. These vehicles are due to begin coming on stream in the coming weeks. This investment brings to more than 210 the number of new vehicles ordered this year, at a cost of €4 million. In addition, a further €5 million is being made available for the purchase and fit-out of new Garda vehicles in 2013.
This level of expenditure, at a time of severe budgetary constraint, represents a very significant investment in Garda transport. I have no doubt that the additional funding, in conjunction with the advanced policing technologies available to An Garda Síochána, will contribute to the effectiveness of the force in preventing and detecting organised crime.
357. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence the number of missions to date undertaken by the air ambulance at Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55419/12]
View answerA twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service was established by agreement between my Department and the Department of Health for Air Corps support to the Health Service Executive National Ambulance Service. The purpose of the pilot is to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated emergency aeromedical support needed to assist the National Ambulance Service in the west of Ireland for certain types of patient, particularly in light of the requirements of the HSE Clinical Care Programmes such as Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stroke.
The service commenced on 4 June 2012 and it is operated by the Air Corps out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. Since its inception there have been 101 EAS call-outs undertaken by the Air Corps. A full evaluation of the EAS service will be undertaken by the stakeholders within three months of the end of the pilot programme (June 2013).
358. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 December 2012, if he will provide a list of all new services across his Department that have been tested for external service delivery since March 2011. [55428/12]
View answerThe external delivery of some public services is an element of the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan dated November 2011. All proposed new services across the Public Service will be tested for external service delivery before any approval to provide the service internally will be granted. No new services have been identified or tested for external service delivery since March 2011. However, an evaluation of the potential options to deliver medical services in the Defence Forces through outsourcing is currently ongoing.
359. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the participation of members of the Defence Forces in the UN Mission to Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55681/12]
View answerSix members of the Permanent Defence Force are deployed in Syria as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO). The Defence Forces have participated in UNTSO since 1958. Defence Forces personnel serving with this mission are based in Syria, Israel and Lebanon. The main functions of UNTSO are to maintain regional dialogue, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements and to assist UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon and Syria. The six UNTSO Defence Forces personnel based in Syria are part of Observer Group Golan responsible for the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. One Irish officer is the Chief of Observer Group Golan and has responsibility for the conduct of operations by UN Military Observers within Israeli Occupied Golan and Syria. The remaining five Defence Forces personnel are deployed as UN Military Observers and conduct their duties in support of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Their duties include manning Observation Posts, conducting fortnightly inspections of the deployment of Syrian Arab Armed Forces and conducting patrols within the Area of Limitation in order to ensure that no activities occur which could lead to the breach of the ceasefire between Israel and Syria.
As the security situation in Syria remains highly volatile, Defence Forces personnel normally based in Damascus were relocated by UNTSO to offices and accommodation at UNDOF Headquarters in the Golan Heights, on 15 October 2012, as a temporary force protection measure. The Irish personnel continue to fulfill their roles from this temporary location. It is intended that they will return to offices and accommodation in Damascus should there be an improvement in the security situation.
Six members of the Permanent Defence Force who had been deployed as unarmed military observers to the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) were withdrawn in August 2012 when the mission’s mandate came to an end.
360. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to include provisions which will ensure public access to Coillte land for recreational purposes, as part of any move to sell any assets of Coillte in the future. [55266/12]
View answerFurther to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, Coillte Board and management have been actively engaged in recent months with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets.
The process is at an advanced stage and, aside from the valuation of the forestry assets, a number of issues have been identified in relation to the possible harvesting rights concession. These include, inter alia, the possible impact on the timber industry, implications for the company and levels of employment, environmental and social impacts, and public access to recreational land and the protection of the recreational amenities. These issues and the measures, if necessary, to address them require detailed consideration.
I am aware that Coillte’s forests provide a range of recreational opportunities for the general public continuing a long tradition of open access to state owned forests. I am also conscious that such recreational facilities are very valuable resources as tourism attractions in the various regions. In view of the importance of such recreational opportunities for citizens for ongoing recreation and for visitors during their stay in Ireland, the issue of public access to recreational land forms part of the overall analysis.
361. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 489 of 27 November 2012, the review procedures he intends to take to ensure that dog welfare standards being developed in the Animal Health and Welfare Bill will apply to dog pounds, rescue and dog transportation operators, as well as dog breeders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55397/12]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare Bill which I am bringing forward consolidates a wide range of existing legislation. As such, it will apply in many situations affecting the welfare of animals and so can be enforced by a range of state bodies such as An Gardai, customs officers and local authorities. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill enshrines the so-called Five Freedoms of animal and, in doing so, sets out general horizontal rules on feed, shelter, healthcare and welfare that will apply to all animals.
The Animal Health and Welfare Bill does not set out detailed rules for individual species or sectors. These can be brought forward through a variety of means such as Codes of Practice, Regulations or other primary legislation, which can lay down more detailed laws for specific animals in certain cases, such as the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, which was brought forward by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and local Government. That Act sets out detailed rules applying to premises at which bitches are kept, “not less than 6 of which are more than 6 months old, and capable of being used for breeding purposes”. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 empowers local authorities to appoint “authorised persons” for the enforcement of the requirements of that Act.
Separately, under EU Regulations in respect of animal transport, my Department has put in place guidelines for the welfare of non-farming animals (“other species”) during commercial transport.
362. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55055/12]
View answerThe Suckler Welfare Scheme was introduced in 2008 for animals born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012. The objective of the Scheme was to improve the welfare standards in beef breed animals and develop over time a breeding database from which Suckler farmers could identify the breeding stock which best suited their requirements. Accordingly, it is a condition of the Scheme that a Suckler farmer had to participate in the Scheme from its inception or from the time they became active in this area. It was possible for new entrants to Suckler farming to join the Scheme in the year that they commenced Suckler farming.
While the person named only applied to join the Suckler Welfare Scheme in 2012, Department records show that beef-breed animals were present in the herd since 2009. The applicant was informed in writing of the non acceptance of her application on 30 August 2012. An appeal was received on 5 September 2012 and, following review, the decision was upheld.
The person named was advised of the position in a letter dated 17 September and was advised of her right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office. To date no appeal has been received.
363. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a disadvantaged area scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55093/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
364. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a derogation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55099/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
365. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55100/12]
View answerThe derogation application of the person named having been successful, the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application was further processed and recently finalised, with payment shortly due to issue to the nominated bank account.
366. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55104/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account.
367. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment for disadvantaged area aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55107/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not yet issued as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements for 2012. Immediately the holding concerned is confirmed as having met these requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment at the earliest possible date thereafter.
368. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding outstanding headage payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55116/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account.
369. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the single farm payment and older REPS 4 payment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55132/12]
View answerIn processing the 2012 Single Payment Scheme application of the person named, an over-claim was identified on one of the land parcels declared. Following direct contact with the person named, the matter has recently been resolved and payment will issue to the nominated bank account shortly.
The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2010 and received payments for the first two years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has been completed for the person named and the 75% payment for Year 3 amounting to €4425.14 issued on 10 December 2012. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
370. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the disadvantaged area scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55134/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
