Written Answers Nos. 474-492
474. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason 2,260 persons were refused entry into the State at the Irish border in 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of nationalities refused and of the categories for this refusal of leave to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2412/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the principle reasons persons are refused permission to land are as follows:
– that there is reason to believe that the person intends to enter the State for purposes other than those expressed by the non-national concerned;
– the person is not in possession of a valid Irish visa and is not exempt from this requirement;
– the person concerned is not in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document; or
– the person concerned intends to travel (whether immediately or not) to the UK and would not qualify for admission had they come directly to the UK.
The principal nationalities of persons refused permission to land in the State and subsequently removed were Brazil, South Africa, China, Bolivia, and Albania.
The figure quoted by the Deputy is provisional and subject to change. For example, persons may be refused permission to land in the State and subsequently permitted to enter the State having made an application pursuant to the Immigration Acts or the Refugee Act,1996. In that regard the latest available statistics indicate that 2,239 persons were refused permission to land in the State last year taking into account those who were subsequently permitted to enter.
I might add that in all cases, removals from the State, whether in respect of those who are removed on arrival at ports of entry or those already in the State, are conducted in accordance with the law with removals at the Port of Entry being, essentially, an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
The removal of illegal immigrants from the State is a necessary feature of the enforcement of immigration legislation with the purpose of upholding the integrity of the immigration system. In enforcing the law in this respect, Ireland is no different from other countries who also remove individuals who have no lawful right to remain within their territory.
475. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed penalty point notices that were issued for alcohol related incidents between 21 December 2012 and 2 January 2013 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2432/13]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 341 incidents of driving while intoxicated were detected during the period 21 December, 2012 to 2 January, 2013.
The provisions of the Road Traffic Act 2010 include a graduated system of penalties, including a new fixed charge option for lower level offences for first time offenders. Other categories of driving while intoxicated continue to be dealt with by means of prosecution. I am advised that seven fixed charge notices relating to drink driving offences were issued for driving or attempting to drive while exceeding the alcohol limit contrary to section 4(4)(a) and 5 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 for the period 21 December, 2012 to 2 January, 2013. Given the short period of time elapsed since the period in question, the figure for fixed charged notices will likely increase as cases are processed.
476. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Dublin region which have full access to the live scan machine; his plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2434/13]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that six stations in the Dublin Garda Region have access to live scan machines. The Garda stations concerned are Ballymun, Finglas, Pearse Street, Ronanstown, Store Street and Tallaght.
I am further informed that while there are currently no plans to increase the number of Garda live scan machines in the Dublin Region the situation is being kept under on-going review.
477. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the crime statistics for 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2435/13]
View answerThe most recent crime statistics were published by the Central Statistics Office on 21 December 2012 and cover the period to the end of the third quarter of 2012. Full details are available from the Central Statistics Office or on their website (www.cso.ie).
These latest figures show a welcome reduction in 12 of the 14 crime groups for which figures are given, compared with the previous 12 months and reflect well on the impact the Gardaí are having on crime.
In particular, crimes against the person are down including homicide offences (down 17.9%), sexual offences (down 0.7%) and assault and related offences (down 9.5%). Public order and damage to property offences are also down (by 12% and 9.3% respectively), as are drug offences (down 7.1%) and weapons and explosives offences (down 17.4%).
The position with respect to some property offences remains a concern, however. Robbery is down (by 5.9%) but burglary is up 7.9% and fraud offences up by 6.2%. While the overall category of theft offences are down by 1.2% there is a worrying increase in the level of theft from the person and this is continuing to receive attention through targeted Garda operations. While the burglary figures reflect a twelve month trend seen earlier in 2012, the rate of increase has reduced from 10.3% to 7.9% and the figures for the most recent quarter reflect the impact Operation Fiacla is having, when compared to periods prior to its introduction. As can be seen from the 3,538 persons arrested and 1,924 charged under Operation Fiacla in the period form April up to the end of December 2012, An Garda Síochána is clearly tackling the problem of burglary and the prolific offenders involved head–on.
478. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will allocate additional Garda personnel to Operation Stilts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2436/13]
View answerThe 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.
Operation Stilts has been ongoing since 2009 in the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Central Division with the aims and objectives of intensively policing identified areas including O’Connell Street, Marlborough Street, Talbot Street, North Earl St, Abbey St, Eden Quay, the Boardwalk, Wolfe Tone Street, Parnell Street and adjacent side streets to prevent and disrupt the activities of persons involved in the commission of anti-social behaviour, drug use or drug dealing offences.
In December 2012, Operation Stilts was further intensified by combining the use of uniform high-visibility personnel and plain clothes personnel.
Local Management are satisfied that there is sufficient personnel currently allocated to Operation Stilts to meet the policing needs and focus of the operation. Operation ‘Stilts’ is kept under regular review by local Garda Management.
479. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form on a quarterly basis, of the number of fines that have been issued from the GoSafe speed camera detection vans since their introduction onto the roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2481/13]
View answerIn the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.
480. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of public money GoSafe has received each year since undertaking work in detecting speed offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2482/13]
View answer482. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a copy of the contract between his Department and GoSafe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2484/13]
View answer488. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the value of the GoSafe contract and the services for which that operator is contracted to provide. [2513/13]
View answer489. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the amount of moneys paid to GoSafe by his Department last year and the basis for the various payments. [2514/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480, 482, 488 and 489 together.
In November, 2009 a contract was concluded for the provision of an outsourced safety camera network to An Garda Síochána. The objective of the network is to reduce the number of speed related collisions and so save lives, as excessive or inappropriate speeding is a major factor in road traffic collisions and fatalities.
The outsourced safety camera network commenced operations in November 2010. The service provider, Go Safe, is contracted to deliver a minimum of 6,000 speed monitoring hours and 1,500 traffic survey hours per month. I am advised by the Garda authorities that, in accordance with the contract, the surveying hours may be exchanged for speed monitoring at the discretion of An Garda Síochána. Furthermore, Go Safe personnel may be required to attend a court as expert witnesses in connection with the prosecution of relevant road traffic speeding offences.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in accordance with the provisions of the contract, Go Safe is paid on the basis of enforcement and surveying hours conducted, and the rates are not linked in any way to the number of detections made. A total of €228,494 was paid to Go Safe in 2010, €15,842,378 in 2011 and €15,613,641 in 2012. I am advised that the terms of the contract are subject to conditions of confidentiality.
481. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department is currently investigating penalty points processed by GoSafe. [2483/13]
View answerI presume the Deputy is referring to Fixed Charge Notices.
Fixed Charge Notices are an alternative to prosecution, and give a motorist the opportunity to acknowledge the offence, pay the fixed charge and, where the offence is a penalty point offence, incur the appropriate penalty points. If the motorist does not pay the fixed charge, he or she will in the normal course be prosecuted for the alleged offence.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Commissioner has appointed an Assistant Commissioner to examine and report on allegations relating to the cancellation of Fixed Charge Notices by An Garda Síochána. I have received an interim report from the Commissioner, but I will not be making any further comment on the allegations or on the procedures which permit the cancellation of fixed charge notices until the final report is available.
483. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to allegations that GoSafe uses vans that are not roadworthy in the work it is contracted to do by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2485/13]
View answer490. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to any problems with the equipment and technology utilised by the GoSafe Company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 490 together.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that, in accordance with the contract with Go Safe, the service provider is responsible for ensuring that all vehicles used in connection with the provision of the safety camera network service are fit for purpose, roadworthy and meet all legislative requirements in respect of the use of such vehicles in a public place. I am also informed that requirements on the service provider to ensure that all equipment used in connection with the service is installed, calibrated and maintained in accordance with approved standards are being met.
I am further advised that An Garda Síochána is not aware of any issues with regard to equipment or technology utilised by the service provider or the road worthiness of the vehicles used in the provision of the safety camera service.
484. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the areas that the GoSafe speed cameras have operated in each year since their introduction; his plans to expand same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2486/13]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that excessive or inappropriate speeding continues to be a significant contributory factor in road traffic collisions, including fatal and serious injury collisions. A targeted approach to speed enforcement is being undertaken in order to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and improve road safety. To this end, An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority, completed an extensive analysis of the collision history on the road network. Sections of road have been identified where a significant proportion of collisions occurred whereby speed was deemed the primary contributory factor.
Based on this analysis, a list of speed enforcement zones has been developed with the aim of providing information to motorists in order to raise awareness of speeding in these zones. An Garda Síochána utilises these zones in order to direct speed enforcement activity, in a proportionate and targeted manner.
I am also advised that safety cameras only operate on sections of road which have a history of collisions occurring where speed was a contributory factor. The locations of these speed enforcement zones are in the public domain and are available on the Garda website www.garda.ie.
Speed enforcement zones are continually reviewed in light of survey data, collision history and local feedback to ensure that enforcement activity is properly targeted. Surveys continue to be conducted to ensure the appropriate deployment of safety cameras on roads which have been identified as subject of inappropriate speed and where fatal and serious injury collisions continue to occur.
485. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that the Garda station premises at Killala, County Mayo is adequately accessible for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2501/13]
View answerI understand that the Office of Public Works has a programme in place to provide disabled access to public buildings, including Garda stations, on a phased basis. This programme is progressed in conjunction with Garda priorities and the availability of resources from within the Vote of the Office of Public Works.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that, bearing in mind the very difficult financial climate, there are currently no plans for refurbishment works to be carried out at Killala Garda station. However, I understand that the situation in relation to the station is being kept under review.
486. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the exact cost savings that are to be achieved by the closure of Garda Stations around the country (details supplied). [2503/13]
View answer492. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the future model for the policing of rural Ireland when many Garda stations are to be closed; his policy when gardaí will have to patrol bigger areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2524/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 492 together.
The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the average financial saving estimated to arise in respect of the closure of the stations designated for closure in the Garda Policing Plan for 2013 is Euro 4,000 per station. To a large extent this estimate relates to heating and lighting costs and it does not take account of specific repair bills, which will vary from premises to premises.
As the Deputy will be aware, the closure of the stations has been proposed by the Garda Commissioner in his Policing Plan for 2013 and I would stress that the key objective involved is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than to secure modest cash savings. In this context the Commissioner has concluded in relation to certain stations that Garda resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the front line if the stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained. In making his recommendations on the closure of Garda stations, the Commissioner reviewed all aspects of An Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the overall operation of Garda stations. In addition, the Commissioner has given a commitment that where a station is to be closed local Garda management will consult with local communities on the alternative policing arrangements to be put in place in their area.
Furthermore, the Garda Commissioner has indicated he is confident that the implementation of the restructuring proposals contained in the 2013 Policing Plan will not lead to any diminution in the service provided by An Garda Síochána. In that regard he has stated that the revised structures will continue to support the Garda community philosophy through the clustering of services at policing hubs. This centralisation of services will facilitate the introduction of enhanced patrolling arrangements which, in turn, will provide increased Garda visibility as well as maintaining existing Garda links with communities throughout the country.
487. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for delay in processing an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2506/13]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in July 2010.
This case, which was part of a backlog of 22,000 pending a decision when I took office, is now at an advanced stage of processing and the applicant will be informed of my decision in due course.
As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
Queries in relation to the status of 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.
491. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will guarantee that Sundrive Road Garda Station, Dublin 12, will remain open permanently; and if he will ensure that the station will revert to be open to the public on a 24-hour basis. [2516/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the opening hours for Sundrive Road Garda Station were reduced as part of the policing plan for 2012. From 30th April 2012, Sundrive Road Garda Station is open to the public between 7 am and 9 pm daily. The Commissioner has no plans to change these current opening hours.
