Written Answers Nos. 184-191
184. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if, in the event that recruitment of gardaí is sanctioned in future, whether the intake will occur from existing recruitment panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9158/13]
View answerGarda numbers have been reducing due to the moratorium on recruitment. My objective, despite the enormous financial pressures facing the Government is to ensure that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000. I have informed my Cabinet colleagues that I am reviewing the position regarding Garda strength in light of an estimated reduction to just over 13,000 by the end of 2013, and, in this context, I will be bringing all relevant proposals to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
The Deputy will be aware that following a review of the training for recruit Gardaí, a revised training programme has been introduced in the Garda College. In light of this and in view of the fact that the existing Garda recruitment panel is now approximately five years old, it is unlikely that the existing panel will be used in any future recruitment. However the matter will be kept under review.
185. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for naturalisation will be expedited in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9185/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the applications have entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. Letters have issued to the persons referred to by the Deputy asking them to submit the prescribed fee and other documents. Upon receipt of the fees and documentation, the cases will be finalised. The persons concerned will be invited in due course to attend a citizenship ceremony, at which they will make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish Nation and loyalty to the State and receive their certificates of naturalisation.
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.
186. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown by division of the €5 million to be distributed for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in 2013. [9186/13]
View answerDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational demands and in the light of available resources.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the financial provision of €5 million in the Garda budget for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in 2013 will enable An Garda Síochána to obtain a significant number of new vehicles. It is a matter which is under active consideration by the Garda authorities and at this stage the specific details involved have yet to be finalised. However, the Deputy can be assured that the vehicles will be deployed as effectively as possible in line with An Garda Síochána's operational requirements.
As the Deputy will be aware, I made an additional €3 million available to An Garda Síochána towards the end of last year which enabled the Force to procure a total of 213 vehicles in 2012. In addition, the further allocation of €5 million has been provided in respect of new Garda transport in 2013. This represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited. It is a clear indication of my commitment to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, An Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to provide an effective and efficient policing service.
187. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met with his Northern or UK counterpart this year; if the matter of the proposed establishment of the British National Crime Agency was discussed; the outcome of this discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/13]
View answerI meet regularly and have ongoing discussions with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, the Home Secretary, Theresa May and the Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling. Our discussions cover a range of areas of mutual interest in the justice sector, including the ongoing efforts to combat threats from criminal terrorists, efforts to tackle serious and organised crime and to improve community safety on the island of Ireland. In this context, I am aware of the proposal to establish a National Crime Agency in the UK.
Operational co-operation in combating crime is the responsibility of the Garda Authorities and in this regard they maintain a close working relationship with the police and other law enforcement services in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. I have no doubt that the relationship of co-operation will continue into the future in the framework of whatever structure is in place in Northern Ireland and Britain.
188. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the financial aid given to persons on their release from prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9194/13]
View answerUnder the Prison Rules 2007 a prisoner is entitled to a basic provision on release. The Governor is obliged to ensure that the prisoner has sufficient means to travel to his or her destination within the State. Where necessary prisoners are provided with travel vouchers to cover the cost of their journey home. The Governor is also obliged to ensure that the prisoner has sufficient means of subsistence and the Governor has the discretion to provide an appropriate amount, where warranted.
In addition, prisoners are entitled to a daily gratuity of between 95 cent and €2.20 depending on behaviour and engagement with services, while they are in custody. They are entitled to use this gratuity to buy goods in the prison shop or send some of it to their family. On release the remaining balance in the gratuity account is paid to the prisoner.
189. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding asylum in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9223/13]
View answerApplications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister on whether such status should be granted.
If an application for asylum has been made by the person concerned, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on applications which have not completed this process.
All applications for refugee status are considered on their individual merits on a case by case basis having regard to the subjective and objective elements of the claim.
190. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the increase in burglaries in the general Tallaght area, Dublin, noting that businesses, homes, schools and churches have suffered in this regard; if he will give assurances to the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9228/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Operation Fiacla was initiated by the Garda Commissioner to address the incidence of burglary, aggravated burglaries and related offences throughout the country. An Garda Síochána has implemented specific regional operations in support of Operation Fiacla, including in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, to target suspect offenders, disrupt their activities and secure their attendance before the courts.
The objective of these Garda operations is to have a focused, targeted and integrated approach to criminals involved in committing burglaries. While the official end of year crime statistics are not yet available from the Central Statistics Office, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the strategy being employed under Operation Fiacla is having a positive impact on the incidence of burglary in the Tallaght area.
I am further informed that the strategy being adopted has involved the deployment of Garda resources from Tallaght, assisted by Divisional Traffic Units and Divisional Crime Task Force Units, conducting analysis led checkpoints and patrols targeting specific areas and case managing targeted offenders. These targeted patrols and checkpoints are kept under review to ensure adjustments are made to maintain the effective focus of the operation.
In addition to these targeted policing operations, Community Policing Units have developed a partnership approach to problem solving within the community and Community Gardaí liaise regularly with schools, businesses and homes in the area providing crime prevention advice and assurance to victims of burglary.
Local Garda management closely monitors patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the community in Tallaght, to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources to provide the best possible Garda service to the public.
191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to give statutory effect to section 9 of the intoxicating Liquor Act 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9243/13]
View answerThe position is that the Report of the Steering Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy which was published last year contains a broad range of recommendations which seek to address the negative consequences of alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harm in this country. The Department of Health is currently developing an Action Plan for submission to the Government in response to the Report's recommendations. Future arrangements for the display and sale of alcohol in mixed trading outlets such as supermarkets and convenience stores will be considered by the Government in the context of that Action Plan.
