Written Answers Nos. 181-188
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Written Answers Nos. 181-188
181. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí assigned to a station (details supplied) in County Kerry since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9368/13]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Kilgarvan Garda Station in each of the years from 2002 was 1.
Kilgarvan was one of the Garda Stations listed for closure in the Policing Plan for 2013 and closed on 31 January 2013.
182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of the cleaning service at a Garda station (details supplied) in County Kerry since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9369/13]
View answerThe arrangements made for the provision of services at Garda stations is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In addition, the Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda operating cost statements are maintained at District Headquarters level rather than at individual station level. Consequently, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and the Garda authorities have advised that the extraction of the relevant data would require a disproportionate amount of Garda resources.
183. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria for a member of an Garda Síochána or medical personnel attending the scene of a serious or fatal collision for forming an opinion that a preliminary breath test is not required after a serious or fatal collision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9372/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, I have no role in relation to the interpretation of the law. I am, however, informed that the relevant provisions are set out in section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended by section 7 of the Road Traffic (No.2) Act 2011.
184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that crime figures for County Galway, where 10 of the 100 Garda stations closures have taken place, shows an increase in burglaries and drug seizures and in general raids are up 16% since the stations closed the action he will take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9380/13]
View answerThe Commissioner's Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 December 2012, sets out details of the closure of 100 Garda stations throughout the country. On 31 January 2013, the 10 Garda stations in Galway mentioned in that plan closed. There are no plans to change these decisions.
The objective of modernising and re-calibrating the Garda station network is to ensure that Garda resources are used in the best and most efficient way possible, in both rural and urban areas, to the benefit of all law-abiding people who reside in this State. The freeing up of Gardaí from desk duties will increase the number of Gardaí available for front-line policing to the benefit of the respective communities. Nationally, revised policing arrangements will result in an additional 61,000 operational policing hours in 2013.
In response to the increase in the number of burglaries, Operation Fiacla was set up by the Garda Commissioner and is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country. Operation Fiacla has been, and continues to be extremely effective. I am informed that as of 31 January 2013, 3,903 persons have been arrested and 2,142 persons have been charged under Operation Fiacla. I can also assure the Deputy that tackling the illegal drug trade remains a key priority for this Government and for An Garda Síochána, as reflected in the strategic actions outlined in the National Drug Strategy and the policing priorities of An Garda Síochána.
In this regard, the Gardaí continue to pro-actively target drug related crime with a particular focus currently on the targeting of cannabis grow houses and in tackling street dealing of drugs and prescription medicines.
The Garda National Drugs Unit, working with other national units, including the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau, target persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs.
I will continue to support An Garda Síochána in all their efforts to bring about the successful disruption of the illegal drug trade and I commend them on their ongoing successes in this regard.
185. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda based in the Claremorris, County Mayo, Garda district at present; the number based there in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/13]
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. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, 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.
The personnel strength of each Garda Station in the Claremorris Garda District in the Mayo Garda Division on 31 December 2008 and 2012, the latest date for which all figures are readily available, is set out in the following table. There were also 5 Garda Reserves and 5 Civilians attached to the Claremorris Garda District on 31 December 2012.
|
Station |
31/12/08 |
31/12/12 |
|
Ballindine |
1 |
1 |
|
Ballinrobe |
10 |
9 |
|
Claremorris |
27 |
36 |
|
Cong |
1 |
1 |
|
Hollymount |
1 |
1 |
|
Kilmaine |
1 |
0 |
|
Knock |
3 |
1 |
|
Shrule |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
45 |
50 |
186. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the refurbishment that is proposed for Harristown House, Castlerea, County Roscommon, under the prison implementation plan 2012-2015; his plans to house prisoners with life sentences for murder there; the supervision that will be provided in this open prison, outside the prison walls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9397/13]
View answerHarristown House is a 22 roomed two storey property constructed circa 1920 which is located just outside of the boundary wall of Castlerea Prison. It was most recently used for accommodating persons who were under the care of the Probation Service. The property has been in disuse for the past four years and it suffered significant water damage as a result of burst pipes in the Winter of 2010/2011. Following a competitive tender process completed in the latter part of 2012, the Irish Prison Service appointed a contractor to undertake a complete refurbishment of Harristown House. The objective of the works is to leave the property in a suitable condition for use as a low security pre-release facility for selected prisoners. Works commenced in November 2012 and are due to complete in early March 2013.
Prisoners housed there will be those who have demonstrated good behaviour over a period of time, have engaged with the therapeutic services in the prison and are deemed to be a low risk of absconding and a low risk of re-offending. It is intended that the prisoners housed at Harristown House will be taking part in a Temporary Release Programme. It is expected that five to six prisoners will initially be involved and eventually up to 15 prisoners. Those involved will be employed in the grounds under the control of an Industrial Manager. They will be obliged to abide by all the normal terms of temporary release as well as reporting daily to the Main Gate at Castlerea Prison. CCTV coverage of the house and surrounding areas will be monitored from the control room. They will also be visited during the day by prison staff. Harristown House will be secured by a fence and there will be strict conditions on access and egress at night. All transfers will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
187. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the information that is now coming through that five vans are proposed to replace the 100 Garda Stations that have recently closed and it is believed that these vans are going to be mobile Garda offices and they will be assigned to areas where Garda stations have closed, the way he expects five vans to replace 100 Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9404/13]
View answerThe decision to close 100 Garda stations in 2013 was the result of a comprehensive operational assessment carried out by the Garda Commissioner over a 12-month period and proposed in the Commissioner's Policing Plan for 2013 which I laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Policing Plan contained the Commissioner's proposals for the continued reorganisation and consolidation of the Garda station network.
The objective of modernising and re-calibrating the station network is to ensure that Garda resources are used in the best and most efficient way possible, in both rural and urban areas, to the benefit of communities throughout the country. In particular, it is of the utmost importance to maximise the time that our well-trained and highly skilled Gardaí spend on front-line duties. This involves the deployment of Garda resources to best advantage and the Garda Commissioner has indicated that the freeing-up of Garda personnel from desk duties arising from the implementation of the 2013 Policing Plan will result in an additional 61,000 operational policing hours in 2013.
It is, of course, a matter for the Commissioner to put the necessary policing measures in place to take account of the closure of the stations in question. One of the elements involved is that the Garda authorities are in the process of providing a number of mobile offices which will assist members of the public to conduct their business and, also, to interact with Garda personnel. However, the Deputy will appreciate that this is only a small portion of the relevant Garda operation and I understand from the Garda authorities that where stations have been closed in 2013 a comprehensive set of revised structures has been put in place. In this context, the Garda authorities have emphasised that the Force will continue to support the relevant communities through the clustering of services at policing hubs. This centralisation facilitates enhanced patrolling arrangements which, in turn, provide increased Garda visibility as well as maintaining existing Garda links with communities.
188. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare. [9409/13]
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 June, 2011.
The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour 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. Each application is considered on its merits in accordance with the statutory conditions.
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.
