Written Answers Nos. 158-165
158. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a response will issue to representations made (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12028/13]
View answerA reply to the representations in question issued from my Department on 4 March 2013.
159. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocated for the maintenance of Garda premises in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and the budget for 2013; the amount of the budget that was actually spent in each of the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/13]
View answerThe programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on agreed accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. This programme is progressed by An Garda Síochána in co-operation with the Office of Public Works which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Capital funding for significant refurbishment work is a matter for the Office of Public Works. In addition, funding for other refurbishment works is provided in the Vote of An Garda Síochána. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the annual expenditure from the Garda Vote for Garda maintenance works for the periods requested by the Deputy was as set out in the table.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2008 |
€25.17m |
|
2009 |
€9.78m |
|
2010 |
€9.05m |
|
2011 |
€9.53m |
|
2012 |
€7.14m |
|
2013 |
€0.22 m (Year to date) |
160. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline his strategy to combat the problem of drugs in communities; and his plans to resource this. [11759/13]
View answerDrug misuse in our communities is a complex social problem and one which is very often linked to issues of social exclusion. The national response to the problem of drug misuse is set out in the National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009-2016. The Strategy provides a co-ordinated and comprehensive response to the problem and is founded on a partnership approach. Under this partnership approach all of the relevant statutory agencies work closely with the community and voluntary treatment sectors in tackling the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs. This collaborative approach is reflected in all of the working structures established under the national drugs policy framework. The Strategy, which is being delivered under the stewardship of my colleague Minister of State at the Department of Health Mr. Alex White T.D., adopts a pillar based approach to the problem, involving the implementation of a wide range of measures across the five pillars of drug supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research.
Significant Government resources continue to be allocated to tackling drug misuse. In addition to the considerable resources provided to the statutory services, including health, education and criminal justice authorities, in dealing with drugs issues as a part of their normal day to day services, the Department of Health also administers a Drugs Initiative Programme. This Programme, which primarily funds community based drugs initiatives supported by the Drugs Task Forces, currently has available to it in excess of €28m for 2013.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the involvement of my Department and An Garda Síochána under the Strategy is primarily, although not exclusively, concerned with the drug supply pillar. In this regard, drug law enforcement remains a key priority area. This is reflected in An Garda Síochána Policing Plan for 2013 which highlights a strong focus in combating serious crime in all its forms, in particular organised crime and its close links with drug trafficking. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána is also involved in a wide range of collaborative work involving community interests including, for example, the work of the local and regional Drugs Task Forces, the work of the Joint Policing Committees and community initiatives such as the work being undertaken, in partnership with the Family Support Network organisation, in tackling the problem of intimidation associated with drug related debts.
In conclusion, I would like to strongly affirm the Government's steadfast commitment to tackling the issue of drug misuse. This important work will continue to be progressed in partnership with all relevant stakeholders and will continue to include ongoing active community participation in addressing this complex problem.
162. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ensure that the number of gardaí deployed in the national force does not fall below 13,000 in 2013; if he intends to recruit extra gardaí before the end of 2013; if so, if he will ensure that the Garda Commissioner will be cognisant of the wide disparity in staffing levels across Garda divisions when assigning any new staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11773/13]
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 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.
163. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a Garda vetting certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11721/13]
View answerI have sought information from the Garda authorities with regard to the individual to whom the Deputy refers. I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
164. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding visa policy (details supplied). [11738/13]
View answerThe Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme has proved very successful with Central Statistics Office figures indicating a rise of 21% in trips from the countries covered by the Programme in the twelve months after its introduction compared to the twelve months before. The aim of the Programme was to help encourage increased tourism from growing markets. Therefore, in devising the Programme, officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department consulted with tourism interests, both State and private, to identify those markets with the greatest potential for growth. On the other hand, a threshold for a successful rate of visa applications of 93% over a twelve-month period was applied for countries to be considered for inclusion in the Programme, this being the average success rate at the time for visa applications. The setting of such a threshold is a common feature of visa waiver programmes worldwide (e.g. for the USA the threshold is 95%). Neither Albania nor Macedonia met this criterion at the time of the setting up of the Programme and the figures for 2012 indicate that they remain below the threshold.
The Deputy may be aware that work has been ongoing, through the regular Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF) meetings between the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service and the UK Home Office and UK Border Agency, on the development of reciprocal short-stay Common Travel Area (CTA) visa arrangements. These arrangements would allow tourists and business visitors to travel to the CTA, with first arrival in either Ireland or the UK, and to travel freely between the two jurisdictions.
In relation to the countries that are visa-required, there are, in fact, very few differences between the two jurisdictions. There are only seven countries for whose citizens Ireland requires a visa for travel for which the UK do not. Conversely, there are ten countries for whose citizens the UK requires a visa but Ireland does not. Discussions on visa alignment are ongoing under the auspices of the CTAF Forum.
Neither Ireland nor the UK is bound by the provisions of the Commission Proposal COM (2012) 650. However, it should be noted that, of the proposed list of sixteen countries and five categories of British citizens for whom of the visa requirement will be lifted (in respect of those countries bound by the Proposal), all but four - East Timor, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau - are already, and have been for some time, visa-free for travel to Ireland. It should be noted that, in 2012, the total number of visit visa applications to Ireland from the six countries in question was 33, of which 25 were from Namibia. Therefore, it is very unlikely that lifting of the visa requirement would have any notable impact on tourist numbers.
