Written Answers Nos. 530 - 550
530. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline in tabular form the number of firearm licences issued and renewed per annum from 2005 to 2012 on a county basis; the number of applications refused per annum, on a county basis; the criteria given for the refusals; the total number of gun licences currently in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25566/13]
View answerAs it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the time available, I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on the matter and will write to the Deputy when it becomes available.
531. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans, if any, to review the criteria for the refusal of firearm licences to encompass medical assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25567/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that section 4 of the Firearms Act 1925, as amended, outlines the conditions subject to which a firearm certificate may be granted by an issuing person. It includes a provision that an applicant may be asked to supply information requested in the application form and such further information as the issuing person may require. The provision includes, the power to make enquiries in relation to an applicant's medical history if the issuing officer, in most cases a Superintendent, considers it necessary when considering an application for a firearm certificate. While the Firearms Acts are being kept under review, I have no proposals for a change, at present, in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy.
532. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has been informed of firearm licences with incorrect expiry dates being issued across the country; if so, the steps he has taken to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25568/13]
View answerAs it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the time available, I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on the matter and will write to the Deputy when it becomes available.
533. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of citizens who die here annually without having made a will; if there is a breakdown of age for these persons; his views on whether efforts should be made to encourage persons to make a will; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25649/13]
View answerNo data are available on the number of citizens that have made a will or the age profile of those who have not done so. The annual report of the Courts Service for 2011 indicates however that of the 16,350 applications made to the Probate Office during that year, 12,520 (76.5%) arose from cases where a will had been made and 3,820 (23.5%) were in respect of cases of intestacy. The Succession Act 1965 contains specific provisions governing the distribution of the estates of deceased persons in such cases of intestacy. Solicitors are normally in the best position to advise their clients on the merits of making a will and the need for due care when doing so. The Law Society also generally promotes the making of wills. Useful information on the making of wills is available from a number of public sources including, in particular, the web site of the Citizens Information Board, www.citizensinformation.ie.
534. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that have been taken to ensure that the whole process of Garda vetting can be speeded up (details supplied). [25652/13]
View answerThe Garda Central Vetting Unit, GCVU, provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations in Ireland, registered with the unit for this purpose, which employ personnel to work in a full-time, part time, voluntary or student capacity with children and / or vulnerable adults. The unit processed approximately 328,000 vetting applications on behalf of these organisations in 2012. The current average processing time for applications is approximately 12 weeks from date of receipt. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion. All organisations registered for Garda vetting are aware of the processing time-frames for the receipt of Garda vetting and have been advised to factor this into their recruitment and selection process.
I remain in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner as to how best the service can continue to be delivered and improved upon, while at all times protecting the integrity of the process. Clearly, the protection of children and vulnerable adults is the primary objective of the GCVU and this must remain the case. The possibility of introducing an e-vetting system has been assessed and the Garda authorities are now in the process of developing a system which will enable vetting applications to be submitted electronically through a secure web service. In addition, the system will facilitate the checking and monitoring of applications. The relevant work is being pursued on a priority basis and it will be completed as quickly as possible.
The Garda Commissioner has informed me that there are currently one Superintendent, two Sergeants and approximately 113 civilian personnel assigned to the GCVU. This civilian complement includes 23 staff recently transferred from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who are undergoing the required training course. A further nine personnel were allocated to the GCVU on 13 May 2013 and an additional six will take up positions on 31 May 2013. When these staff have been fully trained on the vetting process I expect there will be a positive effect on vetting times. My Department is also examining the scope for the redeployment of additional personnel from within the public service to the unit.
535. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will instruct his Department to help locate the remains of the patriot Thomas Kent on the grounds of Cork Prison; if he will work with the Kent family in re-interring any located remains in a more appropriate resting place and that this be done in time for the centenary commemorations of the Easter Rising. [25656/13]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service is cognisant of the fact that the remains of Thomas Kent are the only remains of a leader of the 1916 Rising still interred in the grounds of a prison. In the context of the proposed development of a new prison in Cork it is the intention of the Irish Prison Service, subject to the agreement of the Kent family and to the necessary permits being obtained, to have his remains located, exhumed and re-interred at a fitting location.
536. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25750/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner's policing plan for 2013, which I laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 December 2012, set out plans for the closure of a number of Garda stations around the country in 2013. In that context, Lauragh Garda Station was closed on 31 January 2013. 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. Nationally, revised policing arrangements will result in an additional 61,000 operational policing hours in 2013.
The allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, in consultation with his senior management team. Resource levels are constantly monitored, in conjunction with crime trends and other demands made on the Garda Síochána. The situation is kept under continuing review to ensure optimum use is made of these resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
Kenmare Garda station provides a local policing service to the Lauragh area and I have been informed by the Commissioner that the personnel strength, on 30 April 2013, of Kenmare Garda station was ten. The district headquarters is located in Killarney and the strength of that district at the end of April was 104. There are also ten Garda reservists and nine civilians attached to the Killarney Garda district.
537. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that there is an adequate number of peace commissioners in the town of Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25769/13]
View answerPeace commissioners are appointed under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924. It is open to anyone to seek nomination to this office and all such requests for appointment are considered by me. The Garda authorities may also request an appointment in the public interest when they believe there is an essential need for a further appointment. There are 24 peace commissioners entered on the current roll of peace commissioners as residing in the Garda sub-district serving Tralee. One application for appointment is under consideration at present. It must be taken into account however that peace commissioner records are appointment based and every effort is made to maintain an accurate record of active peace commissioners. The Department is reliant on peace commissioners individually and other interested parties to advise of changes which may occur subsequent to appointment. Peace commissioner records are maintained by reference to the Garda administrative areas in which peace commissioners reside.
538. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the opening hour restrictions that are in place at the self service passport control facilities as part of the immigration services in Dublin Airport; if he is considering making provision for this to be used on a 24 hour basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25856/13]
View answerThe Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, recently commenced a six-month trial of automated border control gates, e-gates, at Pier A/D of Terminal One in Dublin Airport. The e-gates offer certain categories of arriving passengers - passport holders from EU states including Ireland, EEA states and Switzerland who are over 18 years of age and hold a first generation biometric passport i.e. with an electronic chip which contains the holder's facial image - a self-service type channel to clear immigration control. The purpose of the trial is to test the suitability of this technology for use at Dublin Airport with a view to providing a more secure and efficient means for clearing passengers through immigration control. The results of the trial will be evaluated before a decision is taken on the future use of such technology in the border control process, including the hours of operation.
For the trial period the gates will operate between the times of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. which has been agreed for the purposes of testing and evaluating the technology. While the gates in question have only been in operation for a little over a month and for the restricted hours as outlined, the general feedback to date from the travelling public has been quite positive.
539. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the organisations or persons that are being funded from Government sources to provide a missing persons helpline and the amount received by each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25955/13]
View answer540. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases of missing persons that remain unresolved for five years or more; the action being taken to solve these cases; his views on establishing a special missing persons unit; if he will, or is funding ongoing collaboration with other specialist units outside of Ireland to assist in the investigation of these cases; if there is a joint approach in place by the Garda and the Health Service Executive to give ongoing assistance to those families traumatised by such an event; the action taken to date by the Garda in relation to a case (details supplied); if he will confirm that the line of communication is ongoing with the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25956/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of persons reported missing for over five years, and who remain untraced, up to and including 24 May, 2013 is 606. It should be noted that this figure is provisional, operational and liable to change. All incidents where persons have been reported missing remain under investigation until such time as the person is located. The Garda Síochána reviews missing persons cases on a regular basis. The district officer (superintendent) in the area where a person has gone missing takes direct responsibility for all investigations and searches carried out. Local investigation teams are appointed by the district officer, and all means necessary, including the services of specialist units, are deployed to assist in these investigations, as considered appropriate. The services of Interpol and Europol can also be availed of during such investigations, if necessary.
The Garda missing persons bureau, which is responsible for all data relating to missing persons, provides expert assistance and advice to district officers in all high risk missing person cases. The Garda authorities are satisfied that adequate resources, including staff and technology, are in place to deal with this issue and investigations are carried out in line with international best practice.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that a joint protocol is in place with the Health Service Executive, HSE, providing a strategic and uniform approach to the issue of children who are reported as missing from care, with the overall objective of reducing such incidents, preventing such children from suffering harm and returning them to safety as soon as possible. I am advised that the investigation in relation to the case referred to the Deputy is ongoing and am assured that Garda liaison is being maintained with the family concerned.
In so far as the funding of helplines is concerned, my Department has provided funding, since 2008, through the Commission for the Support for the Victims of Crime, for Missing in Ireland Support Services, MISS, a non-profit organisation that provides support to families and friends of missing persons. A total of €8,600 has been allocated to MISS in 2013, with €8,600 provided in 2012 and €9,000 in 2011. My Department also provides accommodation for MISS. I am informed that, in 2012, MISS assisted 98 families and friends of missing persons.
541. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the State of imprisoning persons who fail to pay fines imposed by the courts; the number of such cases in the past three years; if an easy payment system will be put in place to accommodate those that simply cannot pay; if consideration has been given to this matter; the action he intends to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25957/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the number of committals to prison for non-payment of a court order fine in 2012 was 8,304. The corresponding figures for 2011 and 2010 were 7,514 and 6,683 respectively. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide the cost for each case as this would necessitate a manual search of each record and would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort which could not be justified where there are other significant demands on resources.
It should be noted that the number of persons imprisoned at any time for non-payment of fines constitutes an extremely small part of the prisoner population. To illustrate this point, there were 16 persons in custody on 27 May, 2013 for non-payment of a fine out of a total prison population of 4,245. I am committed to pursuing alternatives to custody. I am strongly of the view that we need to keep the numbers of people committed to prison for the non-payment of fines to the absolute minimum.
I have already legislated to require judges to take a person’s financial circumstances into account when setting a fine. Work is now well under way on further major reforms to the fine payment and recovery system in Ireland. The Fines (Amendment) Bill, which I expect to publish this term will, when enacted, make it easier for people to pay a fine and where they fail to do so, there will be sufficient options available to the courts in the form of, for example, attachment of earnings, community service, or recovery orders. I believe these measures, taken together, will substantially reduce the incidence of committal to prison for the non-payment of fines.
542. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will list the cost of each Ombudsman under his remit in the years from 2000 to 2012, within the on-going economic difficulties which challenge us all to work differently. [26444/13]
View answerThe Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. The Ombudsman Commission was in a preparatory phase in 2006 and became operational in May 2007. The 2007 allocation included significant funding relating to the initial set-up of the office particularly for the leasing and fit-out of its new premises. The annual expenditure incurred by this body for the years 2006 to 2012 is as follows:
|
Year |
Euro |
|
2006 |
1.078 million |
|
2007 |
14.187 million |
|
2008 |
9.949 million |
|
2009 |
9.422 million |
|
2010 |
9.235 million |
|
2011 |
8.506 million |
|
2012 |
8.303 million* |
*This figure is provisional pending the completion of audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
543. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Defence the current pension entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who worked in his Department general headquarters between 1977 and 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25089/13]
View answerI am satisfied that the retirement benefits of the person in question were correctly calculated in accordance with the relevant Department of Finance circular. Full details of the method of calculation have been provided to the person in question. If she wishes to have any further information my Department would be happy to provide it. I can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of her full pension entitlements under the terms of the non-contributory pension scheme for non-established State employees. Over the years, the rate of pension paid to the person concerned by the office of the paymaster general has been revised in line with centrally set pay and pension rates.
544. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Defence the extent of Irish United Nations involvement in Syria at present; the numbers of personnel involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25122/13]
View answerCurrently, eight members of the Permanent Defence Force, who are deployed to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, UNTSO, serve in Syria as part of observer group Golan in support of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF. These appointments include two which were previously held by Irish personnel in Damascus until October 2012, when the security situation deteriorated in Syria and the two personnel were relocated by UNTSO to UNDOF headquarters at Camp Faouar in the Golan Heights. All Irish personnel currently serving in Syria are safe and well and are operating out of Camp Faouar.
On 14 May 2013, the Government approved the deployment of a number of members of the Permanent Defence Force for service at the headquarters of UNDOF. The UNDOF mission was established by the United Nations on 31 May 1974 under United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 (1974) following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights in May 1974. Since 1974, the mandate of UNDOF has been renewed every six months.
Irish personnel are due to deploy into the mission area circa 15 June 2013. The Irish contribution to the mission will comprise a total of three personnel - two officers and one senior non-commissioned officer - to staff officer appointments in the information analysis cell in the headquarters of the mission at Camp Faouar in Syria. Irish personnel will serve tours of duty of twelve months in duration. UNDOF makes an important contribution to stability in the Middle East and participation by the Defence Forces in this mission will be a tangible demonstration of Ireland’s support for the United Nations in the challenging operating conditions it faces in the region.
545. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies at each rank currently in the Defence Forces; if further recruitment is likely in the Defence Forces in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25538/13]
View answerI am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 March 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,189, comprising 7,375 Army, 781 Air Corps and 1,033 Naval Service personnel. The attached table outlines the total vacancies, by rank, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500. In this context it is my intention that promotions will continue in order to fill rank vacancies. Targeted recruitment will continue to ensure that the Permanent Defence Force can continue to deliver all operational outputs required by Government both at home and overseas. To this end, it is intended that further general service recruitment will take place from the existing competition panel during 2013. A recruitment competition for the intake of cadets was recently advertised, the closing date for which was 26 May 2013. All promotions along with targeted recruitment will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to defence.
PDF Strength by rank as at 31 March 2013 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500
|
- |
9,500 Rank Establishment |
Strength at 31 March 2013 |
Vacancies by Rank |
|
Lieutenant General |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Major General |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Brigadier General |
8 |
8 |
0 |
|
Colonel |
41 |
39 |
*2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
137 |
135 |
2 |
|
Commandant |
336 |
326 |
10 |
|
Captain |
452 |
422 |
30 |
|
Lieutenant |
256 |
339 |
-83 |
|
Sergeant Major |
43 |
43 |
0 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
44 |
44 |
0 |
|
Company Sergeant |
245 |
222 |
23 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
199 |
196 |
3 |
|
Sergeant |
1,330 |
1,142 |
188 |
|
Corporal |
1,800 |
1,622 |
178 |
|
Private (including Cadet) |
4,606 |
4,712 |
-106 |
|
Total |
9,500 |
9,253 |
247 |
*Within the establishment figures there is provision for ten Colonel positions overseas, however, at end of March only eight of these were filled with no requirement to fill remaining two. There are an additional 64 personnel on career breaks who are not included in the strengths in the above table.
Note: Equivalent Naval Service Ranks
Brigadier General/Commodore
Colonel/Captain
Lieutenant Colonel/Commander
Commandant/Lieutenant Commander
Captain/Lieutenant (NS)
Lieutenant/Sub LieutenantSergeant Mayor/Warrant Officer
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer
Company Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Petty Officer
Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer
Sergeant/Petty Officer
Corporal/Leading Seaman
Private/Able Seaman
546. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the reason full-time summer training for the Reserve Defence Force is planned to take place in Tralee, County Kerry, instead of Bere Island this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25841/13]
View answerThe military authorities have advised me that training for members of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, in 1 Brigade has been scheduled for the following locations in 2013:
a. Coolmoney Camp, Glen of Imaal
b. DFTC, Stephens Barracks
c. Dun Ui Mhaoiliosa
d. Kilworth Camp
e. Collins Barracks
f. Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee
g. Bere Island.
The Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force, which was published in November 2012, highlighted the importance of training for members of the Reserve. It set out a range of reforms that were required in order to ensure that the Reserve retained the capacity required to discharge its assigned role. New organisational structures for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve were introduced at the end of March 2013 and the military authorities have developed new training plans for 2013. These measures and the implementation of the other recommendations contained in the VFM Review will ensure the future viability of the Reserve Defence Force.
547. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent on peace keeping operations over each of the past five years; and if he will itemise the spend. [25907/13]
View answerAmounts paid in respect of the remuneration of military personnel serving with UN and EU peace support operations, together with travel and subsistence and transportation costs - troops and freight - for each of the past five years, are set out in the table below. Equipment costs are not included in the figures, as equipment is generally not procured for a specific mission.
|
UN and EU Missions |
2012 - €000 |
2011 - €000 |
2010 - €000 |
2009 - €000 |
2008 - €000 |
|
MINURCAT ( Chad 15/3/09-20/5/10) |
21,217 |
28,458 |
|||
|
UNIFIL (Lebanon from 30/5/11) |
32,474 |
19,982 |
|||
|
KFOR (Kosovo) |
1,270 |
1,285 |
7,794 |
20,104 |
22,048 |
|
EUFOR (Bosnia Herzegovina) |
869 |
2,720 |
3,968 |
4,079 |
4,048 |
|
EUFOR (CHAD up to 14/3/09) |
13,820 |
39,133 |
|||
|
Other UN and EU Missions |
3,837 |
2,893 |
3,710 |
4,098 |
4.181 |
|
38,450 |
26,880 |
36,689 |
70,559 |
69,410 |
Arrangements for the reimbursement of certain costs have been agreed with the UN. Amounts actually received from the UN in the relevant years are
|
- |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
|
- |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
Total Amount received |
9,204 |
3,662 |
7,108 |
2,667 |
251 |
548. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the current fodder crisis, he will consider giving the cut grass from the lands around Baldonnel Aerodrome, Dublin, to local farmers. [25937/13]
View answerThe lands at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel are already subject to both a letting and a contract arrangement for the cutting of grass. In the circumstances the question of making cut grass from Baldonnel available to local farmers does not arise.
549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he will list the cost of each Ombudsman under his remit in the years from 2000 to 2012, within the ongoing economic difficulties which challenge us all to work differently. [26443/13]
View answerThe only Ombudsman post under the remit of the Department for Defence is that of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, ODF, was established as an independent statutory office, under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. The primary role of the ODF is to provide an independent appeals process for members of the Defence Forces who have processed a complaint through the internal Defence Forces redress of wrongs process but remain dissatisfied with the outcome or the manner in which the complaint was handled. The 2004 Act also provides that, subject to certain conditions, the Ombudsman may accept complaints directly from former members of the Defence Forces. The operational functions of the ODF, as provided for under the 2004 Act, commenced with effect from 1 December 2005.
Expenditure on the Office of the ODF in the period since its establishment is contained in the table below.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2006 |
€275,156 |
|
2007 |
€597,765 |
|
2008 |
€465,018 |
|
2009 |
€491,696 |
|
2010 |
€438,791 |
|
2011 |
€485,973 |
|
2012 |
€413,209 |
In the period from 1 December 2005 until mid September 2012 the role of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was filled on a full time basis. However, a reduction in the number of cases being referred to the ODF was noted in recent years and, as a consequence, when the post became vacant in 2012 the new Ombudsman was appointed on a part time, three day week basis, subject to ongoing review of caseload and referrals. This resulted in savings on the pay element of the ODF budget in 2012, savings which will be ongoing in 2013 and future years.
550. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if jobs agency aid will be made available to assist a company (details supplied) in County Kerry that wishes to expand and create jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25157/13]
View answerRenard Pier, Caherciveen is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the local authority in the first instance. My Department has however, provided funding for the development and repair of local authority owned harbours, piers and slipways in 2013 as part of the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. No application for funding was received from Kerry County Council in 2013 for works at Renard Pier, Caherciveen. Any application submitted by Kerry County Council in respect of Renard Pier under the capital programme in future years will be given consideration based on the availability of Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
