Written Answers Nos 874-888
874. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when Garda vetting will be complete in respect of applications received from overseas visitors intending to visit Ireland to take part in the Leixlip Town Twinning Special Games 2013, which will take place from 23 to 26 August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34386/13]
View answerThe function of the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is to conduct Garda vetting checks in respect of Garda vetting applications submitted by registered organisations and to issue Garda vetting disclosures to such organisations.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the organisation referred to is not registered with the Unit for Garda vetting.
Furthermore, in the context of the applications referred to in the Deputy's question, I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to check the status of these applications in the absence of details such as the names of the participants and their dates of birth. If the Deputy will provide the additional information, I will have further enquiries made in the matter.
875. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [34407/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought is detailed in the following table.
|
Report Title |
Description |
Cost (€) |
Date of Commission |
Date of Publication |
Name of Consultant |
|
Review of the Implementation of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence 2010-2014 |
A mid-term review of progress in the implementation of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence 2010-2014 |
24,539 |
February 2012 |
December 2012 |
The Institute of Public Administration |
|
Research on Drugs and Alcohol Misuse among Adult Offenders on Probation Supervision in Ireland |
Research project by the Probation Service |
9,958 (Not paid from Probation Service subhead) |
September 2011 |
May 2012 |
Michelle Martyn |
|
Evaluation of Stable and Acute 2007 Risk Assessment and supervision Model in Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland |
Research project commissioned jointly by the Probation Service and the Probation Board of Northern Ireland |
6,170 (to-date) |
February 2012 |
End of 2013 |
Professor Tim Trimble, TCD |
|
Prisoner Release |
Enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the release of (a prisoner) from the Dóchas Centre |
15,000 |
April 2011 |
Not for Publication |
Mr. John O'Sullivan (retired Prison Governor) |
|
Department of Justice & Equality Safety Statement, May 2012, 51 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 |
The preparation of a Safety Statement and Risk Assessment Investigation |
984 |
January 2012 |
Not for Publication |
Dermot Foley, Safecon Training & Consultancy |
|
Report on the Workshop of National Traveller Committees |
Report on workshop of committees |
2,450 |
June 2012 |
November 2012 |
Mr. Owen McCarthy |
|
Report on 'Ethnicity and Travellers Exploration' conference proceedings |
Report on NTMAC conference |
2,200 |
September 2012 |
December 2012 |
Mr. Owen McCarthy |
|
Strategy Development |
An audit on the Financial Shared Service Payroll and Financial Management Systems - these are specialist audits to ensure that these key systems have effective controls in place |
12,677 |
May 2012 |
Not for Publication |
Mazars |
876. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the total number of Garda vehicles permanently located for normal police duties, excluding any vehicle that may be in the vounty as part of a specific policing operation, on a county by county basis at 30 June 2013 and that were permanently assigned to each county on 30 June 2011 and 30 June 2012; the number of new vehicles due to be assigned to each county for 2013 and the number actually delivered up to 30 June 2013; the reason there has been a delay in locating the assigned number of vehicles in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34441/13]
View answerDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and available resources.
In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of Garda vehicles assigned to each county on the dates referred to by the Deputy was as outlined in the following table:
|
COUNTY |
Fleet Strength on 30/06/2013 |
Fleet Strength on 30/06/2012 |
Fleet Strength on 30/06/2011 |
Vehicles assigned in 2013 to 30/6/13 |
|
CARLOW |
14 |
12 |
13 |
3 |
|
CAVAN |
24 |
23 |
25 |
10 |
|
CLARE |
41 |
35 |
40 |
9 |
|
CORK |
190 |
202 |
219 |
17 |
|
DONEGAL |
55 |
65 |
73 |
15 |
|
DUBLIN |
576 |
597 |
636 |
23 |
|
GALWAY |
80 |
81 |
98 |
10 |
|
KERRY |
40 |
42 |
45 |
7 |
|
KILDARE |
43 |
46 |
53 |
7 |
|
KILKENNY |
38 |
30 |
33 |
7 |
|
LAOIS |
29 |
24 |
31 |
5 |
|
LEITRIM |
16 |
14 |
16 |
2 |
|
LIMERICK |
76 |
81 |
96 |
10 |
|
LONGFORD |
10 |
15 |
15 |
3 |
|
LOUTH |
45 |
48 |
50 |
6 |
|
MAYO |
54 |
54 |
59 |
7 |
|
MEATH |
56 |
56 |
58 |
9 |
|
MONAGHAN |
23 |
21 |
31 |
5 |
|
OFFALY |
19 |
22 |
26 |
1 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
30 |
25 |
26 |
3 |
|
SLIGO |
30 |
32 |
35 |
4 |
|
TIPPERARY |
107 |
116 |
128 |
10 |
|
WATERFORD |
47 |
46 |
48 |
4 |
|
WESTMEATH |
42 |
39 |
49 |
6 |
|
WEXFORD |
42 |
38 |
52 |
6 |
|
WICKLOW |
52 |
50 |
51 |
6 |
|
NATIONAL UNITS |
694 |
712 |
671 |
9 |
|
TOTAL: |
2,473 |
2,526 |
2,677 |
204 |
The allocation of new Garda vehicles is undertaken on a regional basis, as determined by the Commissioner in line with requirements, and I understand that currently vehicles are due to be allocated to Garda regions on the following basis:
|
Region |
Allocation of vehicles |
|
D.M.R. |
16 |
|
EASTERN REGION |
17 |
|
NORTHERN REGION |
18 |
|
SOUTH EASTERN REGION |
22 |
|
SOUTHERN REGION |
17 |
|
WESTERN REGION |
18 |
Overall, the Deputy will be aware that an additional €3 million was made available towards the end of last year which enabled the Force to procure 171 vehicles. This brought total investment in the Garda fleet in 2012 to €4 million and resulted in a total of 213 new vehicles being procured during the year. Furthermore, a specific allocation of €5 million has been provided for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in the current year. I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date this investment has resulted in 133 new vehicles being procured.
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 deliver an effective and efficient policing service. In keeping with this approach, I will continue to seek to identify the potential for additional funding for the Garda fleet. This will, of course, be contingent on expenditure in other areas across and outside the Justice Sector.
877. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. [34443/13]
View answer880. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made regarding the particular difficulty to be addressed in Ireland's consideration of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence relating to reconciling property rights under the Irish constitution with the requirement under Article 52 of the convention, the availability of emergency barring orders. [34446/13]
View answer900. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm when Ireland will ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34830/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 877, 880 and 900 together.
Ireland supports, in principle, the aims and terms of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
The provisions of the Convention and the legislative and administrative arrangements that would be necessary to allow signature and ratification of the Convention by Ireland are being examined in my Department in conjunction with the government commitment to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation, in a way that provides protection to victims.
The development of the consolidated and reformed legislation, including consideration of the Convention provisions, will be progressed as soon as possible having regard to the need for consultations and other legislative priorities in my Department. Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, is undertaking the preliminary work in developing proposals for consideration. Cosc has met with relevant groups from the NGO sector and received some proposals for consideration. Further material is also awaited from the sector. In additional, any potential impediments to ratification of the convention relating to constitutional provisions continue to be examined.
The convention has not yet entered into force as this requires at least ten ratifications, including 8 Council of Europe member states.
878. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has held discussions with his counterparts across Europe during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in support for the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. [34444/13]
View answer879. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in securing ratification by EU member states of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. [34445/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 878 and 879 together.
Ireland, as President of the European Union in the first half of this year, indicated the support of the EU for the comprehensive approach of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. As is normal, discussions took place between the EU member states and the European Commission with regard to agreeing an EU position in this matter. However, the issue of ratification of the convention is solely a matter for each state to consider for itself.
881. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is considering the inclusion of a provision requiring permanent or temporary interference with property rights for the common good in the consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation his Department is to progress when other legislative priorities in his Department have been disposed of. [34447/13]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to the Topical Issues Debate on Domestic Violence on Wednesday, 12 June last. The topic was raised by the Deputy, along with Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor.
I indicated during my concluding comments in that debate that I intended to further explore the issue of barring a perpetrator of domestic violence from the home when consolidating the legislation in this area. That remains my intention.
882. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members, and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34517/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought regarding fees, expenses and the number of members on State boards under the aegis of my Department are detailed in the following tables.
The Deputy should note that I have interpreted the Deputy's question as embracing all bodies called Boards, irrespective of their functions, as well as other bodies with a governance remit whose title does not include the term "Board". In addition, I have provided details of the fees-payable to each board member, irrespective of whether the board member has waived their entitlement or is a civil-public servant. The fees categories referred to are as follows.
|
Fee Category |
Chairperson Euro Per Annum |
Member Euro Per Annum |
|
1 |
29,888 |
14,963 |
|
2 |
20,520 |
11,970 |
|
3 |
11,970 |
7,695 |
|
4 |
8,978 |
5,985 |
|
Board |
Chair |
Members |
Fee Category or Other (€) |
|
Property Services Regulatory Authority |
1 |
10 |
4 |
|
Property Registration Authority |
1 |
10 |
2 |
|
Mental Health (Criminal Law Review Board) |
1 |
3 |
Chair - €75,000 Member - €250 per case |
|
Parole Board |
1 |
10 |
Category 3 plus €149.75 per diem for each prison visit |
|
Equality Authority/Human Rights Commission |
1 post not currently filled. Will be remunerated at 1st point of Assistant/Secretary scale (€125,761) |
14 |
3 |
|
Private Security Appeal Board |
1 |
3 |
Chair - €371.36 per sitting Member - €169.91 per sitting |
|
Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
Courts Service Board |
1 |
16 |
Chair - n/a Category 2 |
|
Audit Committee of the Courts Service Board |
0 |
1 |
€2,565 |
|
Judicial Appointments Advisory Board |
1 |
9 |
n/a |
|
National Disability Authority |
1 |
11 |
4 |
|
Private Security Authority |
1 |
10 |
3 |
|
Legal Aid Board |
1 |
12 |
3 |
|
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission |
1 |
2 |
n/a |
|
Garda Síochána Complaints Board |
1 |
8 |
Chair - €12,600 Member - €8,100 |
|
Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board |
1 |
2 |
n/a |
|
Garda Arbitration Board |
1 |
2 |
Chair - €552 (only payable if board meets) Member - €392 (only payable if board meets) |
|
Garda Síochána Audit Committee |
1 |
4 |
Chair - €8,550 Member - €5,130 |
|
Garda Síochána Disciplinary Appeals Board 1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Classification of Films Appeal Board |
1 |
8 |
n/a |
1 It is not possible to obtain the information sought in the time frame provided. It will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is received.
Finally, the Deputy should note that any expenses incurred would be in the normal course of business relating to the duties of board members and may be payable to board members in addition to fees listed above.
883. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual salary of all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies' chief executive officers under the aegis of his Department. [34533/13]
View answer934. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36220/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 883 and 934 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought in relation to each non-commercial State sponsored body under the aegis of my Department and the salary scale of their Chief Executive Officer, or equivalent, is as set out in the following table. The list below is extracted from the list of non-commercial State-Sponsored Bodies audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, as per their website, and which have a Chief Executive Officer. In addition, I have included the recently established Property Services Regulatory Authority and the Insolvency Service of Ireland.
|
Name of Body |
CEO/Equivalent |
Salary Scale (€) |
|
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner |
Commissioner |
119,572-136,496 |
|
Equality Authority |
CEO |
119,572-136,496 |
|
Garda Síochána Complaints Board |
CEO * |
119,572-136,496 |
|
Human Rights Commission |
CEO ** |
119,572-136,496 |
|
Insolvency Service of Ireland |
Director |
119,572-136,496 |
|
Legal Aid Board |
CEO |
119,572-136,496 |
|
Property Services Regulatory Authority |
CEO |
81,080-98,995 |
|
Private Security Authority |
CEO |
92,100 - 107,168 |
* This role is discharged by a senior member of staff of An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
** The position of CEO of the Human Rights Commission became vacant on 30 January 2012
884. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34549/13]
View answerI wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 19 July 2012, which covered the period to the end of June 2012, wherein I advised that the only manner in which my Department can identify professional services is by reference to the automatic deduction of Professional Withholding Tax. This tax covers a range of professional activities not limited to the examples supplied by the Deputy. The listing sought by the Deputy amounts to over 520,000 individual transactions over the 12 month period to the end of May 2013. As previously advised, the sheer volume and scale of information sought would make the provision of a full listing unsuitable for transmission via the PQ System.
In the period from the 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013 a total of 2,530 individual suppliers submitted invoices totalling circa €61.3 million, from which Withholding Tax was deducted. Of this total over 92% is accounted for by payments to legal professionals under the system of Criminal Legal Aid.
885. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of all third level courses, training programmes and courses and accompanying cost for the academic year, 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013, provided for employees of his Department. [34565/13]
View answerGiven her reference to academic year, it is presumed that the Deputy is seeking information on courses of study, funded by my Department and pursued by staff outside of work. Training programmes and courses organised by the Department's Training Units do not run on an academic year basis.
Each year my Department invites staff to make an application for funding under the Post-Entry Education scheme. Applications are considered with reference to the overall cost, relevance and significance of the course to the applicant's role and to the work of their Division-the Department. The funding that my Department provides would vary from 50% up to 100%.
The following table sets out details on courses supported under this scheme for the academic year 2012-13:
|
Course |
College |
No. of participants |
Total cost or projected cost to the Department for 2012/2013 - € |
|
Accounting Technician |
Accounting Technicians Ireland |
1 |
1,797 |
|
Advanced Diploma in Corporate, White Collar & Regulatory Crime |
King's Inns |
1 |
1,800 |
|
Advanced Diploma in Legislative Drafting |
King's Inns |
1 |
4,500 |
|
BA (Hons) Business Management |
Dublin Business School |
1 |
2,800 |
|
BA (Hons) in International Studies |
Open University |
1 |
2,000 |
|
BA (Hons) Law |
IT Carlow |
1 |
1,040 |
|
BA (Ord) in Law |
DIT Aungier Street |
11 |
15,943 |
|
BA in Administration of Justice |
IPA |
1 |
2,820 |
|
BA in Business Studies - HR Management |
IPA |
2 |
3,830 |
|
BA in Law & the Administration of Justice |
IPA |
2 |
4,512 |
|
BA in Public Management |
IPA |
15 |
36,236 |
|
BA Law & Administration of Justice |
IPA |
1 |
2,820 |
|
Bachelor of Law |
University of Limerick |
1 |
3,883 |
|
BBS (Hons) Accounting |
IPA |
2 |
5,960 |
|
BBS Information Systems |
IPA |
1 |
2,980 |
|
BSc (Hons) in Computing |
National College of Ireland |
1 |
3,024 |
|
Certificate in Project Management |
IPA |
1 |
1,700 |
|
Certificate in Public Procurement |
IPA |
1 |
4,500 |
|
Chartered Public Accountant |
Griffith College Cork |
1 |
2,408 |
|
Diploma in Computer studies |
IPA |
1 |
1,195 |
|
Diploma in Law |
IPA |
1 |
2,200 |
|
Diploma in Legal Studies |
King's Inns |
2 |
7,960 |
|
Diploma in Payroll Management |
Irish Payroll Association |
1 |
1,590 |
|
Diploma in Public Management |
IPA |
1 |
1,410 |
|
Diploma in HR Management |
IPA |
1 |
2,750 |
|
Doctorate in Governance |
Queen's University/IPA |
2 |
6,295 |
|
Forensic Computing & Cybercrime Investigation |
UCD |
1 |
3,370 |
|
Graduate Certificate in Applied Intelligence |
Mercyhurst College |
1 |
4,900 |
|
International Diploma in Money Laundering |
La Touche Training |
2 |
4,400 |
|
LLB Bachelor of Law |
DIT Aungier Street |
2 |
3,448 |
|
LLB Bachelor of Law |
Dublin Business School |
2 |
7,840 |
|
LLB Honours in Irish Law |
Independent Colleges |
3 |
14,860 |
|
MA in Public Management |
IPA |
5 |
16,700 |
|
Master of Social Science |
UCD |
20 |
299,364 |
|
BA in Social Science |
Open University |
1 |
1,653 |
|
Master of Economic Science in Policy Analysis |
IPA |
3 |
17,900 |
|
MSc in Business & Management |
IPA |
1 |
2,500 |
|
MSc in Governance |
Queen's University/IPA |
1 |
5,000 |
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management |
IPA |
1 |
2,500 |
|
Professional Diploma in Official Statistics for Policy Evaluation |
IPA |
3 |
4,350 |
|
- |
- |
- |
516,738 |
886. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction in all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34581/13]
View answerI wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 884 of 16 July 2013 which covered the period from 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013 and identified a total of circa €61.3 million, inclusive of VAT, in professional Fees paid over this period.
The annual savings of a 20% reduction in Professional Fees at this rate would be in the region of €12.3 million, inclusive of VAT.
887. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 1%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in travel and expenses for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34597/13]
View answerThe estimated annual savings which would apply to the Justice and Equality Vote (Vote 24) from reductions in travel and subsistence expenses based on the percentages outlined by the Deputy are as follows:
|
Percentage |
Amount |
|
1% |
€20,000 |
|
5% |
€100,000 |
|
7% |
€140,000 |
|
10% |
€200,000 |
|
12% |
€240,000 |
|
15% |
€300,000 |
|
17% |
€340,000 |
|
20% |
€400,000 |
888. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34613/13]
View answerThe total spend for my Department on training and development for 2012 was approximately €1,105,238. This would have included expenditure such as training courses provided internally and externally, refunds of educational fees, attendance at seminars and conferences and membership of professional bodies' fees.
The following table sets out the effect that the various percentage decreases would have on expenditure on training and development, using the 2012 figure as a base. It should be noted, however, that the spend for 2012 was a reduction of 24% on the previous year. A small amount of that reduction may be attributed to the changes in the structure of my Department during the years in question, however, budgetary constraints have resulted in a reduction in expenditure in this area over a number of years. Every effort has been made, however, to ensure that this reduction was achieved with the minimal effect to the delivery of a comprehensive schedule of courses and development programmes for staff.
|
Training and Development |
€ |
|
Total expenditure on training and Development in 2012 |
€1,105,238 |
|
A reduction in spend of 5% |
€1,049,977 |
|
7% |
€1,027,871 |
|
10% |
€994,714 |
|
12% |
€972,609 |
|
15% |
€939,452 |
|
17% |
€917,348 |
|
20% |
€884,190 |
