Written Answers Nos. 141-145
141. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a deadline in place for the National Asset Management Agency to transfer a number of its properties to social housing initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40122/13]
View answerNAMA continues to work closely with my Department, the Housing Agency and with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in relation to the delivery of social housing. To date, NAMA has identified over 4,300 residential properties, controlled by its debtors and receivers, under this initiative as being potentially available for social housing. Demand has been confirmed by the local authorities for 1,899 of these properties with a further 291 properties currently being evaluated bringing the total that may be deemed potentially suitable to 2,190. The local authorities have confirmed that, of the properties identified, 1,359 are considered unsuitable by reference to sustainable planning and housing policy or are located in areas with no demand. More than 800 other properties have been sold or privately let by their owners or receivers since they were identified by NAMA.
It is difficult to put a specific deadline in place when one is dealing with multiple property transfers with varying degrees of difficulty attached to them. In the main this is due to the complexities of getting agreement from multiple parties operating within an environment subject to a range of legal and financial constraints. Within this context significant progress has been made with 296 properties having been delivered for social housing from NAMA's portfolio at the end of Quarter 2 2013, including contracts signed in respect of a further 101 properties. This brings the overall total number of residential properties completed or committed to social housing at that point to just under 400 properties. NAMA have recently indicated their confidence in the potential delivery of 2,000 units through this process. It will continue to be my Department's objective to maximise the delivery of social housing using all of the resources available.
The next quarterly updates in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units will be available shortly at www.housing.ie
142. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Garda Síochána has taken to compensate for the loss of Garda stations across rural communities; the number of new community alert schemes in which gardaí engage with in 2012 and 2013; the number of new Garda clinics opened in 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39934/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter.
The Garda Síochána continue to work closely with local communities to enhance community safety through a wide range of measures, including the Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert Schemes, and the new Garda Text Alert Scheme.
There are over 1,400 local Community Alert groups around the country administered by Muintir na Tíre in close co-operation with the Garda Síochána. A new Garda Community Crime Prevention Programmes booklet has been published to support the establishment and operation of Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and similar local crime prevention initiatives.
The new Garda Text Alert Scheme, which has been piloted in a number of locations, including some locations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, was developed through close cooperation between the Garda Síochána, Muintir na Tíre, Neighbourhood Watch, the Irish Farmers Association and related stakeholders. The outcome of those pilots is informing the consideration of an overall text alert policy which is underway at present.
The Garda Síochána also run community clinics as local initiatives at District and Sub-District level to provide basic Garda services to meet local needs. They are usually operated by community Gardaí in community centres, local halls, schools or shopping centres. Clinics can operate to deliver a stand alone function, such as supporting a particular campaign, or as part of a wider theme, such as the Community Alert scheme.
I have asked the Commissioner for the latest information on the number of community schemes and clinics, and I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.
143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the schemes available to assist former offenders to access the labour force or training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39865/13]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training and educational activities for prisoners. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible in prison and to provide opportunities to acquire skills which assist in accessing employment on release.
The Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders (IASIO) which is funded by my Department through the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service is the main provider of support for employability and placement programmes. IASIO personnel interact with all national services to maximise the opportunities for prisoners on release from prison. They also interact with any local services that similarly can support the reintegration of prisoners.
Since its inception in 2000, the Linkage Programme has been providing a professional guidance and placement service in partnership with the Probation Service to persons on probation, prisoners and ex-prisoners. The GATE Service has been operating in Mountjoy, Dóchas, St Patrick's Institution, the Training Unit, Midlands and Portlaoise prisons since 2007. The service was introduced to Wheatfield Prison in 2011. Five GATE Service Training and Employment Officers work on a full-time basis in the prisons concerned and provide a training, education and employment placement service.
The Resettlement Service, introduced in 2009, is a joint initiative between IASIO and the Irish Prison Service which offers 'through-the-gate' resettlement support to prisoners. This service offers release and resettlement planning and stabilisation support through one-to-one meetings with the offender and inter-agency collaboration on behalf of the offender. There are currently three IASIO Resettlement Workers who provide a service to Cork Prison, Castlerea Prison, the Training Unit and Loughan House.
In addition, the Probation Service provides funding to Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to provide a range of services to offenders to support the Probation Service in addressing offender behaviour and facilitating the reintegration of offenders into their community.
144. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has access to drones for surveillance and intelligence gathering here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate and would be contrary to public interest for me to comment on matters related to security or intelligence.
However, the Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the carrying out of surveillance by An Garda Síochána.
The Act is subject to judicial oversight. The Act provides for a designated High Court Judge to keep under review the operation of the provisions of the Act relating to authorisations to carry out surveillance and the use of tracking devices by An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners. The designated judge is required to report to the Taoiseach at intervals of not more than 12 months and the relevant report to An Taoiseach is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In addition, the Act provides for a procedure whereby a member of the public who believes that they may be the subject of an authorisation or an approval may make a complaint to a "Complaints Referee". The current Complaints Referee is a judge of the Circuit Court.
145. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39872/13]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.
As the Deputy will appreciate, 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. While most cases are now generally decided within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. I am informed that this 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 Deputy may wish to note that 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 established specifically 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.
