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Thursday, 14 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 130-137

Garda Vetting Applications

Questions (130)

Robert Troy

Question:

130. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will expedite Garda clearance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [48602/13]

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Written answers

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application on behalf of the individual referred to by the Deputy was received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) on 13 November, 2013. The application is currently being processed and once completed will be returned to the registered organisation concerned.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is now approximately 7-9 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. Nonetheless, this is a significant improvement on the processing time of 14 weeks which existed in July this year. This improvement reflects the fact that I have given this matter particular priority as it is essential that the GCVU has the resources required to perform this most critical of roles effectively and efficiently.

In that context, I have been actively engaged on this issue with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of that engagement, I am pleased to say that the Garda Commissioner has confirmed to me that there are now 136 whole time equivalent staff assigned to the GCVU, some 41 of whom have been redeployed from elsewhere in the public service since the end of March 2013. Some of these redeployed staff have only recently completed their training in the vetting process, and the full impact of their work will be seen in the coming weeks. Furthermore, I have also recently received sanction for the redeployment of 40 additional staff to the GCVU. This brings the total number of staff in that service to over 170, more than double that of the average allocation of 78 staff at the Unit over the past two and a half years.

The Deputy may also wish to note that the development of an e-Vetting solution is also underway. This will facilitate the processing of all applications in an e-format, thus removing the time-consuming current process of manually managing all applications received . The initial phase of testing this e-vetting system will take place during late 2013. When this is achieved, this system will streamline the overall vetting process in this jurisdiction, and further contribute to reductions in processing times for all vetting applications.

Garda Vetting Applications

Questions (131)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

131. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time for Garda vetting applications for volunteers; if it is possible to reduce the waiting time further as the delays can often act as a barrier for volunteering in much needed sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48621/13]

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Written answers

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is now approximately 7-9 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. Nonetheless, this is a significant improvement on the processing time of 14 weeks which existed in July this year. This improvement reflects the fact that I have given this matter particular priority as it is essential that the GCVU has the resources required to perform this most critical of roles effectively and efficiently.

In that context, I have been actively engaged on this issue with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of that engagement, I am pleased to say that the Garda Commissioner has confirmed to me that there are now 136 whole time equivalent staff assigned to the GCVU, some 41 of whom have been redeployed from elsewhere in the public service since the end of March 2013. Some of these redeployed staff have only recently completed their training in the vetting process, and the full impact of their work will be seen in the coming weeks. Furthermore, I have also recently received sanction for the redeployment of 40 additional staff to the GCVU. This brings the total number of staff in that service to over 170, more than double that of the average allocation of 78 staff at the Unit over the past two and a half years.

The Deputy may also wish to note that the development of an e-Vetting solution is also underway. This will facilitate the processing of all applications in an e-format, thus removing the time-consuming current process of manually managing all applications received . The initial phase of testing this e-vetting system will take place during late 2013. When this is achieved, this system will streamline the overall vetting process in this jurisdiction, and further contribute to reductions in processing times for all vetting applications.

Garda Districts

Questions (132)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

132. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of search warrants issued to each Garda district drugs unit in the Dublin metropolitan region for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, and to date in 2013. [48624/13]

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Written answers

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy cannot be extrapolated centrally from the Garda PULSE system and can only be sourced by undertaking a manual review of each case where a search was conducted.

I am further advised by the Garda authorities that such a review would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to identify the number of warrants issued specifically to drug related units which could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on Garda resources.

Road Traffic Offences

Questions (133)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

133. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the top twenty locations in the State where the highest number of motorists exceeding the speed limit have been detected, either through the use of intercept or non-intercept detections or with a combination of both types of detections, in 2012 and to date in 2013. [48629/13]

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Written answers

I am informed by an Garda Síochána that for operational reasons it does not publish data in respect of speeding detections made at specific locations.

Garda Deployment

Questions (134)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

134. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reductions in Garda resources and numbers operating out of Blanchardstown Garda station that have taken place in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 respectively; and if he will immediately increase resources in the area in view of several serious incidents that have taken place in the area. [48632/13]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the strength of the Blanchardstown District on the 31 December 2011 and 2012, and on the 30 September 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table below.

Station

31/12/11

31/12/12

31/09/13

Blanchardstown

186

162

161

Cabra

75

85

82

Finglas

120

117

111

There are also 35 Garda Reserves and 22 Civilians attached to the Blanchardstown Garda District.

Ministerial Correspondence

Questions (135)

Finian McGrath

Question:

135. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will respond to correspondence on the case of a person (details supplied). [48642/13]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, my Department has responded on a number of occasions to correspondence concerning the case in question and I myself wrote to the person referred to on 1 October. While I fully appreciate the distress felt by all concerned, as has been set out in previous correspondence the prosecution of offences is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions and I have no function in relation to the management of such prosecutions, nor can I comment or interfere in the manner in which an individual case is dealt with before the courts. The Deputy will also appreciate that I have no function in relation to the correspondence between the person in question and the Office of the Attorney-General.

Irish Prison Service

Questions (136)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

136. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of occasions when a director of a State agency, the Irish Prison Service, established in 1999, has reported a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest in relation to procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48694/13]

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Written answers

The IPS is committed to the principles of fair and transparent procurement and achieving value for money. The primary goal of Procurement is to support the Irish Prison Service (IPS) in achieving its strategic objectives. The IPS Procurement Policy states that we must undertake procurement in a professional manner and to the highest ethical standard. The Procurement Policy aims to ensure corporate governance and to provide a clear, consistent and best practice approach to procurement in the IPS.

The IPS expenditure on non-pay items including suppliers, works and services amounts to approximately €98 million per annum. This expenditure extends across a diverse range of products that include highly complex building projects, security equipment, medicines, victualling, uniforms, professional services and ICT. Prior to 2007, the Irish Prison Service operated under the Department of Finance Public Procurement Guidelines Competitive Process 2004. Certain IPS posts which include Directors are designated as ones which are subject to the requirements of Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. The Department of Finance Circular 4/2002 sets out obligations under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001.

Since July 2007 when the Code of Standards and Behaviour was published and included specific requirements in relation to the disclosure of conflicts of interest, it has been the policy for the Irish Prison Service to require members of Evaluation Boards to declare if they have a conflict or potential conflict of interest in relation to procurement. This approach is enshrined in the IPS Procurement Policy that was first published in September 2008 and the updated Policy in April 2012. There has been no occasion when a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest has been reported by a current Director of the Irish Prison Service in relation to Procurement.

Irish Prison Service

Questions (137)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

137. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of contracts for the supply of goods or services concluded between a firm and a State agency (details supplied) since 1999; the aggregate value of those contracts for each calendar year; the number of instances where contracts were awarded to the firm concerned without going to tender or without the application of formal procurement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48695/13]

View answer

Written answers

The number of contracts for the supply of goods or services concluded between the aforementioned company and the Irish Prison Service (IPS) are 101 since 1999.

The first two tables show information that has previously been supplied to the PAC in 2008 and they show the works carried out by the aforementioned company up to the end of 2007. This information was the subject of intense scrutiny by the C&AG and the Public Accounts Committee in 2008. Following on from the 2008 C&AG Annual Report, the IPS implemented construction frameworks for tendering large capital works, for projects up to €5m, commencing in 2008. A further similar framework was implemented in 2011. These frameworks are operated under EU tendering guidelines to ensure that the process is open and transparent. For projects of over €5m a separate EU tender exercise is advertised to the market as a whole.

There were 6 successful construction companies admitted to the 2011 framework. These 6 pre-approved companies are invited to tender for each capital project identified under the framework. Each tender under the framework is evaluated and awarded under a set award criteria for frameworks with marks available for cost and technical merit. The last table shows the works carried out by the aforementioned company since 2008 under these new tendering arrangements.

Works completed by the aforementioned company 2002

Facility

Total Value of Contracts

€m

Number of Contracts

Cloverhill

2.2

1

Portlaoise

4.1

2

Midlands gym building

0.7

1

Beladd House

3.0

3

Loughan House

2.4

3

St. Patrick’s special school

2.7

1

Total costs

15.1

11

Works completed by the aforementioned company 2004 to 2007

Facility

Total Value of Contracts

€m

Number of Contracts

Castlerea Prison

42.07

13

Special Service Wide Projects

20.90

5

Loughan House

12.58

7

Shelton Abbey

5.71

2

Mountjoy Prison

4.43

12

Portlaoise Prison

3.78

6

Cloverhill Prison

1.61

5

Midlands Prison

1.48

1

St. Patrick's Institution

1.31

5

Wheatfield Prison

0.85

3

Cork Prison

0.77

3

Beladd House, Prison Service Training Centre

0.74

2

Limerick Prison

0.52

4

Building Services Division

0.17

2

Small Works Training Unit, Arbour Hill, IPS HQ Longford

0.07

3

Total Costs

96.99

73

Works completed by the aforementioned company 2008 to date, 2013

Facility

Total Value of Contracts

€m

Number of Contracts

BSD, Santry

0.013

1

Mountjoy Complex

8.095

6

Wheatfield Prison

4.40

3

Arbour Hill Prison

0.497

2

Limerick & Cork Prisons

0.358

2

Loughan House

0.161

1

Midlands Prison

26.908

2

Total Costs

40.432

17

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