Written Answers Nos. 140-146
140. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be expedited; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4431/14]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) 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 processed 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.
141. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form, broken down by county, the number of persons who have applied for debt relief notice, personal insolvency arrangement or debt settlement arrangements; the number of persons who have filed for bankruptcy since January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4464/14]
View answer142. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the average cost of engaging with a personal insolvency practitioner; the number of personal insolvency practitioners, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4465/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) has indicated that in the interest of confidentiality it will not be providing details or breakdowns of the numbers of applications for the various debt relief solutions received or being processed at this time. The ISI fully intends to provide quarterly statistics once a statistically meaningful number of applications have been processed. This is anticipated to be in the second quarter of 2014.
With regards to filings for bankruptcy, I am advised by the Courts Service that High Court jurisdiction covers all counties and that the Courts Service is unable to provide a county by county breakdown in relation to filings for bankruptcy. The Courts Service has provided the following data which relates specifically to applications for self-adjudication as distinct from applications by a creditor to have a debtor adjudicated bankrupt. In 2013, 19 applications were lodged in the Examiners Office, of which 17 were adjudicated bankrupt and 2 cases were adjourned to 2014. In 2014, 17 applications had been lodged in the Examiners Office as at 27 January 2014, of which 6 cases are listed before the Courts. The Courts Service has indicated the remaining cases are expected to be listed before the High Court during February 2014.
It is not possible to provide the average cost of engaging a Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP) because the ISI has no regulatory power over the level of fees that a PIP may charge. As at 27 January 2014 there are 110 PIPs authorised by the ISI and they have various fee models. Some PIPs do not charge a fee for an initial consultation while others do. A list of authorised PIPs can be found on the ISI's website, www.isi.gov.ie. In all cases fees, costs and outlays must be in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 15 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 (Authorisation and Supervision of Personal Insolvency Practitioners) Regulations (S.I. No. 209 of 2013). The PIP must at the outset of the Debt Settlement Arrangement or Personal Insolvency Arrangement process provide the person in writing with details of the fee arrangements and likely costs involved in entering into an arrangement before appointment. The fees and costs can be expected to form part of the arrangement and as such creditors will have an opportunity to vote on them.
143. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he would provide a breakdown for 2011 and 2012, similar to that provided on page 11 of the Irish Prison Service Annual Report of 2004 which showed the approximate length of detention of persons held for immigration-related issues in both 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4476/14]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that there was 395 and 385 persons committed to custody for immigration related issues in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The breakdown of time spent in custody is set out in the table below.
|
Time spent in custody |
2011 |
2012 |
|
0-3 days |
220 |
245 |
|
4-7 days |
68 |
45 |
|
8-14 days |
39 |
29 |
|
15-30 days |
36 |
31 |
|
31-50 days |
14 |
23 |
|
51+ days |
18 |
12 |
|
Total |
395 |
385 |
I can advise the Deputy that the number of persons in this category is low.
On 31 December, 2013 there was a total of six persons in prison custody held solely on foot of a deportation/immigration order. The total number of persons in custody on that date was 3,975 meaning that the percentage of prison population in custody for this reason equates to 0.15% of the prison population.
144. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that concerns have been raised regarding child protection issues in direct provision centres; the steps he proposes to take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4488/14]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. Direct provision accommodation ensures that all persons awaiting a determination on their asylum or related applications are provided with the basic needs of food and shelter as well as other State services such as health, education and community welfare supports.
In the absence of specific detail about what child protection concerns are referred to in the question, I will set out below the suite of supports and services applying within the structures of the direct provision policy and show the level of protection and services available across the relevant State agencies.
The accommodation itself provided by RIA in the direct provision system complies with relevant legislative standards. In addition to the accommodation services, both RIA and other State service providers, particularly the HSE, link in with the direct provision centres and provide on-site services and monitoring of children and families through Public Health Nurse and GP services, social work teams, mental health specialists and through the positive engagement of accommodation centre management teams. Residents of direct provision qualify for a medical card, entitling them to a range of medical services without charge. Also, the Community Welfare Service holds clinics in many of our centres to assist families with needs which may fall to be assisted under the Exceptional Needs Payments structures. These State services link closely with RIA in terms of needs assessments, case conferences and follow-up services.
As regards education, children of asylum seekers are linked to local mainstream primary and post-primary schools as well as ECCE pre-school placements in a like manner to the general population and the role of the accommodation centre manager is central to this process.
Children of asylum seekers can also access recreational facilities available in the locality in which they are living. Some Direct Provision Centres have on-site playgrounds. Many individual centres will provide other facilities and will also facilitate NGO’s who organise outings and other activities. Homework clubs are also provided at certain family centres. Details of the on-site and local services available to children and families across the direct provision system are set out in the RIA's Annual Report for 2012 which can be found on the agency's website at www.rie.gov.ie.
RIA also has a Child Protection Policy based on the HSE's "Children First - National Guidelines for the protection and welfare of children". A Child and Family Services unit in RIA is well established and its role is to manage, deliver, coordinate, monitor and plan all matters relating to child and family services for all persons residing in RIA accommodation centres and to act as a conduit between RIA and the HSE. In conjunction with the HSE, RIA is currently updating its existing Child Protection Policy, in line with the recent revisions to "Children First". RIA is currently liaising with the HSE regarding the re-training of the Designated Liaison Officers. The HSE hopes to be in a position to facilitate this training shortly.
All staff of centres under contract to RIA are Garda vetted. It is an important aspect of RIA's Child Protection policy which has, as its principal aim, the minimisation of risk to children and vulnerable adults residing in Direct Provision centres. In keeping with this policy, children must be supervised by adults at all times. They are not permitted to be left alone overnight. In addition, children cannot be accommodated in a room separate from their parents save through interconnecting rooms.
Management of accommodation centres are obliged to ensure that all staff working in the centre are aware of, and adhere to, RIA's Child Protection Policy. In addition, the HSE have provided 'Keeping Safe' child protection training to designated officers, and other staff members, in accommodation centres.
RIA is also currently finalising, in consultation with Cosc and NGOs, a policy on "Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Harassment" to provide guidance and contact information for staff and residents at Direct Provision centres.
The system of Direct Provision allows for a level of non-intrusive supervision of residents which would not be found in general alternative living arrangements in the community. Centre staff, designated liaison officers and management are always available to assist. Public Health Nurses, General Practitioners, Community and Ethnic Liaison Gardaí and others linked in with an accommodation centre are alert to child welfare issues. They also provide support for families within the Direct Provision System.
145. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for naturalisation will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4489/14]
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.
The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation 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.
146. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will establish with the Garda Commissioner the number of individual members of An Garda Síochána who have referred complaints through the Garda confidential procedure for each year since the inception of the procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4493/14]
View answer156. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have come forward to make complaints to the confidential recipient. [4554/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 156 together.
The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provide for the appointment, and functions, of a Confidential Recipient to whom members of the Force can report, in confidence, instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Force. The Confidential Recipient is required to transmit each report to the Commissioner but, in doing so, is bound to protect the identity of the confidential reporter.
Regulation 15(1) of the Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice Regulations 2007 requires the Garda Commissioner to report to me not later than four months after the end of each year in relation to any confidential reports made during that year. The number of confidential reports made during the years concerned is set out below.
|
Year |
No of Reports |
|
2008 |
2 |
|
2009 |
4 |
|
2010 |
2 |
|
2011 |
1 |
|
2012 |
3 |
The Garda Commissioner will report in relation to 2013 in due course.
