Written Answers Nos. 142 - 147
142. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to set up a tribunal to investigate criminal injuries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11031/14]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that I am in the process of appointing a new Tribunal to administer the Scheme under the terms of Paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted. I have recently appointed a Tribunal Chairperson, Mr. John Cheatle, B.L who can, under the terms of the Scheme, determine applications and is entirely independent in that regard. I expect to appoint the remaining members in the near future.
I can further inform the Deputy that under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in relation to individual applications under the Scheme. However, in order to be of assistance in the matter I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal on your behalf. I understand that the application mentioned by the Deputy is at present being actively processed by the Tribunal. It is expected that on receipt of a final report from An Garda Síochána the file will be submitted to a Tribunal member for consideration.
143. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years. [11053/14]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the details of expenditure incurred in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage during the period 2011 to 2013 are detailed below.
|
Year |
Translation and/or Printing Costs |
Amount |
|
2013 |
Department's Annual Report |
1,083 |
|
Victim Impact Statement Leaflet |
450 |
|
|
Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime 2012 Annual Report |
263 |
|
|
Hallowe'en Public Information Notice (Fireworks) |
1,310 |
|
|
Irish Signage Audit |
1,008 |
|
|
Rules of Court |
2,483 |
|
|
White Paper on Crime |
5,305 |
|
|
Department's Appropriation Accounts |
283 |
|
|
Transfer of Sentenced Persons Annual Report, Inspector of Prisons Annual Report and various Visiting Committee Annual Reports |
3,225 |
|
|
Replacement of outdated signage arising from the provision of new reception facilities at the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) |
*2,902 |
|
|
2012 |
Department's Annual Report |
1,624 |
|
Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime 2011 Annual Report |
444 |
|
|
Hallowe'en Public Information Notice (Fireworks) |
1,310 |
|
|
Rules of Court |
13,173 |
|
|
European Parliament Regulations |
519 |
|
|
Department's Appropriation Accounts |
182 |
|
|
Transfer of Sentenced Persons Annual Report, Inspector of Prisons Annual Report and various Visiting Committee Annual Reports |
5,900 |
|
|
Parole Board Annual Reports |
239 |
|
|
2011 |
Department's Output Statement |
376 |
|
Department's Strategy Statement |
273 |
|
|
Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime 2010 Annual Report |
459 |
|
|
Hallowe'en Public Information Notice (Fireworks) |
1,310 |
|
|
New Signage on Buildings following Department's name change |
2,253 |
|
|
Rules of Court |
15,871 |
|
|
Public Notices inviting attendance at public consultations on Universal Periodic Review |
2,784 |
|
|
Statutory Instrument No 652 of 2010 |
350 |
|
|
EUCPN website material |
27 |
|
|
Department's Appropriation Accounts |
285 |
|
|
Transfer of Sentenced Persons Annual Report, Inspector of Prisons Annual Report and various Visiting Committee Annual Reports |
10,246 |
|
|
Parole Board Annual Reports |
237 |
I can assure the Deputy that while my Department does engage outside translators on occasion, as much translation work as possible is undertaken by an in-house translator and other staff members who are proficient in Irish. Examples of documents translated by Departmental staff include Rules of Court, Statutory Instruments, forms, website pages, correspondence, etc. In relation to INIS, the Deputy may wish to note the translation of publications and documents into Irish constitutes a small element of the costs of translation generally. In regard to their specific translation costs I am to inform the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a breakdown of costs by language.
* Signage was a mixture of bilingual and pictorial. It is not possible to provide a breakdown in costs between the two different types.
144. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to a person that has been issued with a court fine to pay the sum due in stage payments as affordability is not in place to discharge the amount in one lump sum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11059/14]
View answerSince the commencement of section 14 of the Fines Act 2010, a court is obliged to take into account the means of the person before imposing a fine. There is currently no legislative provision to allow a person to pay a court fine by instalment. However, the Fines (Payment and Recovery Bill) 2013 represents a major reform of our fine payment and recovery system and provides for the payment of fines by instalment. The Bill is currently before the Seanad, having completed its passage through the Dáil. Assuming that the Bill is enacted before the Summer, I expect that it should be possible to commence its provisions in the Autumn.
145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on any increases in burglaries in the Dún Laoghaire constituency on an area basis; the measures put in place to deal with the recent increases in burglaries; his plans to deal with any increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/14]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management is aware of the recent incidents of burglary in the area and have advised me that a number of targeted proactive measures have been put in place in response, including increased patrols and checkpoints in the area. In more general terms, I am further informed that Garda data shows an ongoing decrease in burglaries in the Dun Laoghaire District, in line with the national trend.
As the Deputy may be aware the latest crime statistics show that the rate of burglary has decreased by 10.4% nationally for twelve months ending 30 September 2013 and this underlines the impact being made by Gardaí under Operation Fiacla. As part of the measures which are coordinated under Operation Fiacla, Operation Acer is in force throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region, including the Dun Laoghaire Garda District. It is an intelligence driven operation and includes analysis led checkpoints and patrols to target specific areas and case manage targeted offenders. These arrangements are kept under review to ensure adjustments are made to maintain the effective focus of the operation.
In addition to Operation Acer, Operation Legacy was set up in Dun Laoghaire to target incidents of burglary and associated crime in the area. Operations Acer and Legacy operate alongside ongoing community policing measures, including problem solving with the community and providing crime prevention advice and assistance to victims of burglary. There is also full engagement with local Neighbourhood Watch and other community groups in the area.
146. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a security plan can be put in place in an area (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [11101/14]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is within the Ballymun Garda Sub-District. Local Garda management is aware of the specific incident referred to by the Deputy which is currently the subject of a Garda investigation. I am further informed that a Community Garda is assigned to the area and regularly meets with local residents to address any issues that arise. In addition, members of the Community Policing Unit carry out specific operations to target anti-social behaviour in the area. These strategies utilise dedicated patrols, engagement with the parents of children in the area. There are a range of relevant legislative provisions available to the Gardaí including the incremental provisions for anti-social behaviour warnings, good behaviour contracts and civil court orders contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and the diversionary measures provided under the Children Act 2001.
Current policing plans in the area are designed to address issues of crime and public order offences and local Gardaí continue to work with relevant individuals and groups in this regard. Local Garda Management closely monitors patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the community in the area to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
147. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to an e-mail campaign (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11102/14]
View answerMy Department has received a significant number of emails expressing support for the case referred to by the Deputy. I fully appreciate the genuine concerns which are set out in this correspondence and, of course, the distress and ongoing impact for the individual concerned. The situation remains, however, that the concerns raised regarding this tragic case were the subject of an independent examination a number of years ago by a Senior Counsel whose conclusions were accepted by the then Minister. In keeping with that review's findings, I do not believe that there are grounds for me to take this matter further.
