Written Answers Nos. 137-143
137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47652/14]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State.
Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have his Deportation Order revoked. The Deputy might wish to note that any decision will be to 'affirm' or to 'revoke' the existing Deportation Order. In the mean-time, the Deportation Order remains valid and in place.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47653/14]
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, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 28 February, 2015.
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. Certain information was requested from the applicant and a response has been received. Processing of the application is ongoing and the case 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.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 26 November 2014, her plans to augment Garda strength at the various stations throughout County Kildare that have indicated the need for an increase in strength arising from fluctuations and demand in respect of requirements in the period 2004 to date with particular reference to Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Carbury, Clane and Naas; if she will provide additional gardaí where required to relate Garda strength to workload; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47656/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, one of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including fully sworn members and Reserve Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of security assessments, crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
The Deputy will also be aware that I recently announced a further intake of 200 recruits into the Garda College, Templemore. The intake will be in two batches, the first on 15 December and the second in early 2015. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College and is a measure of this Government's commitment to ensure that recruitment to An Garda Síochána continues seamlessly. The first batch of recruits (already in training) will attest as members of the Garda Síochána in May of 2015 and will be assigned to Garda Stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner.
The Garda Commissioner, will of course, continue to keep the needs of the Kildare Garda Division under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which reports of child sexual abuse have been investigated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare when they were in primary and second level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47657/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I have no function in relation to the management of criminal investigations, which is a matter for the Garda authorities. However to be of assistance, I am having inquiries made regarding the case referred to, and will be in touch with him directly to clarify certain aspects of his query.
141. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding apprenticeships (details supplied) under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48204/14]
View answerI am informed that my Department is not in a position to offer apprenticeships.
142. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the Better Start programme entailing a third regulatory inspection of child care establishments, if he will improve the payments to early educators in line with the level of responsibility being imposed upon them. [47515/14]
View answerThe National Early Years Quality Support Service - Better Start - is being introduced as part of the Early Years Quality Agenda currently being progressed by my Department. The Better Start programme is a national approach to quality improvement supports. One element of this, the Early Years Specialist Service, is employing 30 graduates in early childhood care and education who will work directly with services to improve quality, including assisting services in the implementation of the Síolta Framework and the Aistear Curriculum. No part of Better Start has a role in inspection and there is no additional burden on services because of its introduction.
Approximately €260m is invested annually by the Government to support the provision of early childhood care and education through three childcare support programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes. Despite the difficult budgetary position that has prevailed in recent years, the Government has maintained the investment in these programmes. While considerable progress has been made in correcting the overall budgetary situation, the funding available to my Department does not allow for the consideration of an increase in the level of support for childcare providers participating in the programmes. However, as funding becomes available, I would hope that the capitation rates for all programmes could be increased to provide further support.
143. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of correspondence between his Department and the Departments of Education and Skills and Health on the number of people working with children and employed by those Departments who have yet to be Garda vetted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47575/14]
View answerI am not aware of any specific correspondence referred to by the Deputy between my Department and the Departments of Health, Justice and Equality, and Education and Skills. The Children First Inter-departmental Implementation Group is chaired by my Department and the Departments named above are all represented on this group. While there are regular updates at these meetings in relation to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, the specific responsibility for the commencement and implementation of the 2012 Act falls under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. All Departments on the group have published Children First Sectoral Implementation Plans which are publically available on each Department's website.
