Written Answers Nos. 319-335
319. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reduce the application fee or the fee for a certificate of naturalisation to enable greater access to citizenship to those unable to afford these fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7779/15]
View answer320. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that the fees related to naturalisation are preventing migrants in the State from becoming citizens; her further views that this has a negative impact on the ability of migrant communities to engage in political events, such as referenda, presidential elections and Dáil Éireann elections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7780/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.
The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 set out the prescribed fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation. An application fee of €175 is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a fee is payable by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard certification fee is €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of refugees and stateless persons the certification fee is nil. The certification fees were last changed in 2008.
The standard fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for a certificate of naturalisation. Every application must be assessed to establish if the statutory requirements are met. It is notable that the volume of applications for -a certificate of naturalisation increased by over 50% in 2011, and increased further in 2012. The Deputy will be aware that following the grant of citizenship it is no longer necessary for the person concerned to register their presence in the State with the Garda National Immigration Bureau which requires the payment of a fee of €300 per registration. I do not accept that the fees related to naturalisation are a barrier to migrants in the State becoming Irish citizens.
As the Deputy will be aware formal citizenship ceremonies have been introduced at no extra cost to applicants. These have been universally well received by participants as the ceremonies provide a sense of dignity and occasion that serves to underscore the importance to both the State and the applicant of the granting of Irish citizenship. Democratic participation by citizens is a cornerstone of our representative democracy and a leaflet informing new citizens of their right to register and vote in all elections in the State and how to register is included in the ceremony packs issued to candidates for citizenship.
All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 are kept under ongoing review by my Department.
321. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will assign additional resources to the Tallaght Garda station to allow for effective action to be taken, in respect of crime in Kilnamanagh Estate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, and to particularly support the efforts of Kilnamanagh Neighbourhood Watch; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7836/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. 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 170 is the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda Station on 31 December 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available. There are also 12 Garda Reserves and 12 civilians attached to the station.
I am very pleased that my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform agreed to the resumption of Garda recruitment. Last September, 100 new Garda recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore, the first intake of Garda recruits since May 2009. This was followed by an intake of a further 100 recruits in December and a third intake of 100 this month. This means that there are now 300 Garda students in training. The Garda Commissioner, will of course, continue to keep the needs of Tallaght Garda Station under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda Stations throughout the country.
Community gardaí maintain contact with the Kilnamanagh Neighbourhood Watch and attend their meetings. Any issues identified at these meetings are addressed by community Garda members. Matters of concern are highlighted locally to all station personnel.
The Divisional Burglary Response Unit also provides regular patrols throughout the Tallaght sub-district as part of crime patrols under Operation Acer.
322. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of suspected petrol stretching cases the Garda is currently investigating; the number of these cases that are in counties Longford and Westmeath; if the Garda has prosecuted anyone in relation to petrol stretching; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7841/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide the data sought in the time available for reply. However, I have requested the Garda authorities to provide the requested information and I will arrange for all available information to be forwarded to the Deputy upon receipt.
323. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update concerning firearms (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7853/15]
View answerI can inform the Deputy of the number of rifles, shotguns and handguns reported stolen in the past five years. The table beneath refers to each year from 2010 to 2014 and is provided from Garda PULSE records.
|
Firearms stolen |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Total |
|
Handgun |
9 |
12 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
57 (incl. 40 air pistols) |
|
Rifle |
49 |
79 |
76 |
65 |
48 |
317 |
|
Shotgun |
184 |
216 |
166 |
174 |
113 |
853 |
|
Other |
119 |
93 |
84 |
102 |
85 |
483 |
|
Total |
361 |
400 |
342 |
353 |
254 |
1710 |
These figures relate to licensed and unlicensed firearms stolen over the period, which includes those stolen from Firearms Dealers.
The category of other firearms in the table includes firearms as defined under the Firearms Acts such as, humane killer, starting gun and blank firing gun.
The total figure for handguns of 57 includes 40 air pistols.
Figures are operational and are liable to change.
324. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the number of gardaí assigned to each divisional drug unit for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015. [7868/15]
View answerAll Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of burglary, drug offences or otherwise. Specifically in relation to drugs, I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to pro-actively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime in this jurisdiction. The Garda National Drugs Unit, works closely with dedicated Divisional and District Drug Units and other national units, including the Organised Crime Unit, as well as the Criminal Assets Bureau in targeting persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Divisional Drugs Unit on 31 December 2011-2013 and to 31 December 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table overleaf.
Divisional Drugs Units
|
Division |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
DMR South Central |
16 |
13 |
11 |
19 |
|
DMR North Central |
18 |
20 |
13 |
20 |
|
DMR North |
32 |
31 |
27 |
16 |
|
DMR East |
15 |
13 |
13 |
10 |
|
DMR South |
31 |
30 |
23 |
17 |
|
DMR West |
35 |
28 |
26 |
24 |
|
DMR NSS |
2 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
10 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
11 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
8 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
9 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
Cork City |
24 |
26 |
29 |
28 |
|
Cork North |
7 |
9 |
9 |
5 |
|
Cork West |
7 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
|
Kerry |
10 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
|
Limerick |
20 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
8 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
7 |
8 |
6 |
8 |
|
Louth |
6 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
Clare |
9 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Galway |
12 |
11 |
12 |
8 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
7 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
|
Meath |
7 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
361 |
310 |
270 |
253 |
325. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her responsibilities in the area of addressing the misuse of drugs here; the number of staff that are assigned in her Department for tackling the illegal use of drugs; the actions she has taken since becoming Minister to address the drugs problem here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7870/15]
View answer326. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she last held a meeting with the Garda Commissioner to discuss actions to tackle the misuse of drugs here; when she last met with the Department of Health to review same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7871/15]
View answer327. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget her Department has, to tackle the illegal use of drugs here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7872/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 327, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the national response to the problem of drug misuse is set out in the National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009-2016.
The Strategy adopts a comprehensive and pillar based approach to the problem, across the five pillars of drug supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The Strategy is founded on a partnership approach with Government Departments, Agencies and the Community and Voluntary sectors working collectively to tackle the problem.
The Strategy is being led out under the stewardship of my colleague the Minister for Health Mr. Leo Varadkar T.D. who chairs the Oversight Forum on Drugs under which the implementation of the Strategy is monitored.
My Department and its agencies continue to progress the actions assigned to the criminal justice sector under the National Strategy and to actively participate in all of the structures in place under the Strategy, including for example, the Oversight Forum, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol and the National Co-ordinating Committee on Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces.
Of course, that Strategy will now fall to be reviewed and Minister Vardakar was recently in contact with me to flag the development of the National Drugs Strategy post 2016 in respect of which planning has already begun in the Department of Health.
My Department also actively contributes to relevant international drugs policy fora, in partnership with the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs and Trade, including the EU Horizontal Working Party on Drugs and the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
I can assure the Deputy that I meet on a regular basis with the Garda Commissioner concerning law enforcement matters generally which would include drugs related issues. Just last December, I met with the Garda Commissioner , other senior Garda officers and senior officials from my Department and relevant agencies to further develop responses to particular concerns regarding drug dealing and anti-social behaviour manifesting in the Dublin city centre area.
In addition, drug law enforcement remains a key priority area for the Government and An Garda Síochána. This is clearly reflected in the Programme for Government commitments and An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan for 2015 which highlights a strong focus in combating serious crime in all its forms.
The Deputy will appreciate that drugs related issues feature prominently across the criminal justice policy areas for which I have responsibility whether it is in the context of crime policy, penal policy, prison and probation initiatives, youth diversion initiatives etc.
Given the extent to which this issue permeates the work of my Department detailing the resources including staff resources associated with that work is not without its difficulty. Having said that, details of drug related expenditure incurred by national authorities is collated for EU data collection purposes on an annual basis. Within that framework, expenditure by this Department in 2014 was estimated to be €18.5m. This included funding in areas such as the community based addiction projects supported by the Probation Service, Garda Youth Diversion Projects and the criminal justice related costs associated with the Drug Treatment Court and the National Drug Related Deaths Index.
328. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date extra powers in the area of public order will be granted to attested members of the Garda Síochána Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7873/15]
View answerI fully support the important role of the Garda Reserve in the delivery of the policing service. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that she is currently finalising arrangements to extend the powers and functions of Reserve members with a view to implementation at an early date.
329. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will examine a stamp 4 application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7880/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the current permission of the persons referred to by the Deputy expires on 31 March 2015 and INIS will write to them in the near future to progress their application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS 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.
330. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been prosecuted to date for abuse of elders under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. [7946/15]
View answer331. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been prosecuted to date for abuse of vulnerable adults under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. [7947/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together.
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide such relevant information as may be available directly to the Deputy.
332. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked vehicles attached to the Garda technical bureau, that were withdrawn from the fleet in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014; the number that were replaced during each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7981/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources.
In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that no vehicles were withdrawn from the Technical Bureau in the years 2012 and 2013. Four vehicles were withdrawn in 2014, three marked and one unmarked. Three marked and one unmarked vehicle were subsequently allocated to the Technical Bureau in 2014.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million was made available in 2014. This funding brings the total investment in the Garda fleet in 2014 to €11 million. The remaining €3 million is being made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles in 2015.
333. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on correspondence (details supplied) concerning new evidence on the Stardust fire tragedy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7992/15]
View answerThe correspondence referred to by the Deputy is currently the subject of examination in my Department and a response thereto will issue in due course. I wish also to inform the Deputy that the submission of other, related, reports concerning this matter, which were compiled by another researcher associated with the Stardust Victims' Committee, is the subject of ongoing communications with that Committee.
334. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding missing persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8055/15]
View answer335. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding missing persons here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8056/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.
I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person concerned. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a direct role in Garda operational matters. I am, however, assured by the Garda authorities that all incidents where persons have been reported missing remain open and under investigation until such times as the person is located. I am further advised that An Garda Síochána has strong formal and informal relationships with the UK authorities which assists in such investigations. More broadly, the services of Interpol can be utilised, providing An Garda Síochána with a formal network of communication involving 190 international police forces.
In so far as the general Garda Missing Persons Protocols are concerned, when a missing report is made, the Garda authorities complete a risk assessment on PULSE asking specific question about the person’s disappearance resulting in a specific level of risk being assigned to the investigation ( i.e. High, Medium or Low risk).
A Garda assessment of a missing person as ‘High Risk’ indicates the person is in danger due to their own vulnerability and/or that they may have been a victim of crime. An Inspector is required to oversee such cases and all available Garda resources are deployed including the establishment of an incident room, deployment of a Senior Investigating Officer, appointment of a Detective Sergeant and other resources deemed appropriate such as a Search Manager, Family Liaison Officer, Juvenile Liaison Officer or Ethnic Liaison Officer. High risk cases are reviewed regularly and actions taken are based on the presumption that the case may escalate. District Officers (Superintendents) have responsibility for reviewing the incident including the initial risk assessment, quality assuring any actions taken and checking for outstanding and incomplete actions.
All available opportunities to disseminate information regarding missing persons cases are availed of, including through media organisations, and the Garda Community Text Alert scheme. In addition, An Garda Síochána has put in place Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert, a rapid information dissemination process, which enables the Gardaí seek the assistance of members of the public in circumstances where a child has been abducted and there is a reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child.
I am further advised that that the Garda Missing Person Guidance Manual, which was introduced in May 2012, will be subject to a Garda review process later this year. It is envisaged that part of this process will involve the development of enhanced protocols for Garda engagement with local support and voluntary services with the overall objective of increasing the effectiveness of missing persons’ investigations.
