Written Answers Nos. 644-652
646. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review the continuation of direct provision for those seeking asylum here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31476/15]
View answerI have no plans to review the continuation of the Direct Provision system. In October 2014 a Working Group to report on improvements to the protection system, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers was established by myself and Minister of State Ó Ríordáin. The Working Group was chaired by former High Court Judge, Dr Brian McMahon, and its membership was drawn from a range of interests in the international protection area including, UNHCR, non-governmental organisations, protection applicants, academia and relevant Government Departments and Offices.
The Report identifies the excessive length of time in the protection system as the most significant issue facing those in Direct Provision. I am committed to tackling the lengthy delays in the protection system. A number of initiatives have already been taken to deal with the number of cases on hand including: the scheduling of interviews of applicants on Saturdays; the transfer of subsidiary protection application processing to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner; the establishment of a legal panel to assist the Commissioner with this work; and the appointment of additional members to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
In addition, in March this year, following approval by Government, I published the General Scheme of the International Protection Bill which will provide for the introduction of a single applications procedure for international protection. This reform will simplify and streamline the existing arrangements and provide applicants with a final decision on their protection application in a more straightforward and timely fashion and will also, as a consequence, reduce the length of time applicants spend in the Direct Provision system. It is intended to have this Bill enacted by the end of the year.
650. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has received an offer from a person (details supplied) to provide accommodation for the refugees the Government has decided to accept into the country; when a decision will be made on this offer; the process that will be followed in assessing this offer; the other relevant details in relation to this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31649/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Government has established an Inter-Departmental and Inter-Agency Task Force to coordinate Ireland's response to this migrant crisis.
I have received a number of offers of support and assistance from members of the public and voluntary groups. I have asked the Irish Red Cross to co-ordinate these offers of support.
I have also received offers of accommodation and services from commercial suppliers. These offers are being assessed at the moment taking into account the specific location of the facility, the type of accommodation, the range of services available locally and indeed the associated costs. It would not be appropriate to make any comment on any particular offer at this time.
651. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a set of statistics on reported crime by category for Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2014 and for Q1 and Q2 of 2015 for the locality served by Stepaside Garda station, Dublin 18. [31660/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics.
In relation to the matters referred to, I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.
652. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the figures illustrated in the 2010-16 and 2016-22 draft development county plans for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council that indicate a large population increase in the Carrickmines, Glenamuck and Cherrywood areas, County Dublin; the way the additional resources will be made available to meet the policing needs of these growing communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31661/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keep this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year. To date there have been four intakes of Garda Trainees into the Garda College, giving a total intake of 400. A further 150 recruits will enter college by year end, bringing total recruitment of Garda Trainees to 550. On attestation, new Probationer Gardaí are assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner, where they are assigned to mainstream uniform policing duties. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions, including the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) East Division, which covers the areas mentioned, are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.
The latest figures to hand from the Garda authorities indicate that there are 379 members of An Garda Síochána assigned to the DMR East Division, 208 of whom are assigned to the Dun Laoghaire District. The work of the Gardaí assigned to the DMR East Division is supported by 19 members of the Garda Reserve and 21 civilian staff.
