Written Answers Nos. 349-361
349. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the status of eligibility for naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who is anxious to obtain renewal of stamp 4 in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46070/15]
View answerOfficials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation.
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 I know the Deputy will appreciate that it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
Persons making an application for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a currently valid passport and may include other original supporting document, such as a birth certificate and marriage certificate. In rare circumstances where an applicant cannot produce their passport, birth certificate or other supporting documents the applicant will be required to provide a full explanation. Such explanation should be supported by satisfactory evidence that they have attempted to obtain such documentation and correspondence from the relevant authorities responsible for the issuing of passports and birth certificates in their country, clearly stating the reasons the documentation cannot be provided. The Citizenship Division will consider the reasons given and, if satisfied it is for reasons genuinely beyond the applicant's control, may suggest alternative means to the person to assist in establishing their identity.
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 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 INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
350. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the cost of installing vehicle recognition closed-circuit television cameras at all motorway and national road junctions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46115/15]
View answerI have asked the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy and will revert to him in writing as soon as I have this information to hand.
351. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the number of cars in the Garda Síochána fleet; the cost of a new Garda Síochána car; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46116/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate 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.
I am advised that as of 16 December 2015, there are a total of 2,611 vehicles in the Garda fleet, of which 1,946 are cars. As the Deputy will appreciate, the cost of a new Garda car varies depending on the model and fit out requirements.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities. Since 2012, almost €34 million has been invested in renewing the Garda fleet to support front line Garda responses. Over 640 new vehicles are coming on stream since the start of 2015 including new specialised vehicles. This investment will provide the Garda with additional high powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, cars for surveillance and covert operations, motor cycles for high visibility road policing and vehicles for public order policing. This investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021, which provides an additional €46 million for new Garda vehicles over the life time of the plan. The increased budget allocation for 2016 will also facilitate additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. Following delivery and fit out, these vehicles will be allocated on a regional basis as determined by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána consistent with operational requirements.
352. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support a person (details supplied) given the circumstances outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46128/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the individual referred to by the Deputy arrived in the State on 1 February 2007 and was resident here as a student up to 26 October 2015. Following an application to INIS, I understand that an extension of this permission was granted on 4 November 2015 for four months to facilitate the individual concerned in making an application for an Employment Permit. As the Deputy is aware, the issuing of Employment Permits is solely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
The Deputy may be interested to know that published guidelines for non-EEA national students registered in Ireland before 1 January, 2011 apply in this case. The person concerned has now completed the maximum time permitted for student conditions in the State and as such will not be granted any further permission as a student.
I can confirm that no intention to deport letter was issued in this case. The Deputy may wish to note that any exceptional or family circumstances would be taken into account if the person in question was ever to the be subject of an intention to deport under Section 3 of the 1999 Immigration Act.
353. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will meet representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to address concerns regarding crime levels in the north east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46141/15]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that I have received the correspondence referred to and will shortly contact the organisation in question directly in relation to their request. As the Deputy will be aware, a range of measures are in place to address the concerns raised in the correspondence, including new legislation to tackle burglary, as well as the very significant investments in Garda resources which the Government is making with a view to providing visible and determined front-line policing throughout the country.
354. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of burglaries in the city and county of Waterford in each of the past five years. [46163/15]
View answerThe 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 the available statistical information directly to the Deputy.
355. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the number of handgun licences legally permitted. [46164/15]
View answerI have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to this matter and I will write to the Deputy when I have further information.
356. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the number of firearm licences revoked in the past five years, including a breakdown of the different types of firearms revoked. [46165/15]
View answerI have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to this matter and I will write to the Deputy when I have further information.
357. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have retired in each of the past five years. [46166/15]
View answerI have requested the information sought from the Garda Commissioner regarding the total number of Garda Síochána members who have retired in each of the past five years and I will write directly to the Deputy on receipt of same.
358. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of civilian employees in An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years. [46167/15]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of civilian employees in An Garda Síochána on 31 December 2011 to 2014 and on the 31 October 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is as set out in the following table.
|
- |
Civilians in An Garda Síochána 2010 - 2015 |
|
Year |
Total |
|
*2015 |
2,007 |
|
2014 |
2,054 |
|
2013 |
2,071 |
|
2012 |
2,028 |
|
2011 |
2,074 |
|
2010 |
2,098 |
*as of 31 October 2015
359. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the cost of introducing electronic tagging. [46170/15]
View answerElectronic monitoring is mainly used by the Irish Prison Service to monitor prisoners who have been granted temporary release from prison to attend as hospital in-patients. It thus allows for a reduction in staffing costs for hospital escorts. Following a competitive tender in 2014, Chubb Ireland Ltd. was awarded the contract for the supply of electronic monitoring of prisoners for the Irish Prison Service.
The total cost of the provision of electronic tagging in 2014 was €73,961 (inclusive of VAT). The annual cost of the contract depends on the number of prisoners who are monitored throughout the course of the year. The cost for 2015 to date is €152,335.78 (inclusive of VAT). So far in 2015, there have been 49 prisoners in total who were electronically monitored while on temporary release as hospital in-patients.
Subject to legislative amendment included in the General Scheme of the Bail Bill, it is intended to provide for electronic monitoring to be used in selected cases as a condition of bail. The introduction of an electronic monitoring system for bail purposes will require a separate tendering process and involve the Garda Síochána. The costs will depend on the type of system deployed, the numbers monitored and the outcome of the tender process.
Provision for the electronic monitoring of certain sex offenders post release was also included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill and this would involve the Probation Service. Again the costs would depend on the type of system deployed, the numbers monitored and the outcome of the tender process.
360. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the cost to the authorities under the remit of her Department of closed-circuit television systems in each year since 2011. [46172/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is unable to provide the requested information in the time allowed. As soon as these details become available, they will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.
361. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the budget for information technology in An Garda Síochána in each of the years from 2011 to date. [46174/15]
View answerI have asked the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy and will revert to him in writing as soon as I have this information to hand.
