Tuesday, 26 Jan 2016

Written Answers Nos. 267 - 283

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Questions (268)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotional positions to be filled in each of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3270/16]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 December 2015, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,140, comprising 7,309 Army, 748 Air Corps and 1,083 Naval Service personnel. The following table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2015, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.

Promotions are ongoing within the Officer and Non-Commissioned ranks in order to fill rank vacancies. New NCO promotion competitions to fill vacancies to the ranks of Sergeants and above were held in late 2014 and promotions are currently under way.

In addition, targeted recruitment will continue in 2016 so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel. It is my intention that promotions, along with targeted recruitment, will continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

PDF Strength by Rank as at 31 December 2015 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500

-	Lt Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt Col	Comdt	Capt	Lt	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	Sgt	Cpl	Pte/Cadet
Army Rank Establishment	1	2	6	3 4	110	25 7	306	167	29	32	115	169	973	1,437	3,881
Army Strength	1	2	6	33	106	263	267	186	29	32	103	162	919	1,308	3,941**
Vacancies by Rank	0	0	0	1 *	4	-6	39	- 19	0	0	1 2	7	54	12 9	- 60
Air Corps Rank Establishment	0	0	1	3	14	3 6	65	48	8	4	5 6	14	1 31	1 83	324
Air Corps Strength	0	0	1	2	14	31	60	16	8	4	54	14	124	150	272**
Vacancies by Rank	0	0	0	1	0	5	5	32	0	0	2	0	7	33	52
Naval Service Rank Establishment	0	0	1	2	13	45	81	41	6	7	75	15	226	180	402
Naval Service Strength	0	0	1	2	13	51	52	32	6	7	76	15	187	140	504**
Vacancies by Rank	0	0	0	0	0	- 6	2 9	9	0	0	-1	0	39	40	- 102
Total Vacancies by Rank	0	0	0	2*	4	-7	73	22	0	0	1 3	7	100	202	-110

* Within the Establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However, with no requirement to fill 1 of the Colonel overseas appointments, no vacancy exists in the rank of Colonel in the Army.

** Includes 48 Army Cadets, 27 Air Corps Cadets and 15 Naval Service Cadets. There are an additional 54 personnel on career breaks/secondment, who are not included in the strengths in the above table.

Note:

Equivalent Naval Service Ranks

Brigadier General/Commodore

Colonel/Captain

Lieutenant Colonel/Commander

Commandant/Lieutenant Commander

Captain/Lieutenant (NS)

Lieutenant/Sub Lieutenant

Sergeant Mayor/Warrant Officer

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer

Company Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Petty Officer

Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer

Sergeant/Petty Officer

Corporal/Leading Seaman

Private/Able Seaman

Air Corps

Questions (269)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which Air Corps helicopters responded to emergencies in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3271/16]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The involvement of the Defence Forces in responding to emergencies arises from requests for assistance from agencies of the State in an Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. The Framework for Major Emergency Management sets out the structure for enabling the Principal Response Agencies (An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and Local Authorities) to prepare for, and make a coordinated response to, major emergencies and the Defence Forces respond within that Framework. Representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both my Department and the Defence Forces, also ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency. The table below sets out the ATCA helicopter missions conducted by the Air Corps in the period 2011 to 2014.

Year	Number of Missions*
2011	61
2012	46
2013	30
2014	31

*The above figures do not include Air Corps assistance to the HSE for Inter-hospital transfers or Emergency Aereomedical Support.

The data relating to 2015 is currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Immigrant Investor Programme Applications

Questions (270)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

270. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average processing time for applications under the immigrant investor programmes; if she has a dedicated contact point in her Department with which applicants or their representatives can correspond; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2724/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Evaluation Committee, which is responsible for determining applications made under the Immigrant Investor Programme/Start Up Entrepreneur Programme, meets every two to three months. Therefore, depending on how far in advance of a meeting an application is received, the overall processing time could take from one to four months.

The Department will contact the Deputy with regard to a dedicated contact point.

National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan

Questions (271)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

271. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2763/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin)

I am currently preparing a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy with a view to having it in place by early 2016. The new Strategy is being prepared on the basis of wide consultation with interested parties in a 3 Phase consultation process. Phases 1 and 2 involving the identification of key themes and building on those through a broad consultation process to produce high-level objectives for the years 2016-2019 have been competed. Phase 3 will commence shortly and focus on agreeing specific actions and time frames in relation to each objective. In summary, my aim is to ensure a rigorous focus on identifying the key themes that impact on the lives of people with disabilities, on identifying agreed objectives within each theme and on developing specific actions to be undertaken to achieve each of the agreed objectives, together with time frames and key performance indicators so that the new Strategy will make a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities.

I welcome the positive engagement of all stake holders in the process so far including their participation in the first round of public meetings and in the National Disability Strategy Implementation Group and look forward to continuing to work with all interested parties in completing and delivering the Strategy.

Furthermore, in autumn 2014, I launched the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with Disabilities. The aim of this strategy was to ensure that the barriers faced by those living with a disability in finding employment could be addressed. I appointed Fergus Finlay as the independent chairperson of the strategy's implementation committee to ensure that the Government is provided with regular updates on the Strategy's progression.

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Questions (272)

Noel Harrington

Question:

272. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if social protection branch offices that are used exclusively for social protection business are exempt from rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2823/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can inform the Deputy that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative. The Statute does not accord me, as Minister, any function in this regard.

I understand that the Valuation Acts 2001-2015 provide in Schedule 4, paragraph 12a that property, being a building or part of a building, land or a waterway or a harbour directly occupied by any Department or Office of State is property that is not rateable. Accordingly, Social Protection branch offices occupied directly by the Department of Social Protection are exempt from rates.

Parliamentary Questions

Questions (273)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

273. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 320 of 1 December 2015 (details supplied), the status of the information sought on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3125/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The information sought in relation to this matter was issued from my office on 25 January 2016 by post to the Deputy.

Rights of People with Disabilities

Questions (274)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

274. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to respond to concerns (details supplied) relating to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3128/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 enshrines a series of robust protections for those who lack decision-making capacity and has introduced significant reforms that will assist in enabling Ireland to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Act has been specifically devised to safeguard the rights of persons with capacity difficulties, including as regards their bodily integrity.

With regard to the specific matters raised by the Deputy, these are policy matters for the Department of Health who have provided me with the following responses:

"On the issue of organ donation, section 4(3)(a) of the Act clarifies that any decision about the donation of organs from living donors who lack capacity will be determined by the High Court. Entrusting such matters to the High Court provides protection to potentially vulnerable people who are not in a position to make the decision about living organ donation for themselves.

On the issue of the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, the wording of section 4(3)(b) clarifies that where an application is made to the courts in the context of a dispute or where legal clarity is required about a decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment, then that case will be heard in the High Court.

On the issues raised regarding the definition of basic care, for the purposes of this Act, basic care includes (but is not limited to) warmth, shelter, oral nutrition, oral hydration and hygiene measures, but does not include artificial nutrition or artificial hydration. An advance healthcare directive refusing basic care would not be applicable and would not be upheld.

The legislative framework for advance healthcare directives outlined in the Act does not in any way pertain to euthanasia or assisted suicide. The provisions for advance healthcare directives do not affect the existing law in Ireland relation to murder or manslaughter or the operation of section 2 of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act (1993).

With regard to the Deputy's query concerning clinical trials, there is an international consensus in relation to the participation of people who lack capacity in clinical research (including clinical trials). While it is essential that such vulnerable individuals are appropriately protected, it is deemed ethically problematic to unnecessarily exclude such categories of people from research that could potentially benefit them or others suffering from the same illness.

Clinical research involving people who lack capacity is covered by both national and international instruments, including the HSE's National Consent Policy. On the issue of clinical trials, the EC (Clinical Trials on Medicinal Products for Human Use) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 190 of 2004) (as amended) provides an extensive framework to protect all those participating in clinical trials, which includes people who lack capacity. In addition, the Clinical Trials Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 536/2014), which is due to come into force in 2016, also contains extensive provision relating to the protection of people lacking capacity."

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (275)

Willie Penrose

Question:

275. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the various sections of the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Act 2015 will commence; if it is necessary to bring forward commencement orders to ensure that would-be applicants for bankruptcy under the new regime can immediately avail of them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3194/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for commencement orders to bring its provisions into effect. I wish to inform the Deputy that most of the provisions of the Act will be commenced later this month. The only provisions not commenced under the Order are those dealing with the abolition of the requirement for a 'statutory sitting' of the High Court in bankruptcy cases (sections 3, 4, 5, 13 and 14). Those provisions require changes to the relevant Court Rules and will be the subject of a later commencement order.

State Pardons

Questions (276, 277)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

276. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to ensure that the recent pardon in the name of a person (details supplied) be corrected to reflect their correct name (details supplied), this correct name being the name used on all other legal documents through the years. [2741/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

277. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the pardon in the name of a person (details supplied) be corrected to include the following: "And Whereas on 17 April 1941 the Attorney General refused him leave to appeal to the Supreme Court". [2742/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.

My Department has considered the issues referred to by the Deputy and is advised, following consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, that the Pardon Order signed by the President on 19 December 2015 unambiguously identifies Mr. Gleeson and his conviction, and that he has been validly pardoned of that conviction. As this has taken effect and is a matter of official record, does not need to be addressed further. I was pleased to have been able to present a copy of the Pardon Order to Mr. Gleeson's nearest relatives at a recent ceremony, and to acknowledge that it achieves what has been sought by them and others over many years, which is a full recognition on the part of the State that Mr. Gleeson should not have been convicted of the crime in question nor have suffered such dreadful consequences as a result.

Garda Deployment

Questions (278)

Dara Calleary

Question:

278. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí Síochána stationed in Rathcoole in County Dublin as of November in each of the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2859/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As 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 continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. The number of Gardaí stationed in Clondalkin district, including Clondalkin, Ballyfermot and Rathcoole stations for the period 30 November 2011 to 30 November 2015 was as set out in the table attached. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 296 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. I am very pleased that the 2016 recruitment campaign announced last November and which closed on 6 January has attracted strong interest with in the region of 16,500 applications received by the Public Appointments Service which is organising the competition on behalf of the Garda Commissioner.

District

Year	Gardaí
30-Nov-11	221
30-Nov-12	214
30-Nov-13	201
30-Nov-14	198
30-Nov-15	196

Legislative Process

Questions (279)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

279. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the change in legislation making unmarried fathers guardians of children after they have lived 12 months with the mother's children, including three months following a child's birth will come into effect with the commencement of the Act and if a father who ceased to live with a partner at any stage before the commencement of the Act will qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2905/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The change to which the Deputy refers is the provision under which a non-marital father automatically becomes a guardian of his child where he lives with the child's mother for 12 consecutive months, including not less than three months after the birth of the child. This provision came into effect on 18 January 2016 when specified provisions of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 were commenced. It will not have retrospective effect. Therefore, only cohabitation after 18 January 2016 will count towards that 12 month period. The provision will not apply where a non-marital father has already ceased to cohabit with the mother of his child.

Firearms Certificates

Questions (280)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

280. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications that were made for non-resident firearm certificates and issued by An Garda Síochána to a gun club (details supplied) in County Sligo during the 2014 season and during the 2015 season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2907/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can advise the Deputy that there were 53 non-resident Firearm Certificates issued in 2014 and 91 issued in 2015 by An Garda Síochána to persons who had permission to shoot on the lands of Tubbercurry Gun Club.

The non-resident Firearm Certificates are issued to individuals who use the lands of Tubbercurry Gun Club to shoot on and are not issued to Tubbercurry Gun Club itself.

Garda Deployment

Questions (281)

Mick Wallace

Question:

281. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each station in County Wexford on 1 January in each of the years 2011 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2927/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As 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 continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources.

The number of Garda Síochána stations and the number of Gardaí in each station in County Wexford for the 31 December 2011-2014 and the 31 December 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the following tables.

This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 295 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and in this context 15 Probationer Gardaí have been assigned to the Wexford Division.

I am very pleased that the 2016 recruitment campaign announced last November and which closed on 6 January has attracted strong interest with in the region of 16,500 applications received by the Public Appointments Service which is organising the competition on behalf of the Garda Commissioner.

Wexford Garda Division 31 December 2010

Division	District	Station	Total
WEXFORD DIVISION		BLACKWATER	3
		CLONROCHE	2
		ENNISCORTHY	40
		FERNS	3
		KILTEALY	1
		OULART	1
	ENNISCORTHY	OYLEGATE	3
		Total	53
		BUNCLODY	8
		COURTOWN HARBOUR	2
	GOREY	GOREY	53
		Total	63
		BALLYCULLANE	2
		CAMPILE	2
		CARRICK-ON-BANNOW	1
		CARRICKBYRNE	2
		DUNCANNON	4
	NEW ROSS	NEW ROSS	40
		Total	51
		BALDWINSTOWN	1
		CASTLEBRIDGE	3
		GLYNN	1
		KILMORE QUAY	2
		ROSSLARE HARBOUR	7
		ROSSLARE STRAND	2
		TAGHMON	3
	WEXFORD	WEXFORD	95
		Total	114
TOTAL	24 STATIONS		281

Wexford Garda Division 31 December 2011

Division	District	Station	Total
WEXFORD DIVISION		BLACKWATER	3
		CLONROCHE	2
		ENNISCORTHY	40
		FERNS	3
		KILTEALY	1
		OULART	1
	ENNISCORTHY	OYLEGATE	2
		Total	52
		BUNCLODY	8
		COURTOWN HARBOUR	4
	GOREY	GOREY	50
		Total	62
		BALLYCULLANE	2
		CAMPILE	1
		CARRICKBYRNE	2
		CARRICK-ON-BANNOW	1
		DUNCANNON	4
	NEW ROSS	NEW ROSS	40
		Total	50
	WEXFORD	BALDWINSTOWN	1
		CASTLEBRIDGE	2
		GLYNN	1
		KILMORE QUAY	2
		ROSSLARE HARBOUR	6
		ROSSLARE STRAND	2
		TAGHMON	3
		WEXFORD	92
		Total	109
TOTAL	24 STATIONS		273

Wexford Garda Division 31 December 2012

Division	District	Station	Total
WEXFORD DIVISION		BLACKWATER	2
		CLONROCHE	2
		ENNISCORTHY	39
		FERNS	2
		OULART	1
	ENNISCORTHY	OYLEGATE	1
		Total	47
		BUNCLODY	8
		COURTOWN HARBOUR	3
	GOREY	GOREY	47
		Total	58
		BALLYCULLANE	2
		CARRICKBYRNE	2
		CARRICK-ON-BANNOW	1
		DUNCANNON	4
	NEW ROSS	NEW ROSS	40
		Total	49
		CASTLEBRIDGE	3
		KILMORE QUAY	4
		ROSSLARE HARBOUR	6
		ROSSLARE STRAND	2
		TAGHMON	3
	WEXFORD	WEXFORD	88
		TOTAL	106
TOTAL	20 STATIONS		260

Wexford Garda Division 31 December 2013

Division	District	Station	Total
WEXFORD DIVISION		BLACKWATER	2
		BUNCLODY	8
		CLONROCHE	1
		COURTOWN HARBOUR	4
		ENNISCORTHY	36
		FERNS	2
		GOREY	45
		OULART	1
	ENNISCORTHY	OYLEGATE	1
		Total	100
		BALLYCULLANE	2
		CARRICKBYRNE	2
		CARRICK-ON-BANNOW	1
		DUNCANNON	4
	NEW ROSS	NEW ROSS	41
		Total	50
		CASTLEBRIDGE	3
		KILMORE QUAY	4
		ROSSLARE HARBOUR	6
		ROSSLARE STRAND	2
		TAGHMON	3
	WEXFORD	WEXFORD	85
		Total	102
TOTAL	20 STATIONS		252

Wexford Garda Division 31 December 2014

Division	District	Station	Total
WEXFORD DIVISION		BLACKWATER	2
		BUNCLODY	9
		CLONROCHE	1
		COURTOWN HARBOUR	4
		ENNISCORTHY	36
		FERNS	2
		GOREY	42
		OULART	2
	ENNISCORTHY	OYLEGATE	1
		Total	99
		BALLYCULLANE	2
		CARRICKBYRNE	2
		CARRICK-ON-BANNOW	1
		DUNCANNON	4
	NEW ROSS	NEW ROSS	42
		Total	51
		CASTLEBRIDGE	3
		KILMORE QUAY	3
		ROSSLARE HARBOUR	7
		ROSSLARE STRAND	1
		TAGHMON	3
	WEXFORD	WEXFORD	84
		Total	101
TOTAL	20 STATIONS		251

Wexford Garda Division 31 December 2015

Division	District	Station	Total
WEXFORD DIVISION		BLACKWATER	2
		BUNCLODY	7
		CLONROCHE	2
		COURTOWN HARBOUR	4
		ENNISCORTHY	40
		FERNS	2
		GOREY	43
		OULART	2
	ENNISCORTHY	OYLEGATE	1
		Total	103
		BALLYCULLANE	1
		CARRICKBYRNE	1
		CARRICK-ON-BANNOW	1
		DUNCANNON	3
	NEW ROSS	NEW ROSS	42
		Total	48
		CASTLEBRIDGE	2
		KILMORE QUAY	2
		ROSSLARE HARBOUR	7
		ROSSLARE STRAND	1
		TAGHMON	3
	WEXFORD	WEXFORD	89
		Total	104
TOTAL	20 STATIONS		255

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Questions (282)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

282. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the locations identified by her Department to house the 4,000 refugees Ireland has committed to; the progress in establishing a network of Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres; when the examination of the State's property portfolio to assess their suitability for use as centres will be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2935/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was approved by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 in response to the migration crisis which has developed in Southern Europe, and as an act of solidarity with other Member States. Under this decision, the Government confirmed that Ireland will take in up to 4,000 persons over the next two years in order to give to give effect to the EU legal instruments it has opted into, with approval of the Oireachtas, in respect of relocation and the solemn commitments Ireland has also entered into in respect of resettlement refugees.

Among the measures agreed under the Programme was the establishment of a Network of Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) which would be used to provide initial accommodation in order to meet the basic needs of asylum seekers relocated from hotspots in Italy and Greece while their applications for refugee status are processed. Under the provisions of the EU relocation programme, persons considered for relocation who will be accommodated in EROCs upon arrival, must be from countries with a recognition rate for asylum of at least 75%. Accordingly, the expectation is that a large proportion of relocated persons will qualify for refugee status within a relatively short space of time after which they can seek housing in the wider community.

In addition, the Government has committed under the Programme to take in additional resettlement refugees who must also be temporally accommodated in EROCs for the purposes of reception, orientation and integration training, prior to being resettled in communities across Ireland. In this specific regard two EROCs were opened in the past year, one in County Kildare and one in Co. Waterford.

Officials in my Department, responsible for implementing the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), were tasked with the sourcing of further suitable accommodation and orientation services for the proposed network of EROCs. This involves an assessment of information regarding available State properties provided by the Office of Public Works and a request for expressions of interest from commercial accommodation providers. The commercial expressions of interest are being evaluated alongside the information provided by OPW in respect of State properties. As these processes remain ongoing it would not be appropriate, for reasons of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, for me to comment further on the possible locations of such properties .

As for the longer term housing requirements of people coming into the State under the IRPP, a sub-group of the cross-departmental Taskforce established by the Government to oversee the implementation of the Programme is in the process of developing a housing strategy for those leaving their temporary EROC accommodation to be resettled in communities across Ireland. The process of developing this longer term housing strategy will also take into consideration the many pledges of accommodation received from members of the public in response to the migration crisis. These pledges are currently being assessed on behalf of the Government by the Irish Red Cross. This issue where persons arriving into Ireland under the relevant programmes will be ultimately be housed remains a work in progress and no overall decisions have yet been taken in this regard.

Community Policing

Questions (283)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

283. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to return community Garda Síochána levels to pre-cut levels; and if community policing is vital for community relations, and in certain cases a more approachable Garda Síochána service. [3002/16]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As 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 continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the overall number of personnel available to An Garda Síochána at the end of December 2015 was close to 16,000 comprising 12,817 Gardaí, 953 Garda Reserve members and over 2,000 civilians. I am further informed that the number of Community Garda on 31 December 2015, was 807.

This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 296 of the new Garda recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.

It is, of course, the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as, and when, the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána, a point highlighted by the Garda Inspectorate in their third report entitled "Policing in Ireland-Looking Forward" in which they stated that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that there is a strong foundation for it in Ireland.

An Garda Síochána now operates a new model of Community Policing which aims to build upon and enhance progress made so far. I fully support this renewed emphasis on Community Policing particularly in light of the priority given to this in the Programme for Government. The model is about renewing, reinvigorating and restructuring the community policing function within An Garda Síochána to deliver a consistent national structure to the community policing function, a more co-ordinated and efficient Garda service to the community and a spread of good practice and quality of service in community policing on a national basis.

The Report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate "Changing Policing in Ireland - Delivering a visible, accessible and responsive service" which I published on 9 December recommends that An Garda Síochána reviews the activities of the Community Relations Unit to focus the unit on the key priorities of creating safer communities and improving customer service. It also recommends that An Garda Síochána reviews the approach to community policing and community engagement in urban and rural divisions and in particular, the deployment and tasking of resources to enforcement, prevention and community engagement. In order to progress consideration of the report I have put in place a process to seek the views of the Garda Commissioner and other bodies to whom recommendations are directed. I have requested them to respond within a reasonably short period of time, having regard to the size and scope of the report. I expect that this consultation process will be completed in March. The outcome will then inform the preparation of implementation proposals for consideration by Government.