Written Answers Nos. 40 - 59
40. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to address concerns that the school transport programme is not being run on an efficient basis, especially with regard to route selection criteria and the criteria for providing a service to students wishing to avail of the programme on a concessionary basis. [18280/16]
View answerThe purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
School Transport is a very significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the region of 113,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles each school day. The overall costs of the scheme have reduced by some 7% since 2008 as a result of policy changes and other efficiencies. One of the main objectives of the Scheme is to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible children have a reasonable level of service while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner. One of the impacts of the policy changes introduced in recent years is that there has been a reduction in the number of eligible pupils availing of school transport places and a growth in the number of pupils who avail of places on a concessionary basis.
Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
In general, children are eligible for school transport if they meet the requisite distance criterion and are attending their nearest school having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of school transport on a concessionary basis only; the demand for transport on a concessionary basis is mainly from families whose children who are not attending their nearest school.
Transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and on payment of the annual charge.
The Programme for Government commits to review the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme prior to Budget 2017.
This review, which is being commenced, will be aimed at identifying issues in relation to current rules and charges relating to concessionary places under the School Transport Scheme with a view to maximising the effectiveness of available services for children.
The results of the review will be considered in the context of Budget 2017.
Pending this review, there will be no planned programme of downsizing school buses in the coming school year. There will be route changes and variations in line with normal operational decisions that occur from year to year, and any impacts in terms of increases or decreases of available places will be marginal, in line with what occurs every year.
41. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will end the position where newer teachers are on inferior pay rates and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18283/16]
View answerThe Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the Commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the Public Service, particularly so in important professional areas like education.
The restrictions in entry pay levels were introduced in 2011 and 2012 across the public service at a time when the pressure in public finances was severe and the scope for new recruitment was very restricted.
Under the Lansdowne Road Agreement the process of restoring public service pay is commencing. An important feature of this is the flat rate increase which is being implemented. This is proportionately more valuable to those early in their careers. Restoration of the supervision and substitution payment is provided for subject to co-operation with the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The Lansdowne Road Agreement did not address the issue of pay of new entrants.
My Department continues to seek to engage with teacher unions on issues of mutual concern and has recently reached agreement with INTO and TUI in respect of:
- discussions to improve the position of teachers on fixed-term and part-time teaching
- a robust review of in-school management structures
- an increase in the quantum of the extra Croke Park hours which do not have to be worked on a "whole school" basis.
The Government has also indicated that it will support the gradual negotiated unwinding of FEMPI measures having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
42. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Department of Health or any agencies acting for that Department informed his Department of their intention to remove supports to a school (details supplied) and if they have advised parents to seek this funding from his Department. [17911/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) makes allocations for Teachers and Special Needs Assistants to special schools each year. In doing so, they take into account the number of pupils enrolled to the school and the care needs of the pupils attending the school, in accordance with my Departments allocation criteria.
The number of special school teaching posts which will be allocated to St Augustine's Special School by the NCSE for the coming 2016/17 school year will be 22 teachers and 1 Administrative Principal.
The number of Special Needs Assistant posts (SNAs) which will be allocated to the school for coming 2016/17 school year will be 28 SNAs.
This is the same number of teaching and SNA posts which were allocated to the school during the current 2015/16 school year.
There has therefore been no reduction to the number of SNA or special school teaching posts being allocated to the school by the NCSE.
I understand that the staffing and service adjustments referred to in this question relate to the provision of Residential and Vocational Services which are provided to the school by St John Of God's Community Services, and the proposed reconfiguration of these services.
I also understand that a meeting recently took place between Health Service Executive (HSE) officials and the management team of St John of God's Services, on 20th June, 2016, regarding this matter. Following this meeting, it was agreed that the status quo provision will remain in place until such time as the proposals are fully considered and discussed between all relevant stakeholders.
This means that all services currently provided by St John of God's Community Services at St Augustine's school will continue without change until such a time as these proposals are worked through.
Officials from my Department have recently been in contact with their colleagues at the Department of Health regarding this matter, however, I can advise that my Department was not informed in advance of the intention by St John of God's Community Services to reconfigure their services at the school, and was not asked to provide additional funding to supplement any service reorganisation.
My Department will continue to work with other service providers such as the HSE and St John of God's Community Services, as necessary, in order to resolve any outstanding issues.
43. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the Teachers Union of Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland on the issue of post-2011 entrants to teaching having a different pay rate to pre-2011 entrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18267/16]
View answerThe Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the Commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and would require broad consultation, including engagement with staff representatives as was committed to in the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The teacher unions have made it clear to my Department that this is an issue of major concern to them. I am making arrangements to meet them as part of consultations with key stakeholders in the education and training sector on a range of issues.
44. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to consider developing and issuing a circular to primary schools in order to incorporate weekly discussions on the issue of mental health and well-being in the classroom; to encourage the roll-out of basic awareness strategies such as story-telling and question and answer sessions, to promote a positive sense of health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18217/16]
View answerMy Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in both primary and post-primary schools as part of an overall healthy lifestyle for our young people. The Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with a broad range of problems, behavioural, emotional and social.
My Department issued a circular to all primary schools in February this year promoting and encouraging Healthy Lifestyles for their pupils. Schools and the wider education sector have a vital role to play in contributing to the Government's 'Healthy Ireland' agenda that is being led by the Department of Health and is supported by my Department. It is acknowledged that positive mental and psychological wellbeing are a key aspect of healthy lifestyles. Schools are contributing to the overall physical, mental health and wellbeing of our young people but this must be done in collaboration with their families and their community.
Creating a healthy lifestyle spans the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, pupil support, pastoral care and the provision of professional development for teachers. It also involves other supports such as educational psychological services and the interface with other agencies, both nationally and locally. Schools support these areas also through their implementation of their anti-bullying, substance misuse, attendance policies and through the delivery of the SPHE curriculum.
It is also important that work in this area commences when pupils are at an early age. To this end, Wellbeing Guidelines for Primary Schools were published by my Department in January 2015. These guidelines were developed, along with guidelines for post-primary schools, following a process of wide consultation, by a working group with representation from the Teacher Education Section/Inspectorate, SPHE Support Service, National Psychological Service (NEPS), Department of Health and the Health Service Executive/National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).
The guidelines provide practical guidance to schools on how they can promote positive mental health and well-being in an integrated school-wide way. They also provide evidence-based advice on how to support young people who may be at risk of suicidal behaviour.
The Guidelines are for all members of the school community, boards of management and in-school management teams who play a central leadership role in positive mental health promotion. They are also useful for parents' associations, student councils, health and other personnel who are seeking an understanding of how to work in and with schools.
Specific attention is drawn within the Guidelines to the identification of pupils with mental health difficulties, the support process and referral pathways available to schools to provide for their needs and where the difficulties result in absences from school support mechanisms are suggested to ease the pupils re-integration.
My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE, provides support to schools to implement this agenda. At Primary school level the HSE's Health Promotion Officers and my Department's NEPS service respectively support school staff delivery of programmes such as Zippy's Friends and the Friends for Life which promote children's resilience and coping skills which enable them better to manage anxiety.
45. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the situation whereby persons over 70 years of age cannot transport children to and from school, but the same person can carry the same children outside of school hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18265/16]
View answerThe Deputy is aware that Bus Éireann has advised my Department that in response to the expressed wishes of many school bus drivers - both Bus Éireann and private contractor school bus drivers - who wanted to remain in the position upon reaching retirement age at sixty-five years, and following the advice of their Medical Department, the Company decided to alter the compulsory retirement age for school bus drivers who provide services under the School Transport Scheme to enable experienced personnel to remain on in the position for a maximum of five more years if desired.
School bus drivers who opt to remain on after sixty-five years of age may do so up to the age of seventy, if they are satisfied to do so, subject to annual medical review and once they continue to hold the requisite driving licence. Bus Éireann has further advised that the opinion of the Bus Éireann Chief Medical Officer is that, given the demanding and safety critical nature of School Bus driving, 70 years of age is deemed a reasonable age at which to retire from such employment.
In light of the foregoing I have no plans to review the situation.
46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his proposals to meet the special needs school place requirements at primary and secondary level and if he plans to ensure the availability of the relevant number of teachers and special needs assistants in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18260/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that funding for special education provision in 2016 will amount to some €1.5 billion, which is equivalent to over 17% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training. It has increased by 10% in the past two years.
The investment which is being made to support children with special educational needs is an area of spending which has been prioritised above most other areas by this Government.
The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.
Children, therefore, have a number of placement options including mainstream placement with support, placement in a special class in a mainstream school or placement in a special class in a special school.
We now have the highest level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, Resource Teaching allocations and Special Class provision that we have ever had, which will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
I recently announced that from September next 12,900 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) will be available for allocation to primary and secondary schools, which is 860 more posts, or a 7% increase, in the number of posts over which were available last year. In total the number of SNA posts available has increased by almost 22% from 10,575 posts available in 2011.
There are currently over 11,800 learning support and Resource Teacher posts in mainstream primary and post primary schools providing additional teaching support to pupils with special educational needs.
In May of this year the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocated 7,015 Resource Teaching posts to mainstream schools for September 2016, which is an increase of approximately 9% over the number allocated at September 2015.
In total, 7,452 resource teacher posts will be available for allocation to schools for 2016/17, which represents an increase of 41% from 5,265 posts available in 2011.
In addition, approximately 150 new Special Classes will be opened for the 2016/17 school year, which means there will be over 1,150 special classes in place, compared to 548 special classes in 2011.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) will continue to engage with schools in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.
125 special schools also provide specialist education for those pupils who need it.
The provision which is being made ensures that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
As funding for the provision of special educational needs supports for future years will be considered annually, as part of the annual estimates process, I am not in a position to set out details of the anticipated provision for children with special educational needs for the future five year period. However, I can confirm that this Government will continue to ensure that the supports required to ensure that all children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education will be provided.
47. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills to review the situation whereby a school that applies for hours under the special needs assistant scheme is not informed until August of that year, which happened in 2015, leaving schools and families unaware of the situation until the children are due to return to school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18279/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
The Deputy will be aware that last week I announced that 860 additional SNAs will be available for allocation to schools from September 2016.
12,900 SNA posts will now be available. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify for SNA support can continue to receive access to such support.
In total, the number of SNAs available has increased by almost 22% since 2011, at which point 10,575 posts were available.
The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to schools is set out in my Departments Circular, DES 30/2014, which states that a key feature of the NCSE allocation process is to provide an annual allocation of SNA support to eligible schools.
The NCSE issues notification to schools each year requesting they submit applications for SNA support to the NCSE for the coming school year. Having considered all of the applications received, the NCSE advises schools of their SNA allocation quantum for the coming school year, taking into account the number of valid applications received and the assessed care needs of the children concerned.
This year, the NCSE asked all schools to submit applications for SNA support by 29th February, 2016.
The NCSE advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year, on 14th June, 2016, based on the number of valid applications received.
The provision of allocations in June ensures that schools have sufficient time to plan for the provision of supports in advance of September 2016. It also gives schools certainty as to the resources which will be available to them for the coming school year.
Whereas the NCSE will continue to consider applications throughout the school year, in cases where schools have enrolled new pupils with care needs, where new assessments are received, or in cases of emergencies, the main allocation of SNA support is now made to schools on an annual allocation basis and most schools will by now have received their SNA allocations for September 2016.
Details of the allocations for SNA support made to schools is available at www.ncse.ie.
48. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the regulations in place with regard to closed circuit television cameras on private property that border property in public places, that is, private houses in a housing estate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18114/16]
View answerThe general position is that the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 apply to personal images recorded by means of video cameras unless the recording activity relates to an individual's own personal, family or recreational activities. The recording of images in public places is, therefore, generally covered by data protection legislation. Useful material on this issue is available on the website of the Data Protection Commissioner, including information on the statutory obligations placed on those who use such systems to collect personal data and the rights of, and redress mechanisms available to, those whose personal data are processed by such means (www.dataprotection.ie).
49. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to commence all sections of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18395/16]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been commenced. It was indicated during the debates on the Bill in the Oireachtas that commencement of the Act is planned for the latter half of 2016 and this remains the position.
Deputies will appreciate that careful planning and groundwork, and not just funding, has to be put in to ensure that the commencement of the Act is correctly, appropriately and effectively handled. My officials are working carefully on this at present in consultation with the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission.
A Steering Group on the Implementation of the Decision Support Service is now in place to oversee the establishment and commissioning of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission, including overseeing the recruitment of the Director of the Service and matters relating to the resourcing of the Service. The Steering Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission and a key early deliverable for this group will be the transfer of personnel to the Mental Health Commission to further the startup project.
The commencement of Part 8 of the Act, which provides a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives, is a matter for the Minister for Health.
50. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to review the minimum statutory retirement age for those persons willing and able to continue working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17919/16]
View answerIn my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have responsibility for equality legislation, which provides for retirement ages in line with the relevant EU Directive provision that differences of treatment on the grounds of age are permissible if, within the context of national law, they are objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim including legitimate employment policy, labour market and vocational training objectives, and if the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary. The equality legislation also provides for the provision of fixed term contracts following contractual retirement age if, within the context of national law, the provision of such contracts is duly objectively and reasonably justified.
I have no ministerial responsibility for retirement age issues generally either in the public sector (where mandatory retirement ages are a feature of public sector employment law) or the private sector (where there is no statutory retirement age). The Deputy will be interested to know that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is leading a cross-Departmental working group on Fuller Working Lives which is examining the full range of working life and retirement issues and which is expected to report shortly.
51. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incident calls to Tallaght and Rathfarnam Garda stations received between 1 January and 31 May 2016, by month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17955/16]
View answerI am advised by the Garda authorities that the Communications Centre in the Dublin Metropolitan Region is responsible for the management of all emergency calls received to the emergency line-999 within that Region. The number of incidents recorded in the Communications Centre for the Tallaght and Rathfarnham areas between 1 January 2016 and 31 May 2016 is as follows:
Tallaght and Rathfarnham Incident Calls January - May 2016
|
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
|
1,500 |
1,452 |
1,630 |
1,443 |
1,594 |
Local Garda management closely monitors the allocation of all resources, including mobile units, in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level, to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. Every effort is made to ensure that all calls received are attended to in a timely manner and this is an aspect that is kept under review.
52. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the relocation of the court services to Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17956/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that the District Court in Tallaght court currently sits 4 days per week. Charge sheets and summonses are dealt with on 3.5 days per week with a Juvenile court sitting 0.5 days per week. The Courts Service has advised that there are no plans to change the business profile of the court services currently provided at Tallaght courthouse.
53. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) will be consulted in the drafting of the terms of the reference of the statutory inquiry into a case; if she has begun drafting these terms of terms of reference and when she will finalise them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17970/16]
View answerThe Deputy refers to a case which has been the subject of a review carried out under the Independent Review Mechanism set up by the Government to consider complaints of Garda misconduct received by the Taoiseach and myself.
In the case referred to in the Deputy's question, counsel recommended a non-statutory inquiry. I accepted this recommendation and informed the complainant of my decision. Subsequently, in consultation with the Attorney General on this and the other cases where an inquiry was recommended, I decided that a statutory inquiry under section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act would be a more effective instrument for such an inquiry. This fact was communicated to the person concerned on 18 May, 2016.
I am currently consulting with the Attorney General about the terms of reference for the inquiry and I will be in further contact with the person referred to in due course.
54. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide details of all costs associated with the Garda Síochána investigation into a person (details supplied) including the number of gardaí and overtime involved in the investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17976/16]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a direct role in relation to the management of particular Garda investigations. To be of assistance I have asked the Garda authorities for a report on the matters referred to and I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.
55. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken to ensure the public service is implementing a proactive approach to employing persons with disabilities in line with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18000/16]
View answerImplementation of Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 is monitored on an ongoing basis by the National Disability Authority. The Authority reports each year on progress made towards the current statutory 3% target for employment in the public sector. The most recent report published in 2015 shows that at the end of 2014, 3.5% of staff employed in public sector bodies are people with disabilities. This is an increase from 3.4% in 2013 and is the fourth successive year of exceeding the 3% target.
These provisions are being strengthened in the context of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. The Strategy was launched on 2 October 2015, and sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to, work are supported and enabled to do so. It is a cross-government approach that brings together actions by different Departments and State agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities. In tandem with that, it seeks to ensure there will be joined-up services and supports at local level to support individuals on their journey into and in employment.
The Strategy's six strategic priorities are to:
- Build skills, capacity and independence;
- Provide bridges and supports into work;
- Make work pay;
- Promote job retention and re-entry to work;
- Provide coordinated and seamless support;
- Engage employers.
The Strategy contains commitments in relation to:
- An increase in the public service employment target of people with disabilities on a phased basis from 3% to 6%;
- Special public service competitions for people with disabilities and the opening up of alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities;
- The provision of an NDA-assisted employer helpline to provide expert guidance and peer support to employers in relation to the employment of staff with disabilities.
The implementation of the Strategy will be subject to regular monitoring, and there will be a review and renewal every three years. The Strategy Implementation Group will publish its first Annual Report before end-2016.
56. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the numbers of unaccompanied children relocated here; her deliberations with European Union colleagues on this matter; and her plans to allow those children access to claim asylum here. [18022/16]
View answerThe Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. In announcing the Programme, the Government recognised the importance of addressing the position of unaccompanied children. However, as indicated in previous responses to parliamentary questions, the pace of the relocation programme in Ireland and across the European Union has been hampered by significant operational delays and technical issues due to the sheer numbers involved and other logistical difficulties that have arisen at the 'hotspot' locations in Italy and Greece.
A team of officials from my Department, including the Director of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, travelled to Greece earlier this month to meet with Irish embassy officials and relevant Greek authorities both to signal Ireland's tangible willingness to assist and to identify ways of addressing the obstacles that have arisen. The outcome of that visit has been very positive and the Greek authorities have now confirmed that, within the coming months, they will be able to increase significantly the overall numbers available to Ireland.
Yesterday, I chaired a meeting of the high level Task Force established to oversee the implementation of the IRPP during which an approach to taking unaccompanied minors (most likely from Greece) was discussed. Further consideration of this will now be given by the relevant agencies and Departments, including Tusla, the Child and Family Agency under the auspices of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and officials from my own Department.
I continue to work proactively with my colleagues in Europe to ensure that Ireland and the European Union responds comprehensively to all aspects of the ongoing migration and refugee crisis. The next Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting is taking place on 7th and 8th July where further discussion on the implementation of agreed measures will take place.
57. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Síochána foot patrols in Rush, County Dublin, since January 2016 by month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18056/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including both sworn and civilian personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assignments throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed and are determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division and Unit. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.
I am advised that the specific information requested regarding the number of foot patrols in Rush is not readily available and would necessitate a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to collate.
I have been informed by the Commissioner that the area in question is patrolled by Garda members who are assigned to the Balbriggan Garda District and that as of the 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 89 members attached to the Balbriggan District.
I am further informed that additional patrols under Operation ‘Hybrid’ are also operating in this area. During the summer months as part of Operation Irene additional mobile and mountain-bike patrols are deployed by local Garda Management focused in the area referred to, its environs and surrounding amenities.
58. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality why a person (details supplied) who has a religious volunteer visa was refused permission to stay here having completed the three years, despite such a visa allowing for an extension of 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18153/16]
View answerI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy was granted permission on 9 July 2011 to allow them to work as a Volunteer in the State. Under the Immigration Arrangements for Lay Volunteers, where permission was granted on or after 1 January 2011, such permission is granted for 12 months at a time for a maximum period of 3 years. This person will have completed their 3 years on 30 August 2016 when their permission is due to expire. Volunteers are deemed to be any person who is undertaking voluntary work, which may or may not involve a payment, for an organisation such as a charity, religious institution/order/church or other voluntary organisation.
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 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 Parliamentary Question 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.
59. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the Amnesty International report, Norway: The Human Cost of Crushing the Market: Criminalization of Sex Work in Norway; if its conclusions have implications for Part 4 of the Sexual Offences Bill 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18213/16]
View answerThe Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, which completed all stages in the Seanad in January 2016, provides for two new offences of purchasing sexual services, in the context of prostitution. The purpose of these offences is to target the demand for prostitution. The first is a general offence of paying to engage in sexual activity with a prostitute which carries a penalty of a fine of up to €500 for a first offence and fines of up to €1000 for a second or subsequent offence. The second is the more serious offence of paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person, in the context of prostitution, and carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine. In both cases, the person selling the sexual service will not commit an offence.
These proposals have been developed following extensive consultation, initiated by my Department, dating back to 2012. The new offences also implement the recommendation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence which called for the introduction of an offence criminalising the purchase of sexual services. The purpose of introducing these provisions is primarily to target the trafficking and sexual exploitation of persons through prostitution.
In deciding to put forward these provisions I have considered all sides of the debate, including those with positions similar to Amnesty International. I have considered the experience of those states which have introduced similar measures and those states which have addressed prostitution in a different way. I have also considered the reports and findings of various international organisations. Both the Council of Europe and the European Parliament have recognised the effectiveness of the criminalisation of the purchase of sexual services as a tool in the fight against human trafficking.
Further research will inevitably be published during the progress of the legislation and it will continue to be examined and considered. I would note that many of the findings of this latest report by Amnesty International relate to issues not directly connected with the law criminalising the purchase of sexual services, for example issues of homelessness and discrimination faced by sex workers. I am acutely conscious of the myriad of difficulties faced daily by vulnerable men and women involved in sex work and I am under no illusion that these difficulties will be solved by this legislation alone.
Therefore, in addition to criminalising the purchase of sexual services, there is a need to offer additional supports to men and women who wish to exit prostitution. Ruhama provide support to those involved in prostitution including assistance with exiting prostitution. My Department through the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit provide funding to Ruhama - €225,000 in 2015 (an increase from €172,000 in 2014). The funding is provided both for work with victims of human trafficking and for their work with women affected by prostitution.
I remain convinced that to target the exploitation associated with prostitution requires targeting those who demand those services. The most direct way of combating this form of exploitation is to send the message to those who pay for these services, and who ignore the exploitation of the women and men involved, that their behaviour is unacceptable and that their behaviour supports the exploitation of other people.
