Written Answers Nos. 55-63
55. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the strategic steps he is taking to manage the volume of mortgage to rent applications; the way he is streamlining the process for all stakeholders; the barriers he has encountered to the functioning scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/16]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme is a targeted intervention for those households in unsustainable mortgage arrears who are not in a position to meet their long-term housing needs and are therefore eligible for social housing support. The Housing Agency co-ordinates the operation of the scheme on behalf of my Department.
The scheme has performed well for the 162 families that continue to live in their homes and are now secure in the knowledge that they can afford to remain there. As at the end of May 2016, an additional 17 applications were with the lenders, who are seeking the consent of borrowers to share information, and for the carrying out of an independent valuation.
As part of the package of commitments on mortgage arrears announced by Government in May 2015, a number of amendments to the MTR scheme were made with the objective of enabling more properties to qualify for the scheme and make it more flexible and accessible to borrowers. Amendments made with effect from July 2015 include: valuation thresholds for permissible properties were increased; households in marginal positive equity were permitted as eligible; and flexibility was introduced to allow households who may be over-accommodated in their current house to be permitted. The funding available to approved housing bodies (AHBs) to purchase these units from lenders was also increased.
Arising from these changes, an increasing number of applications for MTR are now being received from lenders. This is likely due to the widening of the eligibility criteria but also is likely to arise because confidence and familiarity with the scheme is increasing on both the part of the lender and the borrower.
My Department, together with the Housing Agency, meets regularly with representatives of the main lenders in relation to the scheme and are constantly seeking to ensure its effective operation. In addition, my Department works with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), the Citizens Information Bureau and the Departments of Justice and the Social Protection to ensure that the MTR is integrated in the communications with borrowers in mortgage difficulties.
While there are, of course, continuing operational challenges for the MTR scheme, including that the scheme must be offered by a lender to a borrower, my Department is committed to keeping the scheme under ongoing review, with the objective of keeping families in their homes in so far as is possible.
56. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to increase funding for capital expenditure for house building to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13011/16]
View answerThe future capital funding provision for the delivery of social housing will be determined in the context of the 2017 Estimates process and will be informed by the forthcoming ‘Action Plan on Housing’, which I am currently preparing. The Action Plan will seek to address the challenges in the housing sector in a targeted and meaningful way. In this regard, my Department is examining ways to accelerate, and exceed where possible, the delivery of the targets under the Social Housing Strategy.
Currently in overall terms, €933 million, which is broken down between €528 million capital funding and €405 million current funding, is being made available for social housing programmes in 2016. This funding will support the targeting of 17,000 new social units through a range of delivery programmes. The capital programmes will support a combination of construction projects that are being advanced, the acquisition of units which are being actively pursued for quick delivery of social housing and returning vacant social units to productive use. This funding also provides other important improvements to existing social housing stock, through programmes such as regeneration, adaptation grants for people with a disability and the elderly, and energy efficiency upgrades to homes.
Information on the capital-funded social housing projects approved to date, to the value of almost €680 million for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions, is available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/ministers-kelly-coffey-announce-further-1000-social-housing-units.
It should be noted that funding made available from the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the long term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners, developers and approved housing bodies. Properties made available under the programme are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists. Leased properties are allocated to tenants, in accordance with the relevant local authority’s allocation scheme.
57. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the increasing income requirement for retirees living here; the further reason for the change from stamp 3 to stamp 0 for Americans retiring to Ireland; if she will make an exception for American nationals looking to retire here, acknowledging the historic and important relationship between America and Ireland; and if she will restore the status quo ante for Irish-Americans. [18588/16]
View answerAll States, including Ireland, operate immigration controls for well established reasons of public policy, including consideration of the economic impacts for the State. To this end policies regarding all non-nationals wishing to enter the State are kept under review and revised from time to time. As outlined in previous responses for Parliamentary Questions, I requested officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department to review the current policy position regarding the migration of non-EEA retirees to Ireland. That review is underway. As part of the review process there will be a public consultation which will seek the views of stakeholders in relation to the review's recommendations.
Pending that, the current policy remains in force. The criteria for persons wishing to retire in the State was reviewed in 2014 and a notice was placed on the website www.inis.gov.ie in March 2015 aimed at clarifying and standardising the terms and conditions in respect of applications from retired foreign nationals seeking to come and live in Ireland. The key financial consideration in respect of a retiree is that the person must have sufficient and sustainable resources to ensure that they will not now, nor in the future become a burden on the State. This is a fair and reasonable expectation on the part of the State and, in the case of retirees, the income level was set at €50,000 per person per annum. The applicant would also be expected to have a lump sum significant enough to cater for unforeseen circumstances, for example, health care and possible nursing home care in the future.
58. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will give consideration to applications for Irish passports made by persons whose great grandparents were born here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18669/16]
View answerThe processing of applications for passports is the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and I therefore have no function in the matter.
The entitlement to Irish citizenship however, including citizenship by descent and through naturalisation, is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. I have no plans to amend the citizenship laws in this regard. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation is available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website at www.inis.gov.ie
59. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the decrease in Garda Síochána resources in the Greystones district of County Wicklow. [18592/16]
View answer60. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if and when she will replace the Garda Síochána recruits who have left the Greystones district in County Wicklow. [18593/16]
View answer61. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider redirecting the next phase of new recruits to the Garda Síochána to the Greystones district in County Wicklow to ensure that it is properly resourced. [18594/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 to 61, inclusive, together.
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 taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. In regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division as appropriate.
I am assured by the Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of resources and the best possible policing service is provided to the general public.
Greystones Garda Station lies in the Garda District of Bray, which in turn forms part of the Garda Division of Wicklow. I have been informed by the Commissioner that the distribution of members of An Garda Síochána in the Wicklow Division on 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are to hand, was as set out in the table.
The Wicklow Division is also supported by 24 members of the Garda Reserve and 21 civilian staff. All Divisional resources are further augmented by a number of Garda national units such as the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other specialised units.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 851 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 300 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 463 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Another 76 will attest on the 7 July with 150 more to attest in November. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and that so far this year 10 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the Wicklow Garda Division.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000.
Taking account of projected retirements, the current rate of recruitment will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year. We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake this year and in coming years.
|
Wicklow Garda Division 30 April 2016 |
||
|
District |
Station |
Total |
|
BALTINGLASS |
34 |
|
|
BLESSINGTON |
21 |
|
|
CARNEW |
4 |
|
|
DUNLAVIN |
2 |
|
|
SHILLELAGH |
1 |
|
|
BALTINGLASS |
TINAHELY |
2 |
|
BALTINGLASS Total |
64 |
|
|
BRAY |
119 |
|
|
ENNISKERRY |
3 |
|
|
GREYSTONES |
26 |
|
|
BRAY |
NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY |
3 |
|
BRAY Total |
151 |
|
|
ARKLOW |
33 |
|
|
ASHFORD |
9 |
|
|
AUGHRIM |
2 |
|
|
AVOCA |
2 |
|
|
RATHDRUM |
4 |
|
|
ROUNDWOOD |
3 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
WICKLOW |
43 |
|
WICKLOW Total |
96 |
|
|
WICKLOW DIVISION TOTAL |
311 |
62. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to roll out the civilianisation of immigration control, which is already being undertaken at the Dublin Airport Terminal 1 by members of the Irish Naturalisation Immigration Service, to the other main ports of entry, including Cork Airport, given ongoing reforms of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18621/16]
View answerSince 16th June, 2015, front-line immigration controls are being undertaken in Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport on a 24/7 basis by civilian staff from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department. In October, 2015 INIS civilian staff took over the front-line immigration controls in the Transit Area of Terminal 2. A Public Appointment Service (PAS) recruitment competition for Immigration Control Officers is currently under way from which the necessary additional staff will be recruited to complete the civilianisation of front-line controls in the remainder of Terminal 2 which is expected to be completed as soon as possible.
In relation to expanding the civilianisation programme to other ports of entry, I have indicated that I am also looking at deploying civilian officers to other major ports of entry to the State where this makes sense from a cost and efficiency perspective. In circumstances where An Garda Síochána will maintain a presence at our ports to continue their crucial policing role in protecting our borders from a security and enforcement perspective, one of the requirements of further civilianisation at other ports of entry will be to achieve the right balance between Gardaí and civilian staff. In this light, the nature and volume and time distribution of passenger traffic at certain ports of entry will be a determining factor in any decision to deploy civilian immigration officers.
63. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to progress the gambling control Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18655/16]
View answerThe General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill was published in July 2013 following approval by the Government and is currently in drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The Bill, as proposed, will update all existing laws on the regulation of gambling, including betting and gaming but excluding the National Lottery. It will provide for the licensing of all forms of on-line gambling.
The Gambling Control Bill will, as set out in the General Scheme, confer responsibility for all regulatory matters on the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Minister's functions will include licensing, inspections and prosecutions, and it is envisaged that these functions will be carried out by a body located within my Department. The General Scheme also provides for a dedicated inspectorate to ensure compliance by licence holders with the terms of their licences and with the new legislation generally.
The proposed legislation will have consumer protection generally as one of its core principles, and it is envisaged that it will include several measures aimed at the protection of vulnerable persons, including children, from risks to their well-being arising from gambling. In particular, the Scheme of the Bill envisages the establishment of a Fund to promote socially responsible gambling and to assist in counteracting the ill-effects of irresponsible gambling. The purposes of the Fund may also include public education and awareness programmes, research and treatment programmes.
It would remain the intention to proceed with this legislation at the earliest feasible opportunity and, in that light, I expect that this will be given renewed consideration in the preparation of the next legislation programme. At the same time, and pending the bringing forward of the main Bill, I have also asked my Department to examine whether there are any individual pressing areas of concern, intended to be dealt with in the Bill, which could be dealt with sooner by separate legislative measures.
