Written Answers Nos. 104-116
104. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the detail of the allocation of the new 145 gardaí, following the Garda passing out parade held on 17 November 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37177/16]
View answerThis 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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.
Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. This is an ambitious target and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I am pleased to say that the recruitment campaign launched by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner last September, the second campaign this year, again received a strong response. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College, 679 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties and are on the ground in communities nationwide.
In so far as the allocation of newly attested Gardaí is concerned, this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of resources. However, it is important to keep in mind that newly attested Gardaí have a further 16 months of practical and class-room based training to complete in order to receive their BA in Applied Policing. To ensure that they are properly supported and supervised and have opportunities to gain the breadth of policing experience required, the Commissioner's policy is to allocate them to specially designated training stations which have the required training and development structures and resources in place, including trained Garda tutors and access to a permanently appointed supervisory Sergeant who is thoroughly familiar with their responsibilities under the training programme. The importance of appropriate support and supervision was highlighted in the O’Higgins Report.
For the Deputy's information the following table sets out the details provided by the Commissioner of the assignment by Division of the 145 probationer Garda who attested on 17 November 2016.
Assignment of Probation Garda who attested on 17 November 2016
|
DIVISION |
DISTRICT HQ |
TOTAL |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
DÚN LAOGHAIRE |
14 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
BALLYMUN |
13 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
STORE STREET |
17 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
CRUMLIN |
14 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
PEARSE STREET |
19 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
BLANCHARDSTOWN |
13 |
|
KILDARE |
NAAS |
10 |
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
PORTLAOISE |
5 |
|
MEATH |
NAVAN |
4 |
|
WESTMEATH |
MULLINGAR |
0 |
|
WICKLOW |
BRAY |
0 |
|
CAVAN / MONAGHAN |
MONAGHAN |
2 |
|
DONEGAL |
LETTERKENNY |
0 |
|
LOUTH |
DROGHEDA |
3 |
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
SLIGO |
5 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
KILKENNY |
0 |
|
TIPPERARY |
THURLES |
5 |
|
WATERFORD |
WATERFORD |
0 |
|
WEXFORD |
WEXFORD |
0 |
|
CORK CITY |
ANGLESEA ST |
0 |
|
CORK NORTH |
FERMOY |
5 |
|
CORK WEST |
BANDON |
0 |
|
KERRY |
TRALEE |
0 |
|
LIMERICK |
HENRY STREET |
11 |
|
CLARE |
ENNIS |
0 |
|
GALWAY |
GALWAY |
5 |
|
MAYO |
CASTLEBAR |
0 |
|
ROSCOMMON/LONGFORD |
ROSCOMMON |
0 |
|
TOTAL: |
145 |
105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if traffic offences are taken into consideration for job applications requiring Garda vetting with local authority leisure centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37180/16]
View answerEmployment vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána through the Garda Vetting Bureau in accordance with, inter alia, the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 which sets out the procedures for vetting disclosures. Section 14A of the Act makes provisions in respect of circumstances in which certain convictions are not required to be disclosed, including arrangements in respect of offences under the Road Traffic Acts.
106. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the introduction of electronic tagging for criminal offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37196/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government undertakes to introduce and fast-track legislation providing for stricter bail terms for repeat serious offenders which includes the introduction of electronic tagging. In line with these commitments, the new Bail (Amendment) Bill, which will be published in the coming weeks, will contain streamlined provisions for the electronic monitoring of persons on bail to facilitate the focused and targeted use of monitoring in appropriate cases. The Bill will provide that electronic monitoring may be imposed as a bail condition if the prosecution applies to the court for such a condition.
Provision for the electronic monitoring of certain sex offenders post their release from custody, which will involve the Probation Service, has been approved by Government. These provisions will be included in the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill which is currently being drafted.
107. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date and her plans for 2017 in recruiting civilian personnel to replace fully trained gardaí who are assigned to office-only duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37209/16]
View answerThis 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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.
The target of 4,000 civilians will effectively double the number of civilians undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána at present and represents a medium term target of 20% civilians by 2021. This will bring An Garda Síochána, currently with 14% civilians, more into line with international norms and ensure that trained Gardaí are not engaging in administrative and technical duties which could be done by suitably qualified civilian staff. The Garda Inspectorate, in its 2015 report "Changing Policing in Ireland", has estimated that there may be up to 1,500 Gardaí currently in such posts and the Government’s plan aims to return as many of these Gardaí as possible to front-line duties over the next five years. With this in mind, the Garda Commissioner, in conjunction with the Policing Authority, has been requested to identify posts suitable for redeployment by the end of the year and to prepare a 5 year plan for reaching the 20% medium term target.
The recruitment and appointment of up to 500 civilians provided for in Budget 2017 will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in addressing capacity and critical skills gaps across the organisation including in corporate supports, change management, human resources and financial management at the national, regional and Divisional level. These appointments will make an important contribution to the delivery of the ambitious reform agenda set out in the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 and will facilitate deeper civilianisation in the coming years.
In addition, and again flowing from the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate, the Commissioner has commenced the roll-out on a pilot basis of a Divisional model of policing to replace the current District model. The benefit of the Divisional model is that responsibilities will be allocated on a functional rather than geographical basis which will facilitate greater flexibility in the deployment of resources in response to policing needs. It also will have the benefit of reducing duplicate administrative tasks currently done at both the District and Divisional level. In this regard the Commissioner has estimated that 10 Gardaí will be freed up for front-line duties in each Division once the model is fully rolled out. The roll-out will be done on a phased basis and in such a manner as to ensure that the close relationship between Gardaí and local communities is maintained.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that under section 19 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the appointment of civilian staff of grades equivalent to, or above, that of chief superintendent are made by the Policing Authority while the appointment of civilian staff equivalent to, or below, that of superintendent are made by the Garda Commissioner. Arranging for the recruitment of civilian staff is a matter for the Commissioner in accordance with section 26 of the 2005 Act as amended.
108. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding that has been provided to County Louth over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37226/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.
|
Year |
Project Name |
Location |
Funding Amount (€) |
|
2014 |
North East Domestic Violence Perpetrator Intervention Programme |
North East (Louth Meath) |
22,682 |
|
2014 |
Local Awareness Raising Activities |
Drogheda Women's Refuge |
1,000 |
|
2014 |
Local Awareness Raising Activities |
Rape Crisis North East |
4,000 |
|
2014 |
Counselling to Victims of Crime |
Dundalk Counselling Service |
19,000 |
|
2014 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Drogheda Women's Refuge |
9,500 |
|
2014 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Women's Aid Dundalk |
14,000 |
|
2014 |
Boyne |
Drogheda |
104,751 |
|
2014 |
Cable |
Drogheda |
66,734 |
|
2014 |
High Voltage / Cox’s Demesne (YPP) |
Dundalk |
215,000 |
|
2014 |
Team |
Dundalk |
148,500 |
|
2015 |
North East Domestic Violence Perpetrator Intervention Programme |
North East (Louth Meath) |
20,500 |
|
2015 |
Local Awareness Raising Activities |
Rape Crisis North East |
4,000 |
|
2015 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Drogheda Women's Refuge |
9,500 |
|
2015 |
Counselling for Victims of Crime |
Dundalk Counselling Service |
19,000 |
|
2015 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Women's Aid Dundalk |
14,000 |
|
2015 |
Support for patient victims of crime |
Drogheda |
10,000 |
|
2015 |
Boyne |
Drogheda |
105,234 |
|
2015 |
Cable |
Drogheda |
61,404 |
|
2015 |
High Voltage / Cox’s Demesne (YPP) |
Dundalk |
257,000 |
|
2015 |
Team |
Dundalk |
148,500 |
|
2016 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Women's Aid Dundalk |
16,500 |
|
2016 |
Support for patient victims of crime |
Drogheda |
10,500 |
|
2016 |
Boyne |
Drogheda |
105,234 |
|
2016 |
Cable |
Drogheda |
66,734 |
|
2016 |
High Voltage / Cox’s Demesne (YPP) |
Dundalk |
257,000 |
|
2016 |
Team |
Dundalk |
148,500 |
|
2016 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Drogheda Women's Refuge |
10,000 |
|
2016 |
Counselling for Victims of Crime |
Dundalk Counselling Service |
20,000 |
|
2016 |
North East Domestic Violence Perpetrator Intervention Programme |
North East (Louth Meath) |
24,000 |
|
2015 |
Calipo Theatre Company |
Drogheda |
25,003 |
|
2014 |
Calipo Theatre Company |
Drogheda |
51,300 |
109. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the applications submitted for funding projects by Louth County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, in tabular form; and if the applications were successful. [37242/16]
View answerMy Department has not received any applications for funding from Louth County Council in the years referred to by the Deputy.
110. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding for projects in 2017 in County Louth to be funded by her Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37258/16]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my Department has not yet finalised any funding for projects in County Louth for 2017.
111. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding that has been provided to County Meath over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form. [37274/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.
|
Year |
Project Name |
Location |
Funding Amount (€) |
|
2014 |
Amen - Awareness Raising Activities |
Co Meath |
15,000 |
|
2014 |
Amen- Court accompaniment to male victims of crime |
Navan |
10,000 |
|
2014 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Meath Women's Refuge |
26,000 |
|
2014 |
Meath Traveller Interagency Group |
Meath |
2,000 |
|
2014 |
Meath Travellers Workshop - Traveller Pride Week |
Meath |
2,000 |
|
2014 |
Jobmatters Employability Services Meath - Special Initiative for Travellers |
Meath |
€34,394.93 |
|
2014 |
Meath Travellers Workshop - Traveller Pride Week |
Meath |
2,000 |
|
2014 |
National Traveller Partnership – Meath Travellers Workshop |
Meath |
122,420.40 |
|
2014 |
Cultúr Celebrating Diversity Ltd |
Navan |
66,000 |
|
2014 |
National Traveller Partnership – Meath Travellers Workshop |
Meath |
122,420.40 |
|
2014 |
Cultúr Celebrating Diversity Ltd |
Navan |
31,663 |
|
2014 |
Smart, Crann Support Group |
Trim |
109,500 |
|
2014 |
NYPD, Foróige |
Navan |
151,016 |
|
2014 |
Third Age Foundation Ltd |
Summerhill |
100,000 |
|
2015 |
Amen - Awareness Raising Activities |
Co Meath |
20,000 |
|
2015 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Meath Women's Refuge |
26,000 |
|
2015 |
Amen - Court accompaniment to male victims of crime |
Navan Co Meath |
12,500 |
|
2015 |
Jobmatters Employability Services Meath - Special Initiative for Travellers |
Meath |
56,212 |
|
2015 |
Meath Traveller Interagency Group |
Meath |
10,000 |
|
2015 |
Meath Travellers Workshop - Traveller Pride Week |
Meath |
2,000 |
|
2015 |
Smart, Crann Support Group |
Trim |
91,500 |
|
2015 |
NYPD, Foróige |
Navan |
164,596 |
|
2015 |
Cultúr Celebrating Diversity Ltd |
Navan |
32,660 |
|
2015 |
Third Age Foundation Ltd |
Summerhill |
47,000 |
|
2016 |
Smart, Crann Support Group |
Trim |
109,500 |
|
2016 |
NYPD, Foróige |
Navan |
259,124 |
|
2016 |
Cultúr Celebrating Diversity Ltd |
Navan |
54,781 |
|
2016 |
Third Age Foundation Ltd |
Summerhill |
84,000 |
|
2016 |
Amen - Court accompaniment to male victims of crime |
Navan, Co Meath |
16,500 |
|
2016 |
Court accompaniment for female victims of domestic violence |
Meath Women's Refuge |
30,000 |
112. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the applications submitted for funding and projects from Meath County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; if the applications where successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37290/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Name |
Successful |
Amount(€) |
|
2014 |
Meath Traveller Interagency Group |
Yes |
2,000 |
|
2014 |
Meath Travellers Workshop - Traveller Pride Week |
Yes |
2,000 |
|
2015 |
Meath Traveller Interagency Group |
Yes |
10,000 |
|
2015 |
Meath Travellers Workshop - Traveller Pride Week |
Yes |
2,000 |
|
2016 |
Meath Travellers Workshop - Traveller Pride Week |
Yes |
2,000 |
113. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding for projects in 2017 in County Meath to be funded by her Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37306/16]
View answerDetails of the projects currently expected to be funded by my Department in County Meath for 2017 are provided in the following table.
|
Name |
Location |
Projected Amount (€) |
|
Jobmatters Employability Services Meath - Special Initiative for Travellers |
Navan |
56,212 |
|
National Traveller Partnership – Meath Travellers Workshop |
Navan |
122,420.40 |
114. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) has completed his report on Garda whistleblowers; if she has received the report; the date on which it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37343/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, following advice received from the Attorney General, I appointed Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill to undertake a review of certain protected disclosures which were made to me. Judge O’Neill has been asked to:
- review allegations of wrongdoing contained in the disclosures;
- make any inquiries with persons or bodies that he considers appropriate in relation to the review; and
- report within six weeks on the conclusion of the review including any recommendations which he may consider necessary in relation to any further action which may be appropriate and warranted to address the allegations.
As Judge O'Neill was appointed with effect from 12 October 2016, the six weeks deadline for completion of the Review was 23 November 2016. On 22 November, the Judge requested a short extension to 2 December 2016 to complete his review. I have agreed to this request and look forward to receiving his report.
115. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the interdepartmental group to support the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities was convened; the number of times it has met; the progress and outcomes achieved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37360/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities was launched in October 2015. It 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. Implementation of the Strategy will be subject to regular monitoring, and there will be a review and renewal every three years. 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; and
- Engage employers.
The Comprehensive Employment Strategy Implementation Group convened for the first time in October 2015, and has met on seven occasions to date. I understand that the Group's first Annual Report, detailing progress made to date, will be presented to me shortly, and I will arrange to have it published as soon as possible thereafter.
116. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a person has to register an easement, such as a right of way, on a property to have it recognised under the new legislation; the timetable involved in these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37368/16]
View answerThe Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, as amended by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, provides for applications for registration of easements (such as rights of way) and profit-á-prendre acquired by prescription (long use) to be made directly to the Property Registration Authority (PRA) under Section 49(A) of the Registration of Title Act 1964, for uncontested claims. Alternatively, an application can be made to court under Section 35 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 and the court can make an order which shall be registered in the Land Registry or Registry of Deeds, as appropriate.
A claim for rights acquired by prescription, or in the process of being acquired, under the pre-2009 Act law [i.e. under common law, doctrine of lost modern grant and the Prescription Act], can be made by an application to the PRA or by application to court up to 30 November 2021. Thereafter, applications either in the PRA or the courts can be made under the new law as set out in the 2009 Act.
Applications to the PRA under Section 49A require a full case to be made by the applicant for the right to be registered in his/her favour. Certain proofs are required and notices must be served on all interested parties. The PRA's practice in relation to these cases is set out in its Practice Direction "Easements and Profits á Prendre Acquired by Prescription under Section 49A" and "Mapping Practice" available on the PRA's website, www.prai.ie.
