Written Answers Nos. 409-428
409. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position in respect of interest applying to a judgment mortgage; if a judgment mortgage lapses after a period of time; the steps the creditor can take to enforce the asset the subject of the judgment mortgage; the rights of the borrower in this matter; the value of judgment mortgages against the family home at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34284/17]
View answerThe position is that the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 updated the law in relation to judgment mortgages registered after 1 December 2009 by repealing the Judgment Mortgage (Ireland) Acts 1850 and 1858 and replacing them with updated provisions as recommended by the Law Reform Commission in 2004.
Section 116 of the 2009 Act provides that a creditor who has obtained a judgment against a person may apply to the Property Registration Authority (PRA) to register a judgment mortgage against that person's estate or interest in land in the Land Registry or Registry of Deeds as appropriate. Registration of a judgment mortgage by the PRA operates to charge the debtor's estate or interest in the land and entitles the judgment mortgagee (that is, the creditor) to apply to court for an order under section 117 of the Act, or section 31 in the case of co-owned property. A judgment mortgage remains valid until discharged and there is no need to re-register it in order to maintain its validity or enforceability.
In the case of an application under section 117, the court may make such order for enforcement of the judgment mortgage as the court thinks appropriate, including an order for sale of the land and distribution of the proceeds of sale. In the case of co-owned property, section 30 of the 2009 Act provides that the registration of a judgment mortgage against the property of a joint tenant no longer severs the joint tenancy and if the joint tenancy remains unsevered, the judgment mortgage is extinguished on the death of the judgment debtor, that is, a surviving joint tenant has no liability for debts of the deceased joint tenant against whose interest in the property the judgment mortgage was registered.
A judgment mortgagee (i.e.creditor) may apply to court for an order under section 31 to enforce a judgment mortgage in the case of co-owned land. In dealing with such an application, the court may dismiss the application or, in light of the rights of all co-owners, make such order relating to the land as appears to the court to be just and equitable in the circumstances of the particular case. The wider discretion available to the court in the case of co-owned land is intended to ensure that the interests of all co-owners are taken into account in a fair and equitable manner. It should also be noted that subsection 5 of section 31 makes it clear that this section does not affect the court's jurisdiction under the Family Home Protection Act 1976.
As regards the rate of interest on judgment mortgages, I wish to inform the Deputy that the Courts Act 1981 (Interest on Judgment Debts) Order 2016 set the rate of interest on judgment debts at 2% with effect from 1 January 2017.
410. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the volume and value of heroin seizures in Cork city and county for each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017; and his plans in relation to this growing problem. [34295/17]
View answerI have requested a report from the Garda authorities and I will write to the Deputy when it is received.
411. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reservists in the Wexford Garda division in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [34391/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve and the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
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. 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.
This plan is progressing well. This year, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves, 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána.
It is regrettable that there has been a substantial reduction in the strength of the Reserve in recent years from a peak of 1,164 in 2013 to 638 as of 31 May 2017. The fall-off arises from a range of factors, not least the lifting in 2014 of the moratorium on recruitment of trainee Gardaí which has affected Reserve numbers in two ways - firstly, approximately 200 serving Reserves have successfully applied to become trainee Gardaí, and secondly, resources in both An Garda Síochána and in the Public Appointment Service have been focused on delivering an accelerated programme of recruitment of full-time members of An Garda Síochána. I am sure that the Deputy will agree, notwithstanding the very valuable contribution of Reserve members throughout the country, that it was the right decision, with finite resources, to prioritise the running of recruitment campaigns to replenish the full-time ranks of An Garda Síochána over the last three years. With the plan to reach 15,000 Garda members well on track it was possible for the Commissioner and the Public Appointments Service to undertake a new recruitment campaign for Garda Reserves. That is now in train and will, allowing for the selection process and necessary training of successful candidates, facilitate a start to be made on strengthening of the Reserve across every Garda Division, in the coming years.
For the Deputy's information I have set out in the table, as provided by the Commissioner, the strength of the Garda Reserve in the Wexford Division from 2013 to the 31 May 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available.
Wexford Division Reserve Strength 2013 -2017*
|
Year |
Numbers |
|
2013 |
32 |
|
2014 |
37 |
|
2015 |
37 |
|
2016 |
22 |
|
2017* |
20 |
*As of 31 May 2017
412. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí and the respective rank of each by county location, in tabular form. [34397/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is 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. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. I am informed by the Commissioner that 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 Garda Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his or her Division.
I am informed by the Commissioner that on 31 May 2017, the latest date for which figures are currently available, the strength of An Garda Síochána was 13,137 members.
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. 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am also informed that a further four hundred Garda recruits are scheduled to attest later this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end, an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, in the coming years.
This investment in personnel is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will see an increase in Garda visibility in our communities.
I have received the information requested by the Deputy from the Commissioner, set out in spreadsheets, which I will forward directly to the Deputy.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
413. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars and motorbikes in County Wexford. [34398/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of Garda resources, including vehicles, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 12th July, 2017, there are some 64 Garda vehicles allocated to the Wexford Division comprising 51 cars, ten vans, two motorcycles and one 4x4 vehicle.
I understand that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed by the Garda authorities on a continual basis. The responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations as required by operational requirements.
The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented Government investment in the Garda fleet in recent years with some €46 million being invested over the lifetime of the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet.
414. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí per population based on the latest census figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34399/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda resources.
Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that on 31 May 2017, the latest date for which figures are currently available, the strength of An Garda Síochána was 13,137 members.
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. 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am also informed that a further four hundred Garda recruits are scheduled to attest later this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, in the coming years.
This investment in personnel is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will see an increase in Garda visibility in our communities.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department as the recording of the population by area is a matter for the Central Statistics Office. I am, in any case, advised that ratios such as the number of Garda per head of population are not an appropriate tool to use when considering the allocation of Garda resources as they fail to take account of, among other things, the fact that crime levels and types can vary significantly among communities of similar population size.
415. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí per head of population located in each Garda district in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34400/17]
View answer417. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed in each County Wexford Garda station in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [34421/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is 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. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. I am informed by the Commissioner that 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 Garda Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.
I am informed by the Commissioner that, as of the 31 May 2017, there were 269 Garda together with 20 Garda Reserves and 31 civilians attached to the Wexford Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
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 to 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 42 of whom were assigned to the Wexford Division. I am also informed that a further four hundred Garda recruits are scheduled to attest later this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including the Weford Division in the coming years.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department as the recording of the population by area is a matter for the Central Statistics Office. I am, in any case, advised that ratios such as the number of Garda per head of population are not an appropriate tool to use when considering the allocation of Garda resources as they fail to take account of, among other things, the fact that crime levels and types can vary significantly among communities of similar population size.
For the Deputy's information I have set out in the table, as provided by the Commissioner, the number of Gardaí assigned to the Wexford Division by station in each of the years from 2010 and up to 31 May 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available.
WEXFORD DIVISION 2010 - 2012
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
ENNISCORTHY |
BLACKWATER |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
CLONROCHE |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
ENNISCORTHY |
40 |
40 |
39 |
|
|
FERNS |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
KILTEALY |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
|
OULART |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OYLEGATE |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL |
53 |
52 |
47 |
|
|
GOREY |
BUNCLODY |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
COURTOWN HARBOUR |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
GOREY |
53 |
50 |
47 |
|
|
TOTAL |
63 |
62 |
58 |
|
|
NEW ROSS |
BALLYCULLANE |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
CAMPILE |
2 |
1 |
- |
|
|
CARRICKBYRNE |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
CARRICK-ON-BANNOW |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
DUNCANNON |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
NEW ROSS |
40 |
40 |
40 |
|
|
TOTAL |
51 |
50 |
49 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
BALDWINSTOWN |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
CASTLEBRIDGE |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
GLYNN |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
|
KILMORE QUAY |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
ROSSLARE HARBOUR |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
ROSSLARE STRAND |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
TAGHMON |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
95 |
92 |
88 |
|
|
TOTAL |
114 |
109 |
106 |
|
|
WEXFORD TOTAL |
281 |
273 |
260 |
WEXFORD DIVISION 2013- 2017
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
ENNISCORTHY |
BLACKWATER |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
BUNCLODY |
8 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
CLONROCHE |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
COURTOWN HARBOUR |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
ENNISCORTHY |
36 |
36 |
40 |
44 |
45 |
|
|
FERNS |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
GOREY |
45 |
42 |
43 |
43 |
44 |
|
|
OULART |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
OYLEGATE |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL |
100 |
99 |
103 |
107 |
109 |
|
|
NEW ROSS |
BALLYCULLANE |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
CAMPILE |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
|
|
CARRICKBYRNE |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
CARRICK-ON-BANNOW |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
DUNCANNON |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
NEW ROSS |
41 |
42 |
42 |
43 |
42 |
|
|
TOTAL |
50 |
51 |
48 |
49 |
49 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
CASTLEBRIDGE |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
KILMORE QUAY |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
ROSSLARE HARBOUR |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
ROSSLARE STRAND |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
TAGHMON |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
85 |
84 |
89 |
88 |
97 |
|
|
TOTAL |
102 |
101 |
104 |
102 |
111 |
|
|
WEXFORD TOTAL |
252 |
251 |
255 |
258 |
269 |
*Up to 31 May 2017
416. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 30 March 2017, if the Garda stations closed in County Wexford are included in the six stations proposed for reopening under the pilot programme report which has since been received by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34420/17]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware, some 139 Garda stations, including stations at Baldwinstown, Ballywilliam and Kiltealy in County Wexford, were closed under the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme 2012 -13 in order to streamline practices and to provide the most efficient policing service possible with the scarce resources available at the time. I am informed by the Garda authorities that no other stations in Wexford were closed under the Programme.
Garda stations that were closed under the Programme have, in the main, reverted to the ownership of the Office of Public Works and a number of them, including the above 3 stations have been sold. Accordingly, they are not available for inclusion in the pilot project.
418. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will restore the residency status of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34445/17]
View answerI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the person concerned applied for a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen on 11 May 2011, stating that they had married a British citizen in the State on 21 January 2011. Following a consideration of their application, the person concerned was provided with a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen on 10 November 2011.
I understand from INIS that it later came to light that the spouse of the person concerned had relocated to the UK in February 2014 and was residing and working in that jurisdiction. As it was apparent that the spouse of the person concerned was not exercising their EU Treaty Rights in the State, the person concerned was informed on 18 October 2016 that their residence card had been revoked.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 2 November 2016. This review will be considered in due course, and there will be no avoidable delay in the consideration of same. Any further documentation or information submitted by the person concerned will be considered at that time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
419. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will facilitate the provision of a travel assist document to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34446/17]
View answerAn Irish travel document is a document which assists qualifying non Irish nationals to travel outside the State. Only persons who can establish an entitlement to an Irish travel document may be issued with one and the type of travel document issued depends on the specific personal circumstances of the applicant.
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that if the person to whom the Deputy refers wishes to apply for a travel document they should, in the first instance, consult the web address below, from which information and an application form may be downloaded.
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/application_for_a_travel_document
A separate application must be made for each individual in a family. Application forms should be posted to:
Travel Documents Section,
Ministerial Decisions Unit,
Repatriation Division,
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service,
13/14 Burgh Quay,
Dublin 2.
Once the applications are received by the Travel Documents Unit of the INIS, they will be considered for eligibility. As this is a busy season, applicants should allow a period of ten to 12 weeks for their applications to be processed. To ensure fairness, applications are processed in chronological order.
420. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will use his discretionary powers to upgrade the residency status of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34449/17]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons concerned had their permission to remain in the State renewed for a further one year period to 14 December 2017. This decision was conveyed in writing to the persons concerned by letters dated 13 December 2016. This permission was renewed to enable the persons concerned to obtain a valid passport or alternatively submit evidence as to what effort they have made to secure a passport.
The persons concerned have not, to date, provided the documentation requested by the INIS on 13 December, 2016. The requested documentation should therefore be submitted to the INIS as soon as possible.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
421. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider offering stamp 4 status to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34450/17]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status and eligibility for upgrade in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34451/17]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that correspondence was received from this person on 16 May 2017 requesting a further permission to remain in the State. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
423. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when stamp 4 status will be offered to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34452/17]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned has submitted written representations.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if submissions have been received on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34453/17]
View answerI refer to the responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 43 of 26 January 2017 and 113 of 22 June 2017.
As the Deputy was previously advised, the individuals concerned are illegal in the State and should therefore present themselves at their local Immigration Office. If they have not yet done so, then they should do so without delay.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
425. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will award stamp 4 status to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34454/17]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned has not submitted written representations.
The position in the State of the person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation. If any representations are submitted, they will be considered before a final decision is made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
426. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated annual cost of policing, legal and prison services related to non-violent drugs offences. [34611/17]
View answer427. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated annual cost of policing, legal and prison services related to drugs offences. [34612/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together.
The Deputy will appreciate that activities across the criminal justice system are costed under the headings of staffing, provision of buildings, ICT and a wide range of other factors. It is not possible to provide the information in the manner sought by the Deputy as costs are not disaggregated in this way.
428. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if attending a college or other educational institution in the UK would affect a young person's residency status for the purposes of Irish naturalisation provided that young person's family remained resident here throughout that period. [34616/17]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions as set out in the Act are fulfilled. The statutory conditions include that the applicant himself or herself must have had one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a further total residence in the State amounting to four years. Periods of residence outside the State are not reckonable for naturalisation purposes. Every application for a certificate of naturalisation is considered on its own merits having regard to the statutory conditions set out in the Act.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application forms, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains guidance on the completion of an application for naturalisation.
