Wednesday, 11 Oct 2017

Written Answers Nos. 93-112

Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme

Questions (93)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

93. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if flood prevention funding will be approved for Killybegs, which was requested through the catchment's flood risk assessment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if funding had been approved the recent flooding of the Bridge Street district could have been avoided; when these works will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43070/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans. The catchment area referred to is part of the North Western – Neagh Bann (NW-NB) CFRAM Study.

There has been extensive public consultation and people’s observations are helping to finalise the Flood Risk Management Plans for Killybegs. Consultation on the maps took place in March 2015, with a further consultation on the options in March 2016 and consultation on the draft plans in October 2016.

Subject to approval, the preferred measure for Killybegs consists of a series of floodwalls and road raising. These hard defences will provide a Standard of Protection of 1% AEP* for fluvial flood events and 0.5% for coastal flood events, at a total length of 1.3km and an average height of 1m. This option will provide protection to approximately 24 properties at risk of fluvial flooding, 40 properties at risk of coastal flooding and 5 properties at risk of wave overtopping, includes Bridge Street. The Killybegs Flood Relief Scheme will be subject to project-level public consultation and assessment before proceeding.

These final Plans are currently undergoing an independent review of the strategic level environmental assessments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Once this independent review of all Plans is completed and observations addressed, the final Plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for approval, in accordance with the statutory requirements.

I would hope by the end of this year to seek approval for the final Plans developed under the CFRAM process and thereafter to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those Plans that will protect communities and properties assessed. Following our conversation in recent days, and as part of my upcoming visit to Donegal,  I would be happy to see the above areas for myself.

*AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability)

The probability, typically expressed as a percentage, of a flood event of a given magnitude being equalled or exceeded in any given year. For example, a 1% AEP flood event has a 1%, or 1 in a 100, chance of occurring or being exceeded in any given year.

Office of Public Works Properties

Questions (94)

Clare Daly

Question:

94. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the arrangements the OPW will make to facilitate an organisation (details supplied) to which it has granted a five-year lease to operate in the Garda station relocating to alternative premises in the event of the station reopening. [43087/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Commissioners of Public Works licensed the former Garda Station in Rush to a Community Group for a period of five years commencing on 9th February 2015. Under the terms of the licence, the Commissioners reserve the right to terminate the occupancy at any time by giving one month’s written notice to the Licensee. The Commissioners are not obliged to provide alternative accommodation for this Group in the event that the Licence is terminated before the expiry date.

Direct Provision System

Questions (95)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

95. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the titles of courses provided in all direct provision centres, by course; and the name of the centre or centres at which they are available. [43129/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

For those in the protection process and of school going age the provision of education is organised and delivered through mainstream education providers, which include primary and post-primary schools. Adults may avail of English language classes provided by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). These classes are open to all adults resident in the State, including those in the protection process and are provided in ETB premises. Classes may also be provided by individual ETBs in certain centres where this is a more practical option for the benefit of learners.  

I understand that in addition to the above, there are also some privately organised English conversation classes and other classes for adults commissioned by some centres. Such provision does not come within the remit of my Department or its agencies.

Education Grants

Questions (96)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

96. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore grants for student primary teachers' attendance at mandatory Gaeltacht courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43039/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The decision to stop the Gaeltacht placement grants was taken during the economic crisis when, unfortunately, very difficult decisions had to be made to stabilise the nation's finances.  Priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible, which remains particularly challenging with rising numbers of school-going children.  My Department does not have the funding available to restore this support.

It should be noted that, to assist with the costs of the Gaeltacht placement, students who are in receipt of a student grant which includes a 100% fee grant, or who would have qualified for a full fee grant but for the Free Fees Schemes, can apply for funding towards travel and accommodation costs under the field trip element of a fee grant, subject to the normal terms and conditions of the student grant scheme.

Apart from this, in circumstances of particular need, students may apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. Information in relation to this fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (97)

Robert Troy

Question:

97. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of a school (details supplied) on the school buildings list; and when these works will be carried out. [43050/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.

The preparatory work required to initiate the architectural planning process for this building project is currently underway and as part of this process, my Department recently met with the Local Authority.

My Department will be in further contact with the school authority during the architectural planning process.

School Transport Applications

Questions (98)

Robert Troy

Question:

98. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for bus escort funding for a school (details supplied) will be expedited. [43051/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

The escort funding for the school in question has been processed and the school will receive payment this week.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (99)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

99. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will receive an allocation of a second SNA in view of concerns that parents have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43084/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.  The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.  The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.

In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the SENOs take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources. SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.

All schools have been advised of their allocations for SNA support for the 2017/18 school year. Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools have been published by the NCSE on their website at http://ncse.ie/statistics.

Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2017/18, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.

The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that my Department's policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014. Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying my Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA supports to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned. The closing date for receipt of appeals was 29th September 2017.

As the matter raised in this question refers to an individual school, I have arranged for the NCSE to reply directly to the Deputy.

European Globalisation Fund

Questions (100)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has current applications with the European Commission's European Globalisation Fund; and if he is considering new applications in the immediate future. [43096/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

My Department does not have any current applications with the European Commission for support under the European Globalisation Fund.  While there are no firm proposals for applications for EGF support in the immediate future, my Department is continuing to monitor developments in a number of redundancy situations, such as that of Hewlett Packard, to determine whether sustainable cases can be made for EGF support, having regard to the relevant EGF regulatory requirements. Key issues in this regard are the number and timing of  redundancies, the circumstances leading to the redundancies and their impact on the local, regional and national economy.

The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has made 10 successful applications for EGF support to date.  This support, involving EGF co-financing of more than €41million, has assisted over 10,000 former workers and 300 young people not in employment, education and training across the 9 completed programmes.  The position in relation to the 10th programme in respect of PWA International, which concluded in June 2017, is that my officials will be submitting the final report and expenditure declaration on the programme to the European Commission in December.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (101)

Robert Troy

Question:

101. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Longford and Westmeath ETB sub-office in Longford town; if this service for the area will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43100/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Longford and Westmeath ETB (LWETB) was formed on 1st July 2013 when Longford VEC and Westmeath VEC were dissolved. It was designated at that time by the then Minister that the Head Office for the ETB would be in Mullingar. No sub-office was designated however a second administrative office in which a number of LWETB staff are based operates in Longford town. I understand that there are no immediate plans to close the Longford office.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (102)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

102. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied). [43130/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Design Team for this project has commenced the Pre-qualification process and the closing date for the e-tenders advertisement was the 6th October 2017.  The Pre-qualification of contractors involves the compiling of a shortlist of contractors to ensure that there are a number of appropriate and suitable candidates who can undertake the works successfully.  This process when commenced normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete. The invitation to tender will issue to the shortlist of contractors when the pre-qualification process is complete. The anticipated construction period is 18 months as outlined in the pre-qualification notice.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (103)

Brendan Smith

Question:

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43158/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

A major school building project to provide new accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently been authorised by my Department to proceed to tender for the appointment of a Building Contractor. Assuming no significant issues arise during the tender process, my Department expects that the project will progress to site early in 2018.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (104)

Martin Heydon

Question:

104. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of work ongoing in County Kildare to provide additional ASD places at secondary level with particular reference to a specific area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43175/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department’s policy is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided, unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or in the interests of the children with whom they are to be educated, as is provided for under Section 2 of the Education of Persons with Special Needs Act 2004. 

Some children may be supported in a special class attached to a mainstream school which offers a supportive learning environment to students who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class. These students have the option, where appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.

Other children may have such complex needs that the recommendation in their professional reports state that they are best placed in a special school.  The Department, therefore, provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools in Co. Kildare, which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.  

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is a separate independent statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required, which includes the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools. 

The SENOs are available to assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs and to discuss their child's special educational needs.

The NCSE have established an additional 169 Special Classes for the 2017/18 school year of which 149 are ASD classes. Of these, in Co. Kildare, the NCSE have opened an additional 4 special classes consisting of 1 Primary ASD special class and 3 Post Primary ASD special classes.

The number of ASD special classes in Kildare have increased from 17 in 2011/2012 to 65 in 2017/2018, a 282% increase. This compares to a 215% increase in the number of ASD special classes nationally or 110% increase in the number of overall special classes nationally.

In addition, Special Needs Units (SNUs) are currently under construction at 3 schools including St Conleth’s Vocational School, Newbridge, Ard Scoil na Trionoide, Athy and Ballymanny Junior NS, Newbridge.

Major building projects for a number of Post Primary schools in Kildare are included on the Department's 6 Year Construction Plan, and Special Needs units (SNUs) will be included in these Developments. The schools in question are:

- St Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin      

- Naas Community College, Naas          

- Cross & Passion College, Kilcullen

- Athy Community College

- St Farnan’s Post Primary, Prosperous

- Patrician Post-Primary, Newbridge

Pupils transitioning from primary schools’ special classes for pupils with ASD and special classes for pupils with Severe/Profound Learning Disability can be catered for either through placement in special classes for pupils with ASD in post primary schools or in one of the four special schools in Co. Kildare i.e. St Mark’s, St Anne’s, Saplings Special School in Kill or St Raphael's in Celbridge.

The NCSE has informed the Department that they are continuing to monitor demand and liaise with the schools in the area to ensure that places will be available for students with ASD.

The Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Questions (105)

John Curran

Question:

105. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review his Department's recent decision to overturn a successful appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin for the retention of a school teacher for the year 2017-2018 in view of the high number of students attending this school and the successful appeal in April 2017; if the appeal decision will be upheld and not overturned by his Department and the school will retain its teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43197/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its April 2017 meeting under the class size criterion. The appeal was provisionally approved by the Appeals Board pending confirmation of the actual enrolments on the 30th September 2017. Based on actual pupil enrolments on the 30th September 2017 this post has been approved for the 2017/18 school year.

Digital Strategy for Schools

Questions (106)

Robert Troy

Question:

106. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the levels of assistance provided through the assistive technology grant (details supplied). [43199/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Enhancing Teaching Learning and Assessment, sets out my Department's vision for embedding ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post-primary schools.  The Strategy recognises the issues schools face in relation to ICT infrastructure, and funding of €210m is committed to address these requirements over the period of the Strategy.  The first tranche of funding of €30m in respect of the 2016-2017 school year issued earlier this year. 

Separately, my Department provides funding to schools towards the cost of assistive technology for students in Primary, Post Primary and Special schools for personal computers and specialist software for educational purposes under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.  Equipment is provided under this scheme for children with more complex disabilities who require essential specialist equipment to access the school curriculum, which they do not already have, or which cannot be provided for them through the schools existing provisions.  

In excess of €1.8m was provided to schools in 2016 under the Assistive Technology scheme to support individual students, while a further €1.72 million has been provided to date this year.

Communication devices or medical or therapy related devices which are not specific educational interventions, or equipment specifically required as essential for school educational access, and have a general application outside of school, which are normally provided for children with disabilities by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and which are provided for through the HSE Aids and Appliances scheme are not provided for under this scheme.

Funding is not provided under the scheme to meet ongoing costs which arise through use of the technology such as connectivity costs or the purchase of applications (Apps). 

My Department has no plans to review the Assistive Technology scheme at present.

Israeli Settlements

Questions (107)

Brendan Smith

Question:

107. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council the intensive extension of Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights; if the difficulties in the Golan are given active consideration in the Middle East peace initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43116/17]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the extension of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan, and of the broader difficulties faced in the region, which are certainly a cause for concern. Officials from my Department have recently met NGOs operating in the Golan, and I will continue to monitor the situation closely.

In the occupied Syrian Golan, as in the West Bank, the introduction and settlement of communities of the occupying power, to alter the demography of the area, is illegal under international law. The process of establishing settlements inevitably involves violations of the rights of the occupied population, through seizure of their land, discriminatory treatment and other restrictions. Tactics including planning laws, zoning, military use, national parks, etc. are used by the Israeli authorities to advance this process under a cloak of legality. None of these measures can alter the fact that the whole process is illegal.

The Government has consistently and repeatedly conveyed these concerns to the Israeli authorities, and highlighted them in our interventions at EU, UN and international level. In addition, I raised these concerns directly in the context of my visit to Israel and Palestine in July, which was the first visit I made outside Europe after taking office. I will continue to avail of every appropriate opportunity to pursue these issues.

Ireland’s concerns over these policies are most acute in relation to the West Bank, where the continued construction of settlements on occupied land is dangerously undermining the prospects for a peace agreement and the establishment of a Palestinian state, and this has been the focus of my international engagement on the settlements issue. By contrast, it is generally acknowledged that any comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab states will involve the return of the Golan area to Syria. This does not lessen the obligation on Israel to treat the community there in accordance with international law so long as the occupation remains in being.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Questions (108)

Brendan Smith

Question:

108. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43120/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

Ireland signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and since then, successive Governments have emphasised Ireland’s strong commitment to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. This Government remains committed to ratification of the Convention.

It is essential that the State is in a position to meet the obligations that it assumes under the terms of an international agreement from the moment of its entry into force for Ireland. Before the State can ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, enactment of new legislation and amendment of existing legislation is required to ensure obligations will be met upon entry into force for Ireland.  Ratification of a Convention before we have amended domestic legislation that contradicts it makes no sense and does nothing to ensure compliance or to protect the people for whose benefit the Convention exists.  The previous Government published a Roadmap in October 2015, which sets out the legislative measures needed to meet those requirements, along with declarations and reservations to be entered by Ireland on ratification.

Considerable progress has already been made to overcome the remaining legislative barriers to Ireland's ratification of the Convention. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law on 30 December 2015 and is a comprehensive reform of the law on decision-making capacity. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 has reformed Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 to facilitate the full participation in family life of persons with intellectual disabilities and the full expression of their human rights.

The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 was published immediately prior to Christmas and completed Second Stage in February 2017.  The primary purpose of the Bill is to address the remaining legislative barriers to Ireland’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).   Work is ongoing on all the other issues set out in the previous Government’s Roadmap for Ratification published in October 2015 and these will be progressed as Committee Stage amendments.  The Bill will be progressed to enactment at an early date to facilitate ratification of the UN Convention as soon as possible.

The precise timing of ratification now depends on how long it will take for this Bill to progress through the enactment process and on issues in relation to commencement both of deprivation of liberty provisions, which will be included in the Bill at Committee Stage, and of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015. 

I would like to take this opportunity to assure the Deputy that ratification of the UNCRPD remains a very high priority for me as Minister.

Prison Visiting Committees

Questions (109)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

109. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will publish the 2016 visiting committees reports on Irish prisons. [43085/17]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Officials in my Department inform me that all the 2016 Prison Visiting Committee reports are now collated and they will be submitting them to me this week. The reports will then be published as soon as possible.

Garda Vetting Applications

Questions (110)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

110. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43109/17]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The vetting application in the case to which the Deputy refers relates to a person who is in an ongoing process for recruitment to An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will appreciate, in such cases the Garda Authorities liaise directly with the applicants in respect of the progress of the recruitment process given that An Garda Síochána is the potential employer. The Deputy will be aware also that in respect of recruitment to An Garda Síochána checks secondary to vetting are also required and these can take time to be completed.

Garda Deployment

Questions (111)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

111. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the staffing levels at Douglas Garda station in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017; if further personnel resources will be committed to the station; and if so, the timeframe for the allocation of additional resources. [43126/17]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

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.

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.

This plan is progressing apace. This year, 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.

As the Deputy will be aware Douglas Garda Station is located in the Togher Garda District which forms part of the Cork City Division. I am informed by the Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Cork City Division, on 31 August 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 656, of whom 115 members are assigned to the Togher Garda District. There are also 44 Garda Reserves and 64 civilians attached to the 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.

I am further informed by the Commissioner, that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 32 of whom have been assigned to the Cork City Division. I am also informed that another 200 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest 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.

I was pleased to announce yesterday that I have secured funding to provide for the recruitment of another 800 new Garda recruits in 2018, which will ensure that the planned Garda strength of 15,000 by 2021 remains on course.

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 needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including the Cork City 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 am informed by the Commissioner that the number of Gardaí allocated to Douglas Garda Station in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and as of 31 August 2017, is as set out in the table below.

Douglas Garda Station 2007 - 2017

Year	Strength
2007	23
2008	26
2009	22
2010	27
2011	27
2012	26
2013	24
2014	24
2015	21
2016	20
2017*	19

*Up to 31 August 2017

Garda Equipment

Questions (112)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

112. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the levels of patrol vehicles available to Douglas, Carrigaline, Togher and Passage West Garda stations in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017; if his Department will commit further patrol vehicles to the station; and if so, the projected timeframe for the allocation of additional vehicles. [43127/17]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. The allocation of vehicles within a District is a matter for the Divisional Officer

I am informed by the Commissioner that the stations referred to by the Deputy are all part of the Togher District.  

The table below outlines the fleet strength for the Togher District from 2007 to 2017 (as at 9 October, 2017) 

Years	Cars	Vans	Motorbikes	4x4	Others	Total
2007	9	1	1	0	1	12
2008	11	2	1	0	1	15
2009	11	2	2	0	1	16
2010	11	2	2	0	1	16
2011	10	2	2	0	1	15
2012	11	2	0	0	1	14
2013	10	1	0	0	1	12
2014	11	1	0	0	1	13
2015	13	1	0	0	1	15
2016	14	1	0	0	1	16
2017 as at  09/10/2017	11	1	0	0	0	12

The Deputy will be aware that the Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides for an investment of €46 million the Garda fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. Indeed, in the period 2013 to end of 2017 almost €44 million will have been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period.