Written Answers Nos. 221-236
221. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of operating Garda stations; the number of those stations which are not connected to the PULSE system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31712/18]
View answer222. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that do not have access to the Internet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31713/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that Gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary to detect and investigate crime and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24/7 basis.
The Modernisation and Renewal Programme sets out a series of initiatives which will enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies in the fight against crime. In support of this plan, some €342 million, including €217 million under the Capital Plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 564 operational Garda stations in the State.
I am further advised that a project to enhance network access to rural Garda stations is being progressed under the Modernisation and Renewal Programme. 111 stations are currently not connected to the Garda network so to allow access to Garda ICT services including PULSE. However, any member attached to a currently unconnected station can access PULSE at their local district station. Members in non-networked locations can also contact the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) or an associated networked station if required.
Garda authorities inform me that of these 111 stations, connectivity for 34 is now nearing completion. An Garda Síochána is also at the early stages of planning for the connection of an additional 12 stations. This work is due to be completed before the end of 2018.
I am further informed that An Garda Síochána is engaged in planning connectivity solutions for the remaining 65 stations, taking into account factors such as local access to broadband services and the potential for mobile connectivity.
223. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of information technology in each Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31714/18]
View answerThe Modernisation and Renewal Programme sets out a series of initiatives which will enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies in the fight against crime. In support of this plan, some €342 million, including €217 million under the Capital Plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average cost associated with providing ICT to each station is difficult to determine due to the differing sizes of Garda stations, as well as the fact that most Garda ICT systems and services are centrally managed and supported in Garda data centres. Users can then access some or all of these centralised systems and services from PCs, laptops and mobile devices from either a fixed Garda location or in some instances from mobile devices.
Stations are generally supplied with a standard set of ICT equipment including PULSE computers, printers and TETRA Digital Radio sets. There is a large centralised ICT infrastructure linked to localised infrastructure to support all ICT operations. This infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, wide area networks and data centres, both of which incur annual support and maintenance costs.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda ICT budget for 2018 is some €84.5 million. This includes annual software licence costs, support & maintenance costs, ICT skilled resources, ICT hardware, application support for all ICT systems deployed in the organisation, TETRA, networks, telephony support, CCTV support, forensic mobile phone and CCTV equipment, in addition to costs associated with new ICT projects and services under the Modernisation and Renewal Programme.
224. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the probate application waiting times by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31715/18]
View answerThe Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that waiting times in the Dublin Probate Office for a Grant of Probate are currently 5 weeks for applications made by solicitors on behalf of clients and 10 weeks for personal applications.
Probate Application Waiting Times by County
|
County |
Waiting time |
|
Cork |
10-12 Weeks |
|
Letterkenny |
20 Weeks |
|
Sligo |
18 Weeks |
|
Castlebar |
6 Weeks |
|
Galway |
18 Weeks |
|
Cavan |
4 Weeks |
|
Dundalk |
10 Weeks (6-7 weeks for lay litigants) |
|
Mullingar |
11-12 Weeks |
|
Limerick |
12 Weeks |
|
Clonmel |
4-6 Weeks |
|
Tralee |
10 Weeks |
|
Waterford |
12 Weeks |
|
Kilkenny |
8 Weeks |
|
Wexford |
8 Weeks |
As the Deputy is aware, all applications are assessed on the basis of the date on which they are lodged, an approach which provides fairness and equity to all applicants. Priority is given to probate applications where there is a particular urgency or in extenuating circumstances. In such cases, it is open to applicants to bring the matter to the attention of the Probate Office.
As the Deputy will appreciate all applications for Grants in deceased persons' estates are made on foot of a number of mandatory legal documents which must be furnished by the applicants. These require detailed checking by the Probate Office to ensure that the estate of the deceased person is administered correctly and in accordance with the law. Where a person opts to apply for a Grant personally, without the assistance of a solicitor, the process requires significant extra support from the Probate Office.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Courts Service has recently completed a review of the delivery of probate services and a plan is now being developed to implement the recommendations on a phased basis. The Report has been forwarded to my Department and published on the Courts Service Website.
225. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding provided to a charity (details supplied) in each of the years 2008 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31716/18]
View answerThe Dublin Rape Crisis Centre received the following amounts from my Department in the years 2008 to date in 2018:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2008 |
€138,230.00 |
|
2009 |
€89,790.00 |
|
2010 |
€108,555.00 |
|
2011 |
€101,478.70 |
|
2012 |
€97,500.00 |
|
2013 |
€92,500.00 |
|
2014 |
€129,979.64 |
|
2015 |
€135,719.63 |
|
2016 |
€39,397.88 |
|
2017 |
€48,960.00 |
|
2018 |
€31,000.00 |
|
Total |
€1,013,110.85 |
226. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the full strength of the Garda fleet in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31717/18]
View answerThere has been unprecedented investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. Indeed in the period 2013 to the end of 2017 almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no role in that matter.
I understand that Garda management keeps the 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. 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 districts and stations as required by operational requirements.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out the strength of the Garda fleet at 31 December in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and as at 19 June 2018.
|
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
TOTAL |
2,740 |
2,623 |
2,414 |
2,407 |
2,514 |
2,616 |
2,840 |
2,779 |
2,761 |
227. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking on allegations regarding the assault of a person (details supplied) by gardaí in October 2017. [31719/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, investigations into all acts of alleged criminality are a matter for An Garda Síochána in the first instance and I, as Minister, have no role in this regard. If the person in question has not already done so, I would encourage them to contact their local/nearest Garda station as soon as possible, as they will be best placed to advise them how to proceed.
This notwithstanding, the Deputy will also be aware if someone is not satisfied with the manner in which their complaints have been handled by An Garda Síochána, then it is open to them to contact the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Office (GSOC). GSOC is the independent body charged with receiving complaints from the public concerning members of An Garda Síochána. Contact can be made with GSOC at their offices at 150, Upper Abbey Street, Dublin 1 and by telephone on Lo-Call 1890 600800. Further information is also available on the GSOC website at www.gardaombudsman.ie.
228. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of moneys and assets seized as a result of drug related crime in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the amount from these seizures that was given over to community projects and similar in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31724/18]
View answerI have requested a report from the Garda Commissioner in relation to the information sought by the Deputy. I will reply further to the Deputy when this report is to hand.
229. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 3 July 2018, if approval is required from his Department or the Irish Prison Service before prison records can be destroyed in a prison by a governor or staff on the governor's behalf; if records are kept of such requests and approval in his Department; if a governor has the authority to make unilateral decisions about destroying prison records without reference to his Department; if he is satisfied with arrangements in place for burning or destroying records relating to prisons and prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31734/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that under the Nation Archives Act 1986 the Irish Prison Service is required to retain all prisoner files. Prisoner files are classified as records that warrant permanent preservation as archives. Disposal of records of state without the permission of the Director of the National Archives is a breach of Section 7 of the Act.
The National Archives Act applies to records over 30 years old, However, records identified as warranting permanent preservation must be maintained by the creating body, in this case the Prison Service, until they are transferred to the National Archives.
As advised in my previous reply to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 3 July 2018, there are no records of files being destroyed in Portlaoise prison in the manner referred to by the Deputy. However I would again ask that if the Deputy has any information to confirm that files were destroyed in the manner referred to, he should contact the Director General of the Irish Prison Service with this information and consideration will be given to same.
230. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there has been a reduction in the number of cases in which payments have been made in 2017 and to date in 2018 of the claims being brought to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31762/18]
View answerThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, which administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted, is independent in considering applications and neither I nor my Department have any role in the processing of applications.
I am advised that the number of payments made varies from year to year dependent on the number of factors such as applications received, applications processed to decision stage, the number of appeals, the size of the awards and the available budget.
I can assure the Deputy that the Tribunal has expended its full budget on payments in recent years and expects to do so in 2018.
As I informed the Deputy in my response to his question on the 14 June 2018, the length of time to settle each claim varies depending on the circumstances of each case. While applications are processed with the minimum of formality compared to court proceedings where compensation is being claimed under the Civil Liability Acts, in making their decisions Tribunal Members must be satisfied that all supporting documentation submitted is in order. In some cases there can be delays pending the availability of all required documentation and some cases are complex in terms of medical conditions being assessed.
231. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to each divisional drugs unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31763/18]
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 that the Garda strength of the Divisional Drug Units was 223 as of 31 May 2018.
As the Deputy will be aware all Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of drug offences crime or otherwise. I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to pro-actively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime in this jurisdiction.
An Garda Síochána's National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which was established in 2015, continues to lead out the policing strategy for tackling drugs by demand reduction and supply reduction strategies. In this regard the Bureau continues its policy of working with Garda Divisional Drug Units nationwide in tackling supply reduction at local level.
This work is further supported by other national units, including the Criminal Assets Bureau, in targeting persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs. This approach allows for the co-ordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime, including illicit drug activity nationwide. Multi-disciplinary approaches are also utilised to ensure that those involved in illicit activity are effectively targeted including through the use of the proceeds of crime legislation, money laundering legislation and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau. I am informed that this approach adopts good practice in implementing a co-ordinated use of Garda resources and in utilising available criminal law to its fullest extent in tackling all forms of organised crime, including drug trafficking.
We have also seen unprecedented international cooperation between An Garda Síochána and policing services in other jurisdictions leading to important arrests and drug seizures.
Underpinning all these measures is this Government’s commitment 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. I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,000 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide.
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 him to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across the organisation including the Divisional Drugs Units.
I have provided for the record the detailed information that follows as requested by the Deputy in tabular form as of 31 May 2018.
Strength of Divisional Drugs Units 31 May 2018
|
Unit |
No. |
|
CAVAN/MONAGHAN |
6 |
|
CLARE |
4 |
|
CORK CITY |
15 |
|
CORK NORTH |
5 |
|
CORK WEST |
6 |
|
DMR EAST |
11 |
|
DMR NORTH |
19 |
|
DMR NORTH CENTRAL |
14 |
|
DMR SOUTH |
16 |
|
DMR SOUTH CENTRAL |
9 |
|
DMR WEST |
16 |
|
DONEGAL |
4 |
|
GALWAY |
9 |
|
KERRY |
10 |
|
KILDARE |
11 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
5 |
|
LAOIS/OFFALY |
5 |
|
LIMERICK |
8 |
|
LOUTH |
4 |
|
MAYO |
6 |
|
MEATH |
5 |
|
ROSCOMMON/LONGFORD |
3 |
|
SLIGO/LEITRIM |
4 |
|
TIPPERARY |
11 |
|
WATERFORD |
6 |
|
WESTMEATH |
6 |
|
WEXFORD |
5 |
|
WICKLOW |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
223 |
232. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently assigned to the roads policing unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31764/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources and the Minister for Justice and Equality has no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps the 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 advised by the Garda Commissioner that the strength of Roads Policing Units on the 31 May 2018, stood at 680. In addition, there is one Chief Superintendent and two Superintendents attached to the DMR Roads Policing Units, a Superintendent and Traffic Inspector attached to each of the other five Regions. It is important to note, that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of all members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through specific enforcement operations.
The Commissioner established the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau (GNRPB) to ensure a consistent approach to road safety and enforcement of road traffic legislation across the country. This is achieved through coordination of enforcement and development of policy based on research and analysis of statistics and by engaging in campaigns in partnership with other State Agencies. I am pleased to say that I obtained sanction for an additional Assistant Commissioner to head up the GNRPB who is responsible for the oversight and strategic management of the policing of our roads network. In order to support this very important work and to facilitate the restructuring of the Garda Traffic Corps to Roads Policing Units in line with the Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016 – 2021, I have also recently secured sanction for a Chief Superintendent in the area of Roads Planning and Major Event Management and the creation of two specialist posts in the GNRPB at Superintendent rank one for Roads Policing and one for Major Event Management.
I am informed by the Commissioner that following an internal examination of the role and function of the Divisional Garda Traffic Corps, they have been re-named Garda Road Policing Units, to reflect the role the Units will play in denying criminals the use of the roads network. In addition to the Roads Policing Units focusing on the lifesaver offences of speeding, seatbelts, mobile phones and driving under the influence, they will also focus on crime prevention and crime detection. Divisional Roads Policing units will work closely with other Divisional units to target known criminals and to disrupt their activities through strict enforcement of road traffic legislation.
I am advised by the Commissioner that following the completion of regional competitions for assignment to roads policing duties an additional 87 Gardaí have been assigned to Roads Policing Units nationwide, in the first quarter of this year. It is planned that a further 63 Gardaí will be assigned to the units later this year to bring the total additional Gardaí assigned to Roads Policing in 2018 to 150 to support better outcomes in relation to road traffic enforcement and crime prevention.
233. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the next meeting of interested bodies and parties scheduled to deal with the issue of problem quad and scrambler use will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31766/18]
View answer292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 1 May 2018 and his response to the Topical Issue of 24 May 2018, the status of the work of the cross-agency group on the issue; the outcome of this engagement; the steps that will be taken as a result of the meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32398/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 292 together.
I have emphasised on a number of occasions that the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes is taken very seriously by the Government and I thank the Deputy for her continued interest in this important issue.
The Deputy is already aware of the meetings convened by my officials on the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes on 23 and 25 April 2018. I asked my officials to arrange these consultations to identify whether there are additional legislative or other solutions which can assist in dealing with the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes more comprehensively.
My officials are now consulting further with local authorities in the context of the many examples of positive engagement fostered by local authorities with local communities, as a number of initiatives and projects are of potential interest insofar as the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes are concerned.
On 21 June 2018, my Department participated in the first meeting of a newly established task force consisting of representatives of the Dublin local authorities, Gardaí working in these local authority areas, and professional motocross sports. An invitation was also extended to local authorities from Meath and Wicklow to join this taskforce. At the taskforce meeting, the consensus was that a multi-pronged approach to tackling this issue is necessary, to include a consideration of enforcement measures, education and awareness-raising, relevant legislation, and the potential provision of designated facilities, where such vehicles could be used in a safe environment.
Following on from this meeting, officials in my Department are currently reviewing appropriate criminal justice legislation to ensure that Gardaí have the necessary powers at their disposal to deal with the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes. In this regard, the Department continues to engage with An Garda Síochána in order to fully understand the difficulties encountered in dealing with this type of anti-social behaviour, and to learn from successes in this area.
My officials will continue to engage with the taskforce, the next meeting of which is expected to take place in September.
I will continue to actively support any positive actions that can be pursued to counteract the serious public safety issues associated with the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes.
234. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress he and the motor insurance working group have made on the establishment of an anti-fraud unit in An Garda Síochána in order to reduce insurance fraud and uninsured driving; when it will be operational; the number of gardaí who will be in the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31767/18]
View answerRecommendation 26 of the ‘Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance’, published in January 2017, relates to exploring the potential for further cooperation between the insurance sector and An Garda Síochána in relation to insurance fraud investigation. Specifically, this involves considering the feasibility of establishing a specialised and dedicated insurance fraud unit within An Garda Síochána, funded by industry.
The Garda Commissioner authorised the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) to engage with Insurance Ireland in exploratory talks about this recommendation, resulting in the GNECB submitting a mechanism for further cooperation and a costed proposal to Insurance Ireland in the latter half of 2017. Insurance Ireland agreed to explore the proposal further, subject to a full cost benefit analysis, which was carried out by Insurance Ireland’s Chief Financial Officers Working Group.
Insurance Ireland informed the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Michael D’Arcy, T.D., of the outcome of its analysis on 2 July 2018, recommending industry funding of a Garda insurance fraud unit. This outcome has also been communicated to An Garda Síochána.
Officials in my Department are now engaging with the GNECB in relation to this recommendation. The intention is that such a dedicated Garda unit will be funded by Insurance Ireland members and non-members alike, i.e. all entities writing non-life insurance business in Ireland.
I am advised that activity to date in relation to this recommendation consists of scoping out the possible cost and feasibility of setting up such a unit. It will be a matter for me, as Minister for Justice and Equality, on foot of a recommendation from the Garda Commissioner, to decide whether the establishment of the proposed unit is something which should be pursued.
The Deputy will appreciate that a number of the matters referred to in his question are of an operational nature and, as such, will fall to be considered by the Garda Commissioner in considering whether or not to establish a new Garda unit along the lines proposed in the Cost of Insurance Working Group's motor insurance report. As Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no role in relation to these matters.
I understand that, at this stage, the Garda Commissioner has yet not formed a view on the proposal, and a proposal or recommendation has not been submitted to me as Minister. There are a number of serious issues which will require further consideration before any decision whether or not to proceed in this manner is taken and discussions are ongoing between relevant officials in my Department and members of An Garda Síochána.
235. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda CCTV applications that have been made to date; the number of approvals and draw downs of funding for the scheme to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31768/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct but complementary categories, namely Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Neither type of CCTV system may be established without authorisation by the Garda Commissioner under section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, among other requirements.
Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational needs and priorities. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no role in that regard.
I understand the Deputy to refer to Garda CCTV systems rather than community-based CCTV systems. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
236. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the income a debtor has from providing foster care to children is taken into account in the assessment of means under the various insolvency arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31791/18]
View answerThe Personal Insolvency Act 2012 provides for three mechanisms for non-judicial debt settlement: the debt relief notice (DRN), the debt settlement arrangement (DSA) and the Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA). These arrangements are administered by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). The ISI is independent in the performance of its functions under the Act and I, as Minister for Justice and Equality, have no role in decisions in this regard.
Under the provisions of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, all income received by an applicant for insolvency arrangements must be taken into account and recorded on the applicant’s Prescribed Financial Statement. Therefore, foster care allowance must be included when calculating the income of an applicant. However, I can advise the Deputy that the ISI's Reasonable Standard of Living and Reasonable Living Expenses Guidelines make provision for special circumstances. Accordingly, an applicant with foster care responsibilities may, depending on the circumstances, have the reasonable extra costs associated with foster care included as part of their reasonable living expenses calculation (under special circumstances). The Personal Insolvency Practitioner or Approved Intermediary through whom the application is made must be of the opinion that the Reasonable Living Expenses figures (including special circumstances) set out on the debtor’s application are the expenses that the debtor incurs in achieving a reasonable standard of living.
