Tuesday, 23 Oct 2018

Written Answers Nos. 308-325

Garda Industrial Relations

Questions (308)

Clare Daly

Question:

308. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when An Garda Síochána will be allowed to access the offices of the WRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43252/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, last year the Government accepted the recommendations of the Working Group on Industrial Relations in An Garda Síochána which included the introduction of legislation to allow Garda members have access to the industrial relations machinery of the State.

The second phase of the Working Group is currently underway and the members of the Group are focussed on the introduction of the legislative changes necessary to allow Garda members and the Garda associations have access to the WRC and the Labour Court.  All the Garda representative bodies - the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents - are fully engaged in this phase of the working group.

The primary legislation supporting access for the Garda members to the WRC is currently being brought forward by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, by way of amendment to the Industrial Relations Act 1990.  The second stage of the legislative process was completed on Thursday the 18 October 2018, when the Oireachtas passed the Bill through to Committee Stage.  All the parties involved are anxious to see this legislation passed with as little delay as possible. 

To enable the operation of the legislation, and support access to the WRC and Labour Court, it is important now for the necessary internal dispute resolution mechanisms to be put in place in An Garda Síochána.  The WRC, which has a long and honourable track record of service provision in the area of industrial relations, has engaged in a comprehensive consultation process with the Garda associations and Garda management.  Significant progress has been made towards identifying and implementing an effective internal dispute resolution mechanism for An Garda Síochána.

Before the end of the year I expect to see significant further progress towards providing Garda members with processes for resolving individual and collective issues. I am confident that these will match what is available to all other workers in the State, while at the same time reflecting the particular status and requirements of An Garda Síochána as an organisation.

Drugs Crime

Questions (309)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

309. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers that tested positive for drug driving at new mandatory checkpoints in 2018, by month in tabular form. [43260/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will be aware that section 10 of the Road Traffic Act, 2010 provides for Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoints (MIT).  The powers of An Garda Síochána under the 2010 Act were extended under the Road Traffic Act 2016 to allow preliminary, oral, fluid-testing for drugs to be undertaken at these checkpoints, in additional to the current, preliminary, breath testing for alcohol.  These provisions came into force on 13 April 2017. 

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that it has conducted a total of 101,965 MIT checkpoints nationally since April 2017.

I regret that it is not currently possible to provide the number of drivers that tested positive for drug driving at mandatory checkpoints in 2018 broken down by month, as I am advised by the Garda authorities that the compilation of these statistics would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.

However, the Deputy may wish to note the following table, provided by the Garda authorities, which details the number of MIT checkpoints conducted by Division; the number of Breath Test and Oral Fluid Tests conducted; the number of persons who have tested positive for alcohol or drugs at these checkpoints; and the number who Failed/Refused to provide a specimen. These figures correspond to the period from 13 April 2017 to 12 October 2018.

Garda Division	Number of MIT Checkpoints conducted 2017- year to date 2018	Roadside Breath Tested Conducted	No. of positive Roadside Breath Tests
Cavan/Monaghan	3202	12510	105
Clare	5897	25162	88
Cork City	8855	23959	119
Cork North	9681	21023	95
Cork West	8647	21118	118
D.M.R. Eastern	891	12522	83
D.M.R. North Central	714	8693	39
D.M.R. Northern	712	11056	67
D.M.R. South Central	704	17176	53
D.M.R. Southern	779	13866	61
D.M.R. Western	1463	13228	98
Donegal	3044	14640	73
Galway	7047	28434	191
Kerry	4651	14717	82
Kildare	3985	44364	272
Kilkenny/Carlow	1936	9561	108
Laois/Offaly	3332	29355	111
Limerick	7217	21256	136
Louth	2470	9758	53
Mayo	3329	13764	87
Meath	1946	9559	87
Roscommon/Longford	3065	16203	87
Sligo/Leitrim	2231	8196	31
Tipperary	6742	17822	103
Waterford	2400	14544	79
Westmeath	1938	9692	82
Wexford	2988	17445	136
Wicklow	2099	12542	55

table contd.

Garda Division	Roadside Oral Fluid Tested Conducted	No. of positive Oral Fluid Tests	Fail/Refusal breath Test	Fail/Refusal Oral Fluid Test
Cavan/Monaghan	56	13	3	0
Clare	177	22	2	0
Cork City	4	1	0	0
Cork North	55	8	1	1
Cork West	124	13	0	0
D.M.R. Eastern	152	9	4	0
D.M.R. North Central	71	15	2	0
D.M.R. Northern	91	6	1	0
D.M.R. South Central	97	6	0	0
D.M.R. Southern	95	14	0	0
D.M.R. Western	154	13	0	0
Donegal	11	0	1	0
Galway	22	5	0	0
Kerry	43	11	0	1
Kildare	268	32	2	0
Kilkenny/Carlow	44	5	0	0
Laois/Offaly	120	16	0	0
Limerick	42	7	1	0
Louth	3	2	0	0
Mayo	12	3	2	0
Meath	17	4	2	0
Roscommon/Longford	42	10	0	0
Sligo/Leitrim	59	9	0	0
Tipperary	21	5	2	0
Waterford	31	5	1	0
Westmeath	14	5	1	0
Wexford	105	19	1	0
Wicklow	9	1	1	0

* The statistics provided are provisional, operational and liable to change and are valid for the period 13th April 2017- 12th October 2018.

Garda Equipment

Questions (310)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

310. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that have been trained to use devices (details supplied) to date; and the number of device mouthpieces that have been used by gardaí in 2018. [43261/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí that have been trained to use the specified devices is given in the following table, broken down by Garda division. 

Region	Division	No. of personnel trained
Eastern Region	Meath	117
	Wicklow	57
	Kildare	55
	Laois/Offaly	55
	Westmeath	101
DMR	DMR North	14
	DMR South	58
	DMR East	52
	DMR West	25
	DMR North-Central	33
	DMR South-Central	330
	DMR Traffic	58
South-Eastern	Kilkenny/Carlow	228
	Tipperary	83
	Waterford	142
	Wexford	112
Western Region	Clare	186
	Galway	202
	Mayo	153
	Roscommon/Longford	157
Southern Region	Cork City	108
	Cork North	92
	Cork West	228
	Kerry	99
	Limerick	168
Northern Region	Donegal	170
	Sligo/Leitrim	32
	Cavan/Monaghan	118
	Louth	94

 

*Figures provided are as of the 24th August 2018. All data provided is provisional, operational, and subject to change.

Regarding the number of mouthpieces that have been used by Gardaí in 2018, I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to these statistics and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of this report.

Visa Applications

Questions (311)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a long-stay visa in the case of a person (details supplied); when the appeal will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43262/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 507 of 7 September 2018 (copied below for reference). Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to give a definitive date as to when this particular appeal will be finalised. The Deputy can be assured that the applicant will be advised of the outcome in due course.

Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 507 of 7 September 2018.

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to does not currently have permission to reside in the State, and their most recent permission to remain in the State, on the basis of marriage to an Irish national, expired on 25 August 2016.

I am further advised that the person, having left Ireland, was refused a long-stay Join Family Visa on 16 July 2018, and an appeal was received in the Visa Office in Dublin on 18 August 2018.

Appeals are processed in the order in which they are received in order to be fair to all applicants. While every effort is made to do so as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, the resources available to process them and the complexity of the application and subsequent appeal. Processing times may also vary where a detailed assessment of family rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights is required. In the circumstances, therefore, I cannot at this time give a definitive date as to when this particular appeal will be finalised.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail 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 e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund

Questions (312)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

312. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the spend on the asylum migration and integration fund for each year since its inception by project and location. [43295/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

 Ireland’s National Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) Programme was approved by the European Commission on 21 March 2016. The EU Funds Unit in the Department of Justice and Equality has been designated as Ireland’s Responsible Authority for the AMIF. The funding available to Ireland under the AMIF will be used over the lifetime of the Programme – the eligibility period extends to 2022 – to support actions that will help the National Objectives set out in the National Programme. (Further details of the National Programme, including details of the National Objectives and specific actions set by Ireland can be found at: http://www.integration.ie/en/isec/pages/eu_funds)

  The total AMIF spend managed by the EU Funds Unit is as follows:

Total spend 2015	€132,190.68
Total Spend 2016	€873,301.00
Total Spend 2017	€3,144,728.82
Total Spend 2018 (to-date)	€1,995,291.50
	€6,145,512.00

The funds are distributed using three mechanisms: Open Calls for Proposals, Direct Awards and by Delegated Authority. AMIF Funding is also used for Technical Assistance activities of the EU Funds Unit.  

Below is an explanation of each of these mechanisms along with details of the spend which has occurred.  

Open Call:

In 2016, an Open Call for Proposals was issued and 20 projects were selected from 45 applicants following an appraisal process. Over €4.5 million was committed under this call for the 2017-2020 period.  

The projects selected for funding will receive 75% of the eligible project costs. The applicant organisations are required to provide the 25% matching funding.

Project/beneficiary	Grant Award Total	Location	Amount paid 2017	Amount paid 2018 (to-date)
Clare Immigrant Support Centre Ltd	€180,000	Co Clare	€54,000.00	€54,000.00
Crosscare	€248,981	Dublin & surrounding areas	€74,694.15	€74,694.15
Doras Luimní	€234,245	Limerick & Mid West Region	€70,273.50
Edmund Rice	€150,000	Waterford/Wexford/Kilkenny/Carlow	€45,000.00
Football Association of Ireland	€150,073	National	€45,021.83
Galway City Partnership	€201,000	Galway City and   County	€60,300.00
Immigrant Council of Ireland	€150,000	National	€45,000.00
Irish Refugee Council	€300,000	National focus on areas with low/no information provision	€90,000.00
Irish Traveller Movement	€150,410	National	€45,122.85	€45,122.85
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Ltd.	€179,954	Dublin	€53,986.09	€53,986.09
KASI	€180,000	Killarney & Tralee	€54,000.00	€54,000.00
Kilmallock Performing Centre	€168,750	Limerick City, Co Cork, Co Clare	€50,625.00
Laois Partnership Company	€150,000	Co Laois	€45,000.00
Mary Immaculate College	€300,000	Limerick City	€90,000.00
Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland	€250,000	11 sites nationwide	€75,000.00	€75,000.00
NASC	€200,000	Cork	€60,000.00
National College of Ireland	€150,000	Dublin North & South Inner City	€45,000.00
South Dublin County Partnership	€150,000	South Dublin County	€45,000.00
South West Mayo Development Company	€265,814	Mayo	€79,744.20	€79,744.20
Spirasi	€750,000	National	€225,000.00	€178,071.00
Totals	€4,509,227		€1,352,767.62	€614,618.29

 

Direct Awards:

In addition, under the AMIF Commission Delegated Regulation Article 7 – (EU) No. 1042/2014 - The Responsible Authority (EU Funds Unit) may award grants directly. 

To date 4 Direct Award Grants have been made, 3 to the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (to fund local authorities' resettlement programmes for refugees) and 1 to the Reception and Integration Agency. The details and spend are listed below.  The Irish Refugee Protection Programme and the Reception and Integration Agency receive 75% of the eligible project costs (represented below) and are required to provide the 25% matching funding/remainder of the project costs.

Beneficiary	Grant Award Total	Location	Amount paid 2016	Amount paid 2017	Amount paid 2018 (to-date)
Irish Refugee Protection Programme: Direct Award 1	€1,522,020.00	National/International	€452,578.00	€224,139.00	€23,110.00
Irish Refugee Protection Programme: Direct Award 2	€2,000,000.00	National/International	n/a	€998,771.00	€257,001.00
Irish Refugee Protection Programme: Direct Award 3	€1,500,000.00	National/International	n/a	n/a	€0.00
Reception and Integration Agency: Direct Award 4	€77,675.00	Co Clare	n/a	n/a	€0.00
Totals:	€5,099,695.00		€452,578.00	€1,222,910.00	€280,111.00

Delegated Authority:

The Repatriation Unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service has received a delegated authority to manage the portion of the AMIF that relates to the Special Objective on Returns. AMIF funding represents 75% of the Delegated Authority’s spend and the Delegated Authority is required to provide the balance of 25%.

	Spend 2017	Spend 2018 (to-date)
Delegated Authority	€460,938.83	€852,452.67

 

Technical Assistance:

Under the basic acts and regulations governing AMIF 2014-2020, the EU Funds Unit can use AMIF funding to support the preparatory, monitoring, administrative, evaluation, audit and control measures and activities required for it to implement the AMIF regulations successfully.

	2015	2016	2017	2018
Technical Assistance	€132,190.68	€420,723.00	€108,112.37	€248,109.54

 

Further AMIF funding:

It is intended that a further Open Call for Proposals will be announced in early 2019. Approximately €4 million will be available to fund projects, mainly to be delivered by NGOs, for the period 2019 - 2022.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Questions (313)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

313. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered increased liaison with the business community, Maynooth University, an organisation (details supplied) and the wider community following issues in respect of night time anti-social behaviour in Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43325/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I have no direct role in this regard. However, I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continue to regard all forms of anti-social behaviour very seriously.

Working with communities to tackle public disorder and reduce anti-social behaviour is a key priority for An Garda Síochána. This approach includes a strong focus on quality of life issues and collaboration with local authorities to help address the causes of anti-social behaviour. I might add that there is a range of strong legislative provisions available to An Garda Síochána to combat anti-social behaviour, including provisions under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Acts, the Criminal Damage Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Acts. There are also the incremental provisions contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 which provide, in Part 11, for warnings and civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults and, in Part 13 of the Act, for warnings, good behaviour contracts and civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by children.

I can inform the Deputy that officials from my Department are currently liaising and meeting with a number of Garda Business Forums around the country, to support local crime prevention initiatives and to assist with the development of policy to tackle issues such as vandalism and night time anti-social behaviour. This process will continue into next year, and in that regard I have requested that contact is made by my officials with the local crime prevention officer in Maynooth.

If the organisations in question have any specific proposals they would like to make in relation to combatting anti-social behaviour, I would be happy to make arrangements for the proposals to be brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (314)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

314. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of engagements, meetings or correspondence that he has had with a person (details supplied) in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43397/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have not had meetings or correspondence with the individual in question in the past 3 years.

Immigration Policy

Questions (315)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

315. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if steps will be taken to provide certainty to undocumented persons resident here that wish to return home for a family funeral that they will gain re-entry on their return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43412/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the legal representative of the person concerned has not been in contact with INIS in relation to the change in the person's circumstances.  I am further advised that it is open to the person's legal representatives to write to Unit 1, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, INIS, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 and the matter will be given detailed consideration.

Ministerial Correspondence

Questions (316)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

316. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43420/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have received the correspondence to which the Deputy's question refers.  A response will issue to the Deputy shortly.

Visa Applications

Questions (317)

Micheál Martin

Question:

317. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an appointment that has been sought by a person (details supplied) to attend an appointment at the Irish Natural Immigration Service in order that they can discuss their visa in view of the fact they have been unable to receive the information online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43437/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that appointments are not available to individuals to discuss their visa status and that such queries should be dealt with by email to the relevant section. A list of contact emails can be found on the website www.inis.gov.ie.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail 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 e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Garda Recruitment

Questions (318)

Peter Burke

Question:

318. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the next recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána will commence for new entrants; the number of stages in the recruitment process; if candidates can appeal decisions made against them during this process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43457/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there is currently no date for the commencement of a new recruitment campaign for Garda Trainees.

As the Deputy will be aware 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.

I am informed that the most recent recruitment campaign which closed for applications on the 7 June 2018 again received a strong response with approximately 6,300 applications received. This compares favourably to the 2017 competition which received approximately 5,400 applications and indicates that a career in An Garda Síochána continues to be regarded as an attractive and rewarding profession.  

The Deputy will be aware that since the re-opening of Templemore College in September 2014, we have been rebuilding the Garda organisation and I am pleased that, since then, approximately 2,200 new Garda members have attested and been assigned to duties in communities throughout the country. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to approximately 13,500 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.  With another attestation of approximately 200 Garda recruits due to take place in November, Garda numbers will increase to approximately 14,000 by the end of this year for the first time since 2011.

By year end, a further 800 new Garda Recruits will have entered the Garda College in 2018 and I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. In that regard to support the Commissioner in this recruitment, I have secured funding in Budget 2019 which will facilitate the recruitment of up to 800 more Gardaí next year.

This is an ambitious programme of recruitment and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates.

Regarding the stages of the recruitment process, in accordance with the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 the Public Appointments Service (PAS), on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for the selection of Garda trainees. Currently, the first three stages of the process which are conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) are as follows;

Stage 1: Online Assessment – Unsupervised

Stage 2: Assessment Test & Exercises – Supervised

Stage 3: Interview & Other Assessments

Appeals for the first three stages of the process are dealt with by PAS, and I as Minister have no function or direct involvement in this process. Following these three stages, successful candidates from the PAS process are forwarded to An Garda Síochána.

The final stages of the recruitment process in which candidates are vetted, and complete a physical competency test and a medical examination, are managed by the Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct involvement in the matter.

I would advise any candidate for a position as a Garda trainee to contact the PAS or the Garda Appointments Office, depending on the relevant stage of the application process, if they have any queries in relation to their application.

Potential candidates should also continue to monitor publicjobs.ie for details of any upcoming competitions.

State Properties

Questions (319)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

319. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a property (details supplied) is vacant; his plans for its use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43461/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

My Department does not own or lease this property and is not aware of any plans for its use. The majority of properties occupied by my Department are owned or leased on its behalf by the Office of Public Works (OPW), including the premises occupied by the Office of the State Pathologist.

Garda Deployment

Questions (320)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

320. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí allocated to Nobber Garda station in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the opening hours of the station in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43493/18]

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 and Garda station opening hours, 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.

For the Deputy's information, I have provided below in tabular form the opening hours of Nobber Garda Station as provided by the Commissioner which are subject to operational demands and available personnel. I understand that telephone calls outside of opening times are diverted directly to the Divisional Office at Navan.

 

Year	Mon to Friday	Saturday	Sunday
2018	10am to 1pm Personnel Permitting	11pm to 1pm Personnel Permitting	10am to 1pm Personnel Permitting
2017	10am to 11am. 6pm to 8pm Personnel Permitting	11am to 1pm Personnel Permitting	12pm to 1pm Personnel Permitting
2016	10am to 1pm Personnel Permitting	11pm to 1pm Personnel Permitting
2015	10am to 1pm Personnel Permitting	11pm to 1pm Personnel Permitting
2013	9am - 11am	9am - 11am	10am - 12 noon
2012	10am   - 1pm & 6pm - 9pm	10am  - 1pm	12am  - 1pm

 *Please note that records for 2014 are not available at this time.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to Garda personnel as provided by the Garda Commissioner is available on my Department’s website through the link below.

Garda Nos. 2009-2018

For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the link:

http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures .

Garda-PSNI Transfers

Questions (321)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

321. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the promotion opportunities in An Garda Síochána will be extended or open to officers in the PSNI in 2019 to interview in the context of the recent Budget 2019 statement in which it was indicated that promotions will be provided for an additional 110 sergeants and 81 inspectors in 2019 in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43509/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am pleased that the recent Budget provides resources to increase the number of sergeants in An Garda Síochána by 110 and the number of Inspectors by 81.  As the number of members of An Garda Síochána continues to increase towards the target of 15,000 by 2021, it is critical that sufficient numbers of supervisors are in place.

At the moment, promotions to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector are governed by the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (as amended).  These Regulations restrict the pool of applicants to serving members of An Garda Síochána at the ranks of Garda and Sergeant respectively. 

It is to be noted that appointment to the ranks of Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, and Assistant Commissioner is open to both members of An Garda Síochána and members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.  Appointments to these ranks are made by the Policing Authority on foot of competitions run by the Authority.  Appointment to the equivalent ranks in the PSNI is open to members of An Garda Síochána.

Insofar as the filling of current and future vacancies at the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector in An Garda Síochána is concerned, I am advised by the Commissioner that a competition recently concluded for promotion to the rank of Sergeant and a competition for promotion to the rank of Inspector is expected to conclude next month. The panels formed from these competitions will be drawn upon as needed by the Commissioner until they are exhausted. 

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate’s Review of Entry-Routes into An Garda Síochána, which was published in July 2018, proposes extending the existing reciprocal arrangements with the PSNI to allow access to the Sergeant and Inspector promotion processes in both jurisdictions (An Garda Síochána and the PSNI). The recently published Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland endorses this recommendation and the related recommendation that reciprocal arrangements with other police services should also be explored.

I will be returning to Government in December with a High Level Plan to implement the recommendations in the Commission report.  As part of that, I will be addressing how the recommendations in relation to entry to An Garda Síochána are to be progressed.

Garda Procedures

Questions (322)

Clare Daly

Question:

322. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to statutory declarations on the back of summonses being stamped by An Garda Síochána in the place of a peace commissioner in circumstances in which summonses have been sent by registered post; the statutory basis for this activity; his views on whether it is fatally undermining both prosecutions and citizens rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43513/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the matters raised in the Deputy's question and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of this report.

Commission on the Future of Policing Reports

Questions (323)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

323. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the implementation of all of the recommendations contained in the Future of Policing in Ireland report by the Commission for Policing Reform; if he has been advised on the need for amendments to legislation or the need for new legislation in order to fully implement the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43516/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware the Commission on the Future of Policing published its report on 18 September. The report contains a wide range of recommendations which comprehensively address all the themes set out in the Commission's terms of reference.

The Report makes many innovative proposals aimed at strengthening our national security arrangements; empowering the Garda Commissioner to ensure more effective management of the Garda organisation; supporting the internal governance of the Garda organisation through the introduction of a Board and reforming the method of recruitment and training of Gardaí.  It also makes a number of recommendations on external oversight arrangements as well as on the Commissioner’s engagement with the Oireachtas.

This is a major report on one of the key functions of the State and it is now receiving appropriate consideration. My Department is undertaking a detailed consultation process with the new Commissioner and other agencies as well as with other Government departments which are potentially impacted by the report's recommendations. As part of this process, I have asked the Garda Commissioner to respond to the recommendations in the report insofar as they directly concern An Garda Síochána. I have requested that this response will include an implementation plan of how he intends to take matters forward.

I have also written to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality and I look forward to hearing their direct response to the Report in the coming weeks.  I also understand that Kathleen O'Toole, the Chair of the Commission, has been invited to address the Committee next month.  I am very grateful to Ms. O'Toole and the other members of the Commission for their comprehensive report and I believe this will be a very useful engagement which will allow members to hear directly from the Commission as to how it approached its task and reached its detailed findings.

Once these engagements are completed, I intend to seek the Government's approval for a High-level Implementation Plan to take forward the agreed recommendations in the Report.

The Commission recommends significant legislative change and my plans to progress this important aspect of the Report will form part of my proposals to Government in December.

My Department, in consultation with the Department of the Taoiseach, is moving quickly to establish the Implementation Group for Policing Reform and the Implementation Programme Office as recommended by the Commission.  We expect to be in a position to appoint the independent Chair of Implementation Group shortly.  Given the whole-of-Government reach of the report, this Implementation Group and Programme Office will be based in the Department of the Taoiseach. 

While the programme of reform that the Commission outlines is undoubtedly an opportunity for transformational change, it is also extremely challenging, requiring actions across Government. It is prudent that we take some time now to ensure that the necessary structures and resources are in place to deliver this programme of transformation.  The Commission has suggested that transformation should be substantially completed by the centenary of the establishment of An Garda Síochána in 2022.  That is, in my view, a realistic target.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Questions (324)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

324. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will seek assurances from the Garda Commissioner that additional attention will be provided to an area (details supplied) in the run up to Halloween and including Halloween day and night; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43550/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I have no direct role in this regard. However, I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continue to regard all forms of anti-social behaviour very seriously.

Working with communities to tackle public disorder and reduce anti-social behaviour is a key priority for An Garda Síochána. This approach includes a strong focus on quality of life issues and collaboration with local authorities to help address the causes of anti-social behaviour. I might add that there is a range of strong legislative provisions available to An Garda Síochána to combat anti-social behaviour, including provisions under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Acts, the Criminal Damage Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Acts. There are also the incremental provisions contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 which provide, in Part 11, for warnings and civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults and, in Part 13 of the Act, for warnings, good behaviour contracts and civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by children.

Clearly, Garda visibility in our communities is very important and this Government remains 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.  An Garda Síochána is currently undertaking a programme of accelerated recruitment, as part of the Government’s commitment to a strengthened service through the Five Year High Level Reform and Workforce Plan, which will see an overall workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021.

While An Garda Síochána will continue to tackle these problems head-on, they cannot eradicate the problem of anti-social behaviour alone. Specifically in relation to young offenders, it is also up to us as adults, particularly the parents and guardians of our young, to ensure that children are raised to be respectful and law-abiding. These lessons begin in the home, are further reinforced in our schools and then by wider society in general. We must all work together to ensure that such behaviour is never normalised and is tackled immediately.

Garda Resources

Questions (325)

Joan Burton

Question:

325. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the expenditure, excluding salaries, on each Garda station in County Louth in the past five years; the requests made by the individual stations in County Louth for expenditure; the criteria by which funding was allocated to the relevant station or stations that received funding from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43677/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal.  In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Commissioner is also responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

I have asked the Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is received I will write directly to the Deputy.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to parliamentary question No. 325 for answer on 23 October 2018 in which the Deputy asked the expenditure, excluding salaries, on each Garda station in County Louth in the past five years; the requests made by the individual stations in County Louth for expenditure; the criteria by which funding was allocated to the relevant station and or stations that received funding from the State.

As the Deputy will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.

As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and as such is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal. The Commissioner is also responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

The following information is limited to expenditure on building and maintenance works on the stations in question and does not include day-to-day expenditure.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Louth Division of An Garda Síochána currently comprises 13 stations, as follows: Ardee, Blackrock, Carlingford, Castlebellingham, Clogherhead, Collon, Drogheda, Dromad, Dundalk, Dunleer, Hackballscross, Louth and Omeath.

I am informed that the OPW has responsibility for undertaking all works carried out at Garda stations. The funding of such works is provided for as per Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 1/2013. This provides that OPW fund certain works related to the fabric of the building and maintenance works.

An Garda Síochána funds works to meet the business needs of the Garda organisation. I am advised that the criteria by which applications are assessed include health and safety, operational efficiency, security, expansion of Garda workforce and whether the works sought would support the Garda Modernisation and Renewal Programme.

Expenditure on these stations for 2014 to 2018 (to September) is detailed in the following table below. This comprises expenditure of €1,943,790 by the OPW and €581,963 by An Garda Síochána. I am informed that the expenditure was as follows:

Garda Station	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018 to Sept.
Drogheda	€85,678	€189,695	€39,933	€163,373	€66,080
Clogherhead	€5,607	€519	€34,634	€1,016	€686
Dunleer	€3,353	€12,094	€27,629	€13,640	€4,145
Dundalk	€174,168	€508,576	€212,215	€127,481	€119,809
Blackrock	€8,053	€9,013	€5,049	€14,385	€10,447
Carlingford	€15,597	€8,637	€7,320	€26,560	€19,237
Dromad	€1,974	€4,420	€3,463	€46,381	€13,801
Hackballscross	€3,814	€5,981	€13,022	€8,161	€1,659
Omeath	€1,069	€17,407	€12,491	€22,784	€658
Ardee	€2,110	€14,588	€8,997	€41,210	€28,723
Castlebellingham	€1,657	€6,901	€245	€140,031	€110,622
Collon	€7,522	€2,070	€6,987	€3,086	€5,687
Louth	€3,623	€64,406	€692	€4,414	€468
Totals	€314,225	€844,307	€372,677	€612,522	€382,022

I trust this information is of assistance.