Written Answers Nos. 228-249
228. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding and-or grant aid his Department has made to an association (details supplied) from 1 January 2008 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the purpose for which the funding and-or grant aid was released to the association; if the way in which the funding and-or grant aid is used is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50070/18]
View answerFrom 2008 - 2015, a total of €987,899 was made available to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for the purposes of supporting intercultural football programmes with the objective of promoting integration and combating racism through the medium of sport.
In 2017 a grant of €150,072.75 was awarded to the FAI. The first instalment of €45,021.83 was paid in 2017 with the remaining grant amount to be paid in three further instalments throughout the lifetime of the project, contingent on satisfactory checks and audit. The grant was awarded under an Open Call Process for grant funding under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). The project is titled 'Grassroots Integration through Football'. The aim of the project is to foster integration in Irish society using football, by mobilising community participation nationally. The project is seeking to involve over 6000 participants. The EU Funds Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality is the Responsible Authority for AMIF in Ireland. As part of the grant agreement the FAI is required to provide quarterly financial and operational returns on their activity. In addition, 'On the Spot' (planned and unplanned) verifications can take place. Additional audit is/may be carried out by the Department of Justice Internal Audit section and by the European Commission.
229. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years March 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the cost of same; the company involved; and the title and publication date by report, in tabular form. [50100/18]
View answerIn respect of the Deputy’s question please see the table in the following link, which outlines the external consultant reports commissioned by my Department in each of the years March 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the cost of same; the company involved; and the title and publication date by report.
230. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has examined the information provided to him regarding the pursuance of a person (details supplied); the action he has taken on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50121/18]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that I have previously received other correspondence in relation to allegations made by the person in question against the Gardaí. I have replied to that earlier correspondence indicating that, as Minister, I cannot interfere in the matter which has been the subject of a Garda investigation, a decision of the DPP and has resulted in court proceedings which are now completed.
231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time for cases to be decided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50163/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted (General Scheme). Under the terms of the Scheme, the Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of individual decisions on applications for compensation.
Tribunal members, who are practising barristers and practising solicitors in the Courts system, provide their services on a part time basis to the Tribunal. I have ensured that a full Tribunal membership has been maintained in order to continue to address claims as promptly as possible within the funds available.
However, it should be noted that 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, for example a Garda Report or further supporting documentation from the applicant. In the case of serious injury to the victim, it can take considerable time (and in some cases years) before a treating consultant is in a position to give a final prognosis. Accordingly, the processing time for each case can vary widely.
Insofar as average processing times are concerned, I can inform the Deputy that I have requested an assessment of the caseload of the Tribunal and have asked my officials to examine this assessment and seek the views of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in this regard. I will contact the Deputy with further information in due course.
I can also advise the Deputy that, in view of the length of time since the Scheme was last revised, my Department has submitted a request for a review of the Scheme to the Law Reform Commission (LRC) for consideration in the context of its Programme of Law Reform.
Furthermore, in view of a number of large value awards in the current year, I can inform the Deputy that I have obtained approval for an increased allocation of €2.4m, for 2018, as part of a Supplementary Estimate for the Vote which will bring the total compensation allocation to €6.416m.
232. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that local communities in County Donegal in which direct provision facilities are being proposed have been adequately consulted regarding such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50200/18]
View answerIn January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process. This accommodation is for those seeking international protection, namely asylum seekers.
This call sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in providing accommodation and related services on an urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from those persons arriving in the state seeking international protection.
The criteria against which the Department assessed the offers of accommodation were availability, standard of property, ability to provide communal social spaces for residents, ability to cater at mealtimes and proximity to required various services.
It should be noted that these premises were offered to the Department by individual contractors across the country. The Department did not randomly choose any one location over another location.
Following on-site assessments carried out by staff in the Department, the offer of the Caislean Mara hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal was deemed to be suitable premises for the needs of the Department. At that time, the premises was available, capable of providing meals to residents and has scope to provide the required communal social areas required by residents.
Following the conclusion of negotiations between the Department and the Contractor, all local councillors and elected members of the Oireachtas were contacted. It was not possible to begin consultations earlier as the Department did not know until such negotiations were completed that it would be possible to use the facility. Officials from my Department also attended an information meeting in Moville with the local community which was attended also by local Councillors and elected members of the Oireachtas. This meeting provided an opportunity to answer questions on the centre from members of the local community.
The Deputy will be aware that since then, the hotel was the subject of an arson attack which has caused some damage to the reception area and some bedrooms. I have repeatedly condemned this attack and I do so again. While this attack will inevitably cause a delay in the opening of the accommodation centre, officials from the Reception and Integration Agency in my Department remain in close contact with their colleagues in the HSE and the Departments of Education and Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The purpose behind this is to ensure that any issues that arise are addressed as quickly as possible.
233. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is discretion for the granting of a gaming licence for a premises located in an area in which gaming is prohibited by a local authority; the course of action open to the local authority, other organisations or citizens in cases in which such a licence is granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50247/18]
View answerMy Department has no role in respect of the licensing and regulation of gaming machines.
All lawful gaming in amusement and gaming arcades in Ireland is confined to areas in respect of which Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 is in force. Part III is only in force where a resolution has been passed by the relevant local authority.
In the case of amusement and gaming arcades, an application for a certificate may only be made to the District Court in respect of a premises which is located within an area where the local authority has passed a motion adopting Part III of the Act (i.e. where the local authority has allowed gaming in its administrative area).
Under section 15 of the 1956 Act, a District Court may grant a certificate authorising the issue of a licence permitting gaming in an amusement hall or funfair. Section 18 of the 1956 Act allows for an appeal to the Circuit Court from an order (or any particular part thereof) of the District Court refusing an application for such a certificate, or by any person at hearing opposing an application at the District Court from an order (or any particular part thereof) granting a certificate.
Section 19 of the same Act provides that the Revenue Commissioners shall, on the application of a person to whom a certificate for a gaming licence has been granted by the District Court and on payment by that person of the relevant excise duty to Revenue, issue to that person a gaming licence. Applicants are also required to hold a current tax clearance certificate.
234. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the public events he attended by county since 1 May 2018 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50287/18]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the information sought cannot be provided in the time allowed. As soon as the information has been collated I will write to the Deputy directly on the matter.
235. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 133 of 15 November 2017, 172 of 28 March 2018 and 555 of 4 April 2018, if he will direct the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal to provide an update on the status of the claim (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; and if this matter will be resolved as a matter of priority in view of the length of time the process has been allowed to continue. [50345/18]
View answerThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, which has responsibility for the administration of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted, is independent of my Department in the processing of individual applications under the Scheme.
However, to be of assistance to the Deputy I have made enquiries with the Tribunal and have been informed that the Tribunal wrote further to the applicant's legal representative on 3 December 2018.
236. Deputy Kate O'Connell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of contracts and-or tenders that have been awarded to a company (details supplied); the value of these contracts, that is, the amount the company has been paid; the services the contracts were for; and the number of public sector and-or publicly funded catering facilities being run by the company. [50367/18]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that the information sought cannot be provided in the time allowed. As soon as the information has been collated I will write to the Deputy on the matter.
237. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the waiting times for Garda vetting clearance; if an application (details supplied) which has exceeded the 12 week waiting time will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50372/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will understand, given the nature of the functions of the Irish Prison Service, it is necessary for checks, secondary and in addition to vetting, to be carried out on persons considered for employment.
These checks can take time to complete for a variety of reasons depending on the individual case. However, I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made to expedite this process to the greatest extent possible and to ensure that there is no undue delay arising.
I have been in contact with the Garda Authorities to make the necessary enquiries in respect of the individual case the Deputy has raised and I will correspond directly with the Deputy when they have been completed.
238. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in which the person's application for citizenship which was approved in December 2017 and has now been held up for almost a year in having the case fully concluded and an invitation to a citizenship ceremony issued; if it is common practice for citizenship applications to be held up indefinitely on the basis of information for which there is no paper trail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50381/18]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union as well as international level. It is therefore important that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure that the integrity of the regime for granting Irish citizenship through the naturalisation process is held in high regard both at home and internationally.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While the Citizenship Division endeavours to ensure that most straightforward cases are processed to a decision within six months, this has to be seen in the context of the work involved in dealing with volumes of applications, some of which can be very complex in nature, and the need to ensure that each applicant fulfils the statutory conditions for naturalisation. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases can take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks may take a considerable period of time.
In this case information has been received which requires further consideration and the application cannot proceed until this process is concluded. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is essential that all relevant information is considered so that a fully informed decision on any citizenship application can be made. This does not mean that an application decision is held up indefinitely.
I am advised that the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department will revert to the applicant if further information is required.
239. 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. [50382/18]
View answerAs outlined in previous replies to a number of Parliamentary Questions on the matter, it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this particular appeal will be finalised. The Deputy can be assured that the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service of my Department will advise the applicant when the decision is made.
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.
240. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will suspend his plans to house asylum seekers in a facility (details supplied) until the legal proceedings draw to a conclusion in view of legal proceedings that are now in the High Court regarding the facility. [50384/18]
View answerIn January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process. It is worth noting that refugees are persons who have already been granted international protection status in Ireland. This accommodation is for those seeking international protection, namely asylum seekers.
This call sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in providing accommodation and related services on an urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from those persons arriving in the state seeking international protection.
The criteria against which the Department assessed the offers of accommodation were availability, standard of property, ability to provide communal social spaces for residents, ability to cater at mealtimes and proximity to required various services.
It should be noted that these premises were offered to the Department by individual contractors across the country. The Department did not randomly choose any one location over another location.
Following on-site assessments carried out by staff in the Department, the offer of the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey was deemed to be suitable premises for the needs of the Department. The premises is available, decorated to a high standard, capable of providing meals to residents and has scope to provide the required communal social areas required by residents.
My Department has reached agreement with Abbey Castle Accommodation Limited to provide accommodation and ancillary services at the Shannon Key West Hotel for up to 81 persons for one year, pending the completion of all necessary works.
I am aware of a case before the High Court in relation to the premises. Neither the Department nor Abbey Castle Accommodation Limited are part of these proceedings. I cannot comment further on the case.
241. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 9 October 2018, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50385/18]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that I have again requested a report from An Garda Síochána as a matter of urgency in relation to the statistics which were sought in Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 9 October 2018. I will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.
242. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have transferred to the PSNI; and the number of PSNI officers who have transferred to An Garda Síochána. [50423/18]
View answer243. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána and the PSNI who have taken part in personnel exchanges for each year since 2005; and the time each exchange lasted. [50424/18]
View answer244. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the rank of the members of An Garda Síochána and the PSNI who have taken part in personnel exchanges for each year since 2005; and the time each exchange lasted. [50425/18]
View answer245. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have been on secondment with the PSNI; and the number of PSNI officers who have been on secondment with An Garda Síochána. [50426/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 to 245, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner 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.
An Garda Síochána currently does not allow lateral entry from other police services with the exception of reciprocal arrangements for senior appointments with the PSNI. However, the Deputy will be aware that An 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 report by the Commission on the Future of Policing endorses this recommendation and the related recommendation that reciprocal arrangements with other police services should also be explored.
I am supportive of extending the existing reciprocal arrangements with the PSNI to allow access to the Sergeant and Inspector promotion processes in both jurisdictions, however there are a number of practical issues which need to be addressed, for example the need for training and the requirement to pass the Sergeants and Inspectors promotional examinations which are largely based on Irish Law. I have asked my officials to consider these issues in consultation with the Commissioner.
The Inter-Governmental Agreement on Police Co-operation obliged both Governments to introduce the necessary administrative and legislative measures to provide for exchanges, secondments and appointments between the Garda Síochana and the PSNI. Section 52 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 gives effect to this obligations.
The Act provides for the secondment from the PSNI to certain ranks in An Garda Síochána for a period not exceeding 3 years. Protocols are in place between the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI which provide for the implementation of a programme of personnel exchanges and secondments between the two police services.
As regards secondments, I am informed that one member of An Garda Síochána was seconded to the PSNI since 2005 with the same powers and duties as a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No members of the PSNI have been seconded to An Garda Síochána.
As regards personnel exchanges, for the Deputy’s information I have set out in the following table the number and Rank of members from An Garda Síochána and of the PSNI that have taken part in personnel exchanges for each year since 2005, and the duration of each exchange, as supplied by the Garda Commissioner.
Number, Rank and duration of exchange by members of An Garda Síochána and PSNI for each year since 2005
|
Year |
AGS to PSNI |
Duration of Exchange |
PSNI to AGS |
Duration of Exchange |
|
2005 |
1 Superintendent |
2 months |
1 Superintendent |
2 months |
|
2006 |
2 Superintendents 1 Garda |
2 months |
1 Superintendent |
2 months |
|
2007 |
3 Sergeant 6 Gardaí |
2 months |
3 Inspectors 2 Sergeants 8 Constables |
2 months |
|
2008 |
4 Sergeants 13 Gardaí |
2 months |
1 Chief Superintendent 4 Inspectors 2 Sergeants 6 Constables |
2 months |
|
2009 |
2 Sergeants 9 Gardaí 6 Gardaí |
2 months1 month |
2 Inspectors 2 Sergeants 2 Constables 2 Sergeants 3 Constables |
2 months1 month |
|
2010 |
2 Inspectors 5 Sergeants 8 Gardaí |
1 month |
2 Inspectors 3 Sergeants 13 Constables |
1 month |
|
2011 |
7 Sergeants 8 Gardaí |
1 month |
1 Inspector 3 Sergeants 12 Constables |
1 month |
|
2012 |
1 Inspector 3 Sergeants 5 Gardaí |
1 month |
4 Sergeants 3 Constables |
1 month |
|
2013 |
1 Sergeant 4 Gardaí |
1 month |
1 Constable |
1 month |
|
2014 |
Nil |
N/A |
2 Constables |
2 weeks |
|
2015 |
6 Sergeants 2 Gardaí |
2 Weeks |
5 Constables 3 Sergeants 1 Inspector |
2 Weeks |
|
2016 |
5 Sergeants 5 Gardaí |
2 weeks |
1 Inspector 2 Sergeants 2 Constables |
2 weeks |
|
2017 |
8 Gardaí |
3 weeks |
1 Sergeant 7 Constables |
3 weeks |
|
2018 |
1 Sergeant 6 Gardaí |
3 weeks |
1 Sergeant 5 Constables |
3 weeks |
|
*Total To Date |
124 |
111 |
*As of 3 December 2018
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 15 November 2018 (details supplied), when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50438/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, it is an offence under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015 to identify an international protection applicant. Therefore, If an application for international protection has been made in the State, it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant or their designated legal advisor should contact the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate. This will enable a full and comprehensive reply to be provided.
The IPO may be contacted either by email to info@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted by email to info@protectionappeals.ie, by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458) or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 295 of 27 November 2018, the number of single person households, that is, households composed of just a single person, not families headed by a single person, living in direct provision centres at the end of 2017. [50471/18]
View answerAt the end of 2017, 2524 single persons resided in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency, Department of Justice and Equality; 599 females and 1925 males.
248. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána who are competent to do their business through the medium of Irish in addition to English, by division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50540/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister have no direct role in the matter.
The information requested is currently being compiled and I will revert directly to the Deputy when it is to hand.
249. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a recent study (details supplied) by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights which shows a high level of discrimination in the workplace against sub-Saharan Africans here; the steps he plans to take to oppose discrimination experienced by immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50548/18]
View answerWith respect to the study referred to by the Deputy, I am conscious of the issues raised, particularly regarding issues relating to employment among people of African origin in Ireland.
In response, the Migrant Integration Strategy includes an action specifically committing the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to undertake an analysis to assess the extent to which the level of joblessness among jobseekers of African origin exceeds that of other groups. This analysis has been completed and the report is currently being finalised. Once finalised, the report will be used to determine what action, if any, is required to address its findings. I am committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to improve outcomes in this area.
As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has comprehensive and robust equality legislation in place, namely the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 and the Equal Status Acts 2000-2015. Discrimination in the workplace in Ireland is covered by the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, which prohibit discrimination on nine grounds including race. This legislation is designed to promote equality, to prohibit discrimination and victimisation, and allows for positive measures to ensure full equality across the nine grounds.
