Tuesday, 29 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 241-258

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (241)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

241. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4343/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for major capital funding to my Department to construct a new school.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nation-wide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the four-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.

While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for the Wexford town area (which is located in the Wexford school planning area), the requirement for new schools will be kept under ongoing review and in particular will have regard for the increased roll-out of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects identified by my Department’s six-year construction programme to meet future demand, will remain the focus of my Department’s budget for the coming years.

State Examinations

Questions (242)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

242. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason registration for external candidates for the leaving certificate is not open on the website of the State Examinations Commission in view of the fact that the closing date is 7 February 2019; if his attention has been drawn to the concern this is causing students and parents; and if there will be an extension for students in view of the delay in opening registration. [4344/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to the Deputy.

Minor Works Scheme

Questions (243)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

243. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 6 December 2018, the reason an application by a school (details supplied) was not approved; the further detailed analysis required in the case; if the matter will be expedited prior to the estimated timeframe of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4357/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, the Summer Works Scheme, SWS, is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities. For the year 2016-2017, almost €117 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 940 school projects in categories 1 - 9. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website: www.education.ie.

The remaining 347 applications under Category 10 (External Works, e.g. upgrade and resurfacing of yards and car parking, etc.) have an estimated costing of over €30 million. Given the scale of costs involved, more detailed analysis of these applications is required to determine the pathway forward. It is intended to under take this analysis in 2019 with a view to enabling approved applications proceed in 2020.

Schools Facilities

Questions (244)

Willie Penrose

Question:

244. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to expedite an application by a school (details supplied) for AFD facilities and a science room; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been approved for the provision of an SEN Base and a Science Laboratory, inter alia, at the school to which the Deputy refers. Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board, LWETB, has been notified accordingly.

As the project has been devolved for delivery to LWETB, it is a matter for that ETB to advance the project.

School Accommodation

Questions (245)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry for additional accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4419/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a building project for this school is in the process of being devolved for delivery to Kerry Education and Training Board, KETB.

The first step in this process is the execution of a Service Level Agreement between my Department and KETB, and this is being arranged. Thereafter, the ETB will procure a Design Team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions and move the project onward to construction in due course.

Road Traffic Accidents Data

Questions (246)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of accidents at roundabouts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3706/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will appreciate that I, as Minister for Justice and Equality, have no role in relation to the collation of road traffic collision data, which is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. However, to be of assistance, I have asked An Garda Síochána for a report on the matter.

An Garda Síochána has provided the following table, which shows the number of road traffic collisions in the Kerry Division, where the collision "location type" was a roundabout. The data covers the period from January 2016 to December 2018 and is broken down into annual statistics, as follows:

Accident type	2016	2017	2018	Total
Material Damage Collisions	35	43	47	125
Non-Serious Collisions	0	2	4	6
Serious Injury Collisions	0	0	0	0
Fatal Collisions	0	0	0	0
Total	35	45	51	131

* An Garda Síochána advises that all figures provided are provisional, operational and subject to change and are correct as of 25 January 2019.

I am further advised by An Garda Síochána that the data is not recorded in such a way as to easily differentiate the geographic location of each roundabout comprehended by these statistics. To do so would involve significant research, which would not be justified due to the disproportionate amount of Garda time required.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (247)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

247. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria for applying for citizenship; the associated cost of same; if there are concessions for old age pensioners such as a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4234/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of recognised refugees and stateless persons the certification fee is nil.

There is no provision in the regulations for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities, or based on length of residency. While the operation of the Act is kept under review, there are no plans to amend the fees as they are comparable with other jurisdictions.

The standard fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for a certificate of naturalisation. The Deputy will be aware that formal citizenship ceremonies have been introduced at no extra cost to applicants. These have been universally well received by participants as the ceremonies provide a sense of dignity and occasion that serves to underscore the importance to both the State and the applicant of the granting of Irish citizenship.

Visa Applications

Questions (248)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

248. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the type of visa a non-EEA citizen can apply for to visit Ireland in the case of an Irish citizen who is getting married to a non-EEA citizen in their country; if they should apply for the visa before they are married; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3715/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I understand that the Deputy wishes to refer to Filipino nationals. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, of my Department that Filipino nationals, including those married to Irish citizens living abroad, are required to obtain a visa in order to travel to Ireland. In circumstances where the applicant is visiting, the person concerned may apply for a, "Visit Family/Friend", visa if they intend to visit family or friends or for a, "Visit Tourist", visa if they wish to do so without visiting family or friends. Prospective applicants for these types of visas are advised to make their application three months before their intended travel to Ireland.

The INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie) contains comprehensive guidelines to assist the applicant with the application process. It should, however, be noted that the information contained on the website is intended to provide guidance only and does not limit the discretion of the Visa Officer in dealing with individual applications. The onus rests at all times with the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that any visa sought should be granted.

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.

In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS ([e-mail]).

Prison Accommodation

Questions (249)

Micheál Martin

Question:

249. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that on 4 July 2018 there were 314 prisoners detained in Cork prison which has a capacity for 296 and a peak capacity of 310; if he was informed of these emergency circumstances; his views on whether the prison is safe for both staff and prisoners in cases in which the peak capacity is breached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3718/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to advise the Deputy that Cork Prison is the main committal prison for male prisoners from the counties of Cork, Kerry and Waterford. My officials in the Irish Prison Service have informed me that the current operational capacity figure for the Prison is 296 and that in 2018 the average daily population figure was 288.

The prison system is, of course, subject to peaks and troughs. Numbers can be particularly high when Courts are at their busiest, giving rise to a high number of committals. While there were 314 prisoners in Cork Prison on 4 July 2018, through a combination of temporary and full release and transfers to other prisons, my officials in the Irish Prison Service reduced this number over the following week to 288 prisoners on 11 July 2018.

It has to be acknowledged that the Irish Prison Service does not have the option of refusing committals and is required by law to accept all prisoners into their custody who have been committed to prison by the Courts. The Irish Prison Service therefore has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.

Where the number of prisoners exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, my officials make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release, as happened in Cork Prison on this occasion. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case-by-case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.

However, where it is not possible to reduce the capacity of a given prison in this manner, prisons may be required to operate in excess of their official bed capacity. Every effort is made by the Irish Prison Service to ensure that this requirement is limited in duration.

Garda Deployment

Questions (250)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

250. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed in Santry Garda station in each of the past ten years in tabular form. [3782/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, the manner in which the resources of the Garda Síochána are deployed is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this regard.

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 can assure the Deputy that local Garda management in the areas referred to remains resolute in its determination to act against all forms of criminal activity and will work with these communities to prevent and detect crime.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,400 Garda recruits have been assigned to mainstream duties nation-wide, including 800 trainees who passed out from the college during 2018.

The Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána to €1.76 billion for 2019, which includes provision for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí this year. The Commissioner has now informed me that he plans to recruit a total of 600 trainee Gardaí in 2019 and 600 Garda Civilian Staff. This Garda Staff recruitment will allow the Commissioner to redeploy a further 500 fully trained Gardaí from administrative duties to front-line policing in 2019.

I believe that the injection of this large number of experienced officers into the field, along with the new recruits, will be really beneficial in terms of protecting communities. This and ongoing recruitment will clearly provide the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí to deliver a visible effective and responsive policing service to communities across all Garda Divisions including the D.M.R. North Division.

Santry Garda Station is in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, DMR, North Division. The Garda strength of the DMR North Division from 2009 to 31 December 2018 as provided by the Garda Commissioner is available on my Department’s website through the following link:http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and%20Station_2009_to_30_December_2018.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and%20Station_2009_to_30_December_2018.xlsx.

For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures, please see the following link: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures.

Garda Stations

Questions (251)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the provision of a new Garda station for the Castletroy and Annacotty suburb of Limerick city (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3788/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. This represents an increase of over 6% over the initial allocation for 2018.

Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable; investment of €46 million in the Garda Fleet over the same period; as well as considerable capital investment in addressing the deficiencies in the Garda estate. This investment is in support of the 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 to deter crime.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, to ensure their best possible use. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities.

In that regard, I would recall that the Programme for a Partnership Government included a commitment for a review of Garda districts and dispersement of resources. The resulting report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate entitled, “Policing with Local Communities”, which was submitted to me as Minister by the Policing Authority and published in December 2018, also finds that the responsibility for decisions on boundaries and dispersement of Garda resources – including the number, type and location of Garda stations - should rest with the Garda Commissioner, as is currently the case.

I understand from the Garda authorities that Castletroy, the area referred to by the Deputy, is located on the N7 Limerick – Dublin road and that there are three existing Garda stations between five and ten kilometres away (Henry Street Garda station, Roxboro Road Garda station and Castleconnell Garda station). I understand that in addition, a weekly Garda Clinic is run on campus at the University of Limerick by Community Policing members based in the Henry Street District, to cater for student requirements (currently held on Wednesdays, from 13:00 -14.30).

I am informed by the Garda authorities of a range of other ongoing engagements, for instance the Community Policing Coordinator for Limerick and members of Community Policing sit on the Community Liaison Committee, which allows for representatives from the University, Student Services, local residents associations and the Local Authority to engage regularly in relation to campus and community related matters.

The Garda authorities further advise me that thefts from cars and burglaries in the area are specifically targeted by Operation Disruption. This operation also involves active patrolling of the area by plain clothes Gardaí in unmarked Garda vehicles. I understand that Gardaí allocated to Henry Street station are also tasked with performing Mandatory Intoxication checkpoints in Castletroy. Finally, the headquarters of the Divisional Specialised Units including Detective, Special Branch, Traffic Corps and Drug Unit are located only approximately five km from Castletroy.

In these circumstances, I am informed that the Garda do not propose a new station in Castletroy at the present time.

Garda Policing Plans

Questions (252)

Frank O'Rourke

Question:

252. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the redundancy programme for An Garda Síochána as recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland will be implemented in 2019; if so, the details of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, on 18 December 2018, the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and accepted all 157 key recommendations contained within the report. On 18 December 2018, I also published a four-year, high-level plan, "A Policing Service for the Future", which sets out the approach to implementation which will be overseen by a dedicated Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach, as recommended in the Commission’s report.

One of the recommendations proposes the development of a highly targeted, once-off severance option for management in An Garda Síochána to deploy. As set out in the implementation plan, this matter is being considered by the Garda Commissioner in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Expenditure and Reform. As per the Government Decision of 18 December, I intend to return to Government with a proposal for a limited severance programme to support policing reform in An Garda Síochána before the end of March.

Naturalisation Applications

Questions (253)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for naturalisation will be reconsidered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3801/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when he or she is in a position to meet the statutory conditions for naturalisation prescribed in the Act. The statutory residence conditions are that the applicant must have a period of one year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a further total residence amounting to four years (in the case of an application based on being the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen the Act reduces this further period to two years during the preceding four years).

Where an applicant is found to be non-resident or whose permission to remain in the State is out of date for substantial periods of time, such periods will not be reckonable for the purposes of satisfying the statutory residency conditions for naturalisation stipulated in the Act. This is of particular importance with regard to the requirement to have one year’s continuous residence in the State immediately prior to the date of application, and may also mean the requirement of total residence is not met.

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, of my Department that the application for naturalisation in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy will be reviewed if written confirmation from her Immigration Officer is supplied outlining the reason for the gap in her Permission to Remain stamp. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up-to-date at all times, and to have such permission registered. Failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation

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.

Departmental Data

Questions (254)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

254. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of injury warrants issued historically by his Department or the Irish Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3870/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

My Department does not issue Injury Warrants. I understand that matters relating to Injury Warrants come within the responsibility of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Questions (255)

Robert Troy

Question:

255. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will liaise with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that an official bus stop is put in place at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3919/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

In January of 2018, 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 (asylum seekers).

This call sought expressions of interest from parties who may 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 various other services.

Following the call for expressions of interest in January 2018, the Temple Spa Hotel was offered to the Department and the premises was opened as an accommodation centre on 30 April 2018 with a contracted capacity of 80 persons.

It should be noted that these premises were offered voluntarily to the Department by individual contractors across the country; the locations involved reflect that fact, rather than any specific choice made by the Department.

To ensure the residents have access to transport, RIA ensured this formed the basis of the contractual agreement. Currently, a bus service is provided from the centre to Moate and back on a daily basis and in addition a bus goes from the centre to Athlone and back twice a week.

I would like to note that the centre was opened on an emergency and time-limited basis.

In order to meet the accommodation needs of asylum seekers in the longer term, the Department has recently commenced a public procurement exercise under which public tenders for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services to persons in the protection process, by way of the independent living model, will be advertised. This process is scheduled to continue throughout 2019 and is due for completion in 2020. This will be delivered via a series of regional competitions to cover the entire State.

Garda Equipment

Questions (256)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

256. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional horse boxes purchased in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019 for the Garda mounted support unit; the number withdrawn from the fleet during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3929/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner 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. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Mounted Unit is based at Áras an Uachtarain, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8. The unit has a national remit under the direction and control of the Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing and Major Event Management and the operational control of the Superintendent, Operational Support Services.

I understand from the Garda authorities that there are currently four double-horse box trailers attached to the Garda Mounted Unit. I further understand that there were no horse box trailers purchased or withdrawn during 2016-18 or to-date in 2019.

Deportation Orders

Questions (257)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of a case pursuant to section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3981/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, the persons concerned have submitted written representations.

These representations, together with all other information on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by 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.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (258)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

258. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bilateral meetings he has had with his EU counterparts over the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4029/19]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I meet my EU counterparts on a regular basis at meetings of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council. These meetings provide valuable opportunities for Ministers to informally exchange views in the margins of the formal meetings. In addition, I have had a number of formal meetings with international colleagues, the details of which are set out in the following table.

EU Minister	Date	Location
UK Home Secretary, Mr Sajid Javid MP	25 July 2018	London
Dutch Minister for Justice and Security, Mr. Ferdinand Grapperhaus	13 September 2018	Vienna
UK Secretary of State for Justice, Mr David Gauke MP	11 October 2018	Luxembourg
Greek Minister for Migration, Mr. Dimitrios Vitsas	12 October 2018	Luxembourg
UK Home Secretary, Mr Sajid Javid MP	12 October 2018	Luxembourg
UK Cabinet Office Minister, David Lidington MP and Secretary of State for NI Karen Bradley MP	2 November 2018	Dublin
Greek Minister for Migration, Mr. Dimitrios Vitsas	6 December 2018	Brussels
Mr Savvas Angelides, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus	13 December 2018	Dublin