Written Answers Nos. 1421-1439
1421. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she has reviewed the pension entitlement of a person (details supplied); if she will arrange to have a fresh medical examination in this case; if consideration has been made as to whether this person could serve again as a garda under the pensions order of 1925; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19135/21]
View answerI am aware of the case to which the Deputy is referring and I understand that the Garda Authorities will contact the person concerned directly. As the matters concerned are personal to the individual and should be dealt with on a confidential basis, I will write to the Deputy directly with an update on this case in due course.
1422. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice when she will expect a sheriff to be appointed to County Cavan; the resources that will be available to clear the backlog of cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19151/21]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. Moreover, Sheriffs (or County Registrars acting as Sheriffs) are officers of the Court and are also independent in the exercise of their functions and duties under statute and rules of court.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and I have been advised by the Courts Service that there is no Sheriff vacancy in County Cavan. A Sheriff is currently in position there.
I am also advised by the Courts Service that there are currently no backlogs in Cavan with the exception of some tasks that involve travel and direct engagement between the Sheriff, his staff and clients. These tasks unfortunately cannot be undertaken at present due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, I understand that this work is expected to resume as restrictions ease.
1423. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice when tourist visa applications from South America will be considered by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19167/21]
View answerAs part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, on 27 January 2021, I signed an Order that imposes new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of South American countries and South Africa.
In addition to the new requirements, the Immigration Service of my department also took the decision to temporarily cease accepting new visa/preclearance applications with the exception of the Priority/Emergency case types, The list of exemptions deemed to fall into the Emergency/Priority cohort is as follows:
- Healthcare professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals;
- Immediate family members of Irish citizens (who are returning to their ordinary place of residence in Ireland);
- Persons legally resident in the State;
- Persons entitled to avail of the provision of the EU Free Movement Directive;
- Transport personnel engaged in haulage of goods and other transport staff to the extent necessary;
- Frontier workers;
- Seasonal workers in agriculture;
- Diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions;
- Passengers in transit;
- Passengers travelling for critical family reasons;
- Seafarers;
- Third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of 3rd level study;
- Highly qualified third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad.
This process is effective from close of business on 29 January 2021, and applies to all countries. These measures have now been extended to at least 5 May 2021, and the situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
Therefore, the current advice is that anyone, regardless of their nationality or visa/preclearance status, who cannot provide proof of an essential purpose to travel to or within Ireland, should not travel to Ireland.
It is intended to resume accepting visa applications as soon as safety concerns abate, however any resumption of services is subject to current health and safety advice in relation to the COVID 19 pandemic.
1424. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will take steps to implement the recommendation of the Catherine Day advisory group to use her discretionary power to grant permission to remain to persons who have been in the asylum process for some time; if she will acknowledge that in granting permission she would significantly reduce the current backlog in the process and ensure that any new system will not inherit this backlog; if she will also review all deportation orders with a view to granting permission as a humane expression of compassion and solidarity to all migrants who have had to contend with the anxiety and precariousness of their situation during an unprecedented public health emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19182/21]
View answerMy Department is committed to the implementation of the recently published White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service, as it relates to responsibilities under our remit.
I have established a Programme Board in my Department to oversee the implementation of recommendations of the Advisory Group relevant to my Department’s areas of responsibility, as appropriate, including the recommendations relevant to implementing the White Paper. It is supported by an Implementation Working Group comprising senior officials from the relevant areas of my Department to support their implementation and to report to the Board on progress at regular intervals.
My Department is committed to making further efficiencies in the international protection process. In this regard, the White Paper commits to implementing the key recommendations in the Advisory Group Report to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively.
Work is underway in my Department towards identifying mechanisms which will assist with working towards improved processing times. Additional ICT resources have been secured for 2021, and detailed work including an end-to-end review of processes to guide enhanced processing times is underway. When this first phase of work has been carried out it will enable a more detailed set of milestones to be put in place.
The Advisory Group's recommendation in relation to applicants who will have been two years or more in the system being granted leave to remain, will be considered in the context of the ongoing analysis of progress towards achieving the objectives outlined in the White Paper. In relation to the current backlog of international protection cases, my Department intends, in the first instance, to prioritise processing of all cases using improved processes and the planned ICT investment in the system.
My Department will, by October 2022 at the latest, commence a review of progress made in reducing and improving processing times and based on the outcome of that review, decide by the end of 2022, whether additional measures are required in order to ensure that the new system can come into operation without the overhang of any significant number of legacy cases.
Regarding Deportation Orders, I can advise the Deputy that any decision to make a Deportation Orders is only made following a comprehensive examination of the circumstances of the individual case, under all applicable headings. Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), also provides a mechanism under which any person subject to a Deportation Order can make a request to me to have that order revoked. The request needs to be founded on new information or materially changed circumstances which have arisen since the decision to make the Deportation Order was taken. Any request will be considered on its individual merits and the outcome will be that the existing Deportation Order will either be affirmed or revoked.
In line with the commitments given by the Taoiseach and I, it has been the case that deportation orders are not being enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, except in cases where an individual may be a threat to national security or whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest.
Furthermore, the Immigration Service of my Department has suspended the issuance of deportation orders during periods when Level 5 restrictions are in place. My Department has taken a pragmatic and compassionate approach to immigration arrangements in the context of COVID-19 and this approach will continue for as long as is necessary.
1426. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice when the Probate Office will reopen in order that probate personal applicant appointments can resume; and if personal applicants can receive a grant of representation. [19328/21]
View answerThe Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter.
The Courts Service advises that the reintroduction of restrictions on travel earlier this year necessitated the temporary closure of the personal applications process in the Dublin Probate Office. In light of the recent Government announcement regarding the lifting of those restrictions, plans are being implemented to restart interviews with personal applicants in May. I am advised that existing applicants will be contacted by the Courts Service to arrange new appointments for their interviews shortly and once their application is in order, personal applicants will be issued with a Grant of Representation as normal.
1427. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide certainty for the English language education sector by providing a commitment to a timely return to pre-pandemic visa rules for English language students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19396/21]
View answerSince the start of the pandemic, my Department has been part of a Working Group facilitated by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). The Working Group includes representatives of relevant Government Departments, English language providers, staff, and students. Part of the work of the Group has included the development of re-opening protocols and an adaptation framework and discussing the issues and concerns of the sector.
The Immigration Service of my Department has temporarily ceased accepting new visa/preclearance applications with the exception of the Priority/Emergency case types, details of which can be found on the Immigration Service website at: www.inis.gov.ie. This process is effective from close of business on 29 January 2021, and applies to all countries.
These measures have now been extended to at least 5 May 2021, and the situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
Any resumption of services is subject to current health and safety advice in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Immigration Service intends to resume accepting all other application types as soon as safety concerns abate.
1428. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if a citizenship route for non-resident spouses of Irish citizens will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19397/21]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Section 15A of the Act provides that, where the application is based on being the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen, the requirements include that the couple are married or civil partners to each other for a period of at least 3 years; that they are living together; and that immediately before the date of application, they have a period of one year's continuous residence in the island of Ireland and, during the preceding four years, have a further period of residence amounting to 2 years (i.e. 3 years residence in total).
It is also open to an applicant generally to apply under Section 16(a) of the 1956 Act where the applicant is of Irish descent or has Irish association. In such cases, the conditions for naturalisation set out under Section 15 of the Act, including residency, may be waived. The onus is on the applicant to provide evidence of Irish descent or Irish association to the Minister for consideration.
1429. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the actions her Department has taken to establish a one-off simplified case processing approach applying to all applicants who will have been two years or more in the system by the end of 2020 as outlined in the recommendations of the report of the advisory group on the provision of support including accommodation to persons in the international protection process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19398/21]
View answer1430. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the actions her Department has taken to establish a temporary, dedicated multi-agency task force to process all backlog cases as outlined in the recommendations of the report of the advisory group on the provision of support including accommodation to persons in the international protection process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19399/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1429 and 1430 together.
My Department is committed to achieving efficiencies to reduce processing times for international protection applications of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively as advised by the Catherine Day Advisory Group and as outlined in the recently published White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Service.
I have established a Programme Board in my Department to oversee the implementation of recommendations of the Advisory Group relevant to my department’s areas of responsibility, as appropriate, including the recommendations relevant to implementing the White Paper. It is supported by an Implementation Working Group comprising senior officials from the relevant areas of my department to support their implementation and to report to the Board on progress at regular intervals.
Work is underway in my Department towards identifying mechanisms which will assist with working towards improved processing times. Additional ICT resources have been secured for 2021 and detailed work including an end-to-end review of processes to guide enhanced processing times is underway. When this first phase of work has been carried out it will enable a more detailed set of milestones to be put in place.
The Advisory Group's recommendation in relation to applicants who will have been two years or more in the system being granted leave to remain, will be considered in the context of the ongoing analysis of progress. In relation to the current backlog of international protection cases, my Department intends, in the first instance, to prioritise processing of all cases using improved processes and the planned ICT investment in the system.
My Department will, by October 2022 at the latest, commence a review of progress made in reducing and improving processing times and based on the outcome of that review, decide by the end of 2022, whether additional measures are required in order to ensure that the new system can come into operation without the overhang of any significant number of legacy cases.
1431. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will reverse the new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of countries which came into effect at midnight on 27 January 2021, due to the commencement of the mandatory hotel quarantining system in the meantime which addresses the public health argument; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19400/21]
View answerAs part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, I signed an Order that has imposed new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of South American countries and South Africa. This Order and the associated measures came into effect at midnight on 27 January 2021.
The framework for these restrictive measures is set out in the Government’s Resilience and Recovery: Plan for Living with COVID 19 and these measures have now been extended to at least 5 May 2021.
In addition to the new requirements above, the Immigration Services of my Department also took the decision to temporarily cease accepting new visa/preclearance applications with the exception of the priority/emergency case types listed below, which will continue to be accepted. This is effective from close of business on 29 January 2021 and applies to all countries.
Priority/Emergency cases will continue to be accepted/processed and these include the following:
- Workers or self-employed persons exercising critical occupations including healthcare workers, frontier and posted workers as well as seasonal workers as referred to in the Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during the COVID-19 outbreak;
- transport workers or transport service providers, including drivers of freight vehicles carrying goods for use in the territory as well as those merely transiting;
- patients travelling for imperative medical reasons;
- pupils, students and trainees who travel abroad on a daily basis and Third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of 3rd level study;
- persons travelling for imperative family or business reasons;
- diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and police officers, and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions;
- passengers in transit;
- seafarers;
- journalists, when performing their duties.
These measures are designed to support our current public health restrictions on movement, including into and out of Ireland. The increased travel restrictions, along with the mandatory hotel quarantine measures introduced as part of the Government’s efforts to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19, means that travel may not be possible and even if possible is not advisable unless absolutely essential. It is currently against the law for any person (regardless of nationality or passport) to travel within Ireland for non-essential purposes and people can be fined for doing so.
The new visa requirements work in tandem with the mandatory hotel quarantine system introduced by the Minister for Health. When making such decisions, the Government considers the expert public health advices of NPHET to tackle the disease. The visa situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
1432. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons recorded as entering the State travelling under a passport issued by countries and jurisdictions (details supplied) annually between 2010 and 2020, in tabular form. [19401/21]
View answerMy Department does not record or retain passport details of persons entering the State.
Similarly, I am advised by the Department of Transport, Sport and Tourism that they also hold no records of passenger passport details. The statistics maintained by that Department only take account of the passengers arriving on direct flights and are compiled on the basis of the flight’s last departure point before arriving in Ireland. These statistics are published on the gov.ie website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b61012-aviation-statistics/#weekly-stats-by-country-for-the-three-state-airports-for-2021.
1433. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding Brazilian nationals married to Irish citizens wishing to return to Ireland during the current restrictions on international travel due to Covid-19; when it is planned to resume short-term and long-term visa applications in respect of these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19407/21]
View answerAs part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, I signed an Order that has imposed new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of South American countries, including Brazil and South Africa. This Order and the associated measures came into effect at midnight on 27 January 2021.
The framework for these restrictive measures is set out in the Government’s Resilience and Recovery: Plan for Living with COVID 19 and these measures have now been extended to at least 5 May 2021.
In addition to the new requirements above, the Immigration Services of my Department also took the decision to temporarily cease accepting new visa/preclearance applications with the exception of the Priority/Emergency case types listed below, which will continue to be accepted. This is effective from close of business on 29 January 2021 and applies to all countries.
Priority/emergency cases will continue to be accepted/processed and these include the following:
- Workers or self-employed persons exercising critical occupations including healthcare workers, frontier and posted workers as well as seasonal workers as referred to in the Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during the COVID-19 outbreak;
- transport workers or transport service providers, including drivers of freight vehicles carrying goods for use in the territory as well as those merely transiting;
- patients travelling for imperative medical reasons;
- pupils, students and trainees who travel abroad on a daily basis and Third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of 3rd level study;
- persons travelling for imperative family or business reasons;
- diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and police officers, and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions;
- passengers in transit;
- seafarers;
- journalists, when performing their duties.
If a person's application falls into one of these categories, they can apply on-line in the usual way. Before proceeding with an on-line application, they should check with their local Embassy/Honorary Consulate/Visa Office to confirm that their application meets the priority/emergency criteria.
Applications that were received prior to 29 January 2021 will continue to be processed. However, unless the application meets the Emergency or Priority criteria detailed above, a visa or preclearance approval letter will not issue until such time as these restrictions have been lifted.
These measures are designed to support our current public health restrictions on movement, including into and out of Ireland. The increased travel restrictions, along with the mandatory hotel quarantine measures introduced as part of the Government’s efforts to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19, means that travel may not be possible and even if possible is not advisable unless absolutely essential. It is currently against the law for any person (regardless of nationality or passport) to travel within Ireland for non-essential purposes and people can be fined for doing so.
When making such decisions, the Government considers the expert public health advices of NPHET to tackle the disease. The situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
1434. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if the letter mentioned in an internal Department email dated 30 October 2019 relating to a Topical Issue submitted by the Deputy regarding the investigation into the death of a person (details supplied) was issued; if the information will now be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19422/21]
View answerI understand that the letter referred to did not issue. The contents of it related to the position at that time and events were overtaken as a Topical Issue debate tabled by the Deputy was taken on 7 November 2019.
As the Deputy will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane's death.
Judge Haughton furnished an interim report to the then Minister for Justice in November 2019. In his interim report, the Judge stated that he would not restrict or limit Shane's family in their submissions to him or the nature and extent of the documentation they wished to furnish to him in his scoping exercise.
I can confirm that my Department expects to receive the final report from the Judge shortly.
The Judge is of course completely independent in his work, and I can neither intervene in or influence the outcome of the scoping exercise. My Department continues to provide all necessary assistance to the Judge to enable him to complete his work. The previous extensions requested by the Judge have, as the Judge has stated to the family, been necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Judge's desire to be as comprehensive as possible in conducting the scoping exercise.
While I genuinely regret that this process has taken longer than any of us would like, I am also aware that the Judge is doing all that he can to ensure that the concerns which the family have raised with him during the process are followed through to the greatest extent possible, and this requires additional time. Judge Haughton has been in contact with the O’Farrell family throughout his scoping exercise.
I am awaiting Judge Haughton’s final report on the outcome of his scoping exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out is necessary and if so the form of such investigation or inquiry and its terms of reference.
1435. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the decision making process that led to the appointment of a person (details supplied) as lead of the mental health task force on the way in which persons with mental health and addiction are treated within the criminal justice system; the number of other persons considered for the role; the qualifications of the person for the role; and the make-up of the rest of the task force. [19482/21]
View answer1451. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the process for the selection of the chairperson of the new mental health task force; the names of the other members; the breakdown in costs for the running of the task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19774/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1435 and 1451 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the establishment of the Taskforce is further to the Government’s commitment to ensure the critical mental health needs for people in prison are met, addiction treatments are provided and primary care support is available on release, in order to ensure improved outcomes for individuals and for society.
The establishment of the Taskforce is a key goal within my Justice Plan for 2021.
Following consultation with the Department of Health, it was agreed the Taskforce would be independently chaired. While a number of suitable candidates were considered as part of the process to establish the Taskforce, I am pleased to state that Ms Kathleen Lynch, former Minister of State for Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability agreed to undertake the role and I believe that Ms Lynch will bring a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience to this new role.
Officials in my Department will undertake the role of Secretariat.
The Taskforce membership will include representatives from a wide cross-section of health agencies and the Justice sector as well as from relevant stakeholders, including the HSE, Central Mental Hospital, the Irish Prison Service, the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Taskforce will also consult with other relevant stakeholders, as required, such as the Mental Health Commission, Inspector of Prisons, Prison Visiting Committees, Irish Penal Reform Trust and academia. The breakdown of the costs of running the Taskforce are not currently available and any future funding considerations will also form part of their ongoing work.
The current plan is for the inaugural meeting to take place by the end of April and a high level implementation plan will be published by the Taskforce by the end of the year.
1436. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 741 of 24 February 2021, the number of incidents reported to An Garda Síochána; the number of arrests made relating to knife crime during the same ten-year period in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19493/21]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, this has not been provided in time. I will write to the Deputy once the requested report is to hand.
|
Offence Wording |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Contrary to section 9(1) & 9(7) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 as amended by section 39 Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 |
2155 |
1972 |
1638 |
1659 |
1509 |
1578 |
1420 |
1505 |
1726 |
1846 |
|
Contrary to Section 9(4) Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 |
277 |
272 |
198 |
221 |
212 |
204 |
187 |
178 |
213 |
275 |
|
Total |
2432 |
2244 |
1836 |
1880 |
1721 |
1782 |
1607 |
1683 |
1939 |
2121 |
1437. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice when the new youth justice strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19494/21]
View answer1496. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the progress made to date in respect of the youth justice strategy (details supplied). [20672/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1437 and 1496 together.
I can inform the Deputies that the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 was published on 15 April 2021.
The Strategy includes consideration of the full range of issues connected to children and young people at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system, including early intervention and preventative work, family support and diversion from crime, through to court process and facilities, supervision of offenders, detention and reintegration and support post release.
The measures in the Strategy are premised on the need to maximise opportunities to promote positive behavioural change and desistance from offending. This will require a sustained commitment to collaborative working between State agencies and community partners, as well as a commitment to prioritise resource allocation to address factors connected to early involvement in criminal activity and more serious offending patterns.
The Strategy strengthens and expands the role of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects and other community-based initiatives, including those working with the Probation Service. Bringing the full range of relevant interventions together in a coherent and holistic response to youth crime supports the objective of diverting young people from crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Youth Justice Strategy provides a framework to:
- prevent offending behaviour occurring;
- divert children and young adults who commit a crime away from further offending and involvement with the criminal justice system;
- enhance criminal justice processes, detention and post-detention measures, to provide consistent support to encourage desistance from crime and promote positive personal development for young offenders.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Youth_Justice_Strategy
1438. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number of psychologists and psychiatrists employed in each prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19504/21]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Prison Service that, as of 14 April 2021, the total number of permanent Psychologists employed by the Irish Prison Service stands at 30.
A breakdown by location is set out in Table 1.
Psychologist by location
|
Location |
Staff numbers |
Staff numbers |
Staff numbers |
|
Arbour Hill – HQ Longford |
1 Head of Psychological Services |
||
|
Arbour Hill Psychology HQ |
1 Psychologist Principal Manager |
||
|
Cork |
1 Senior Psychologist |
1 Staff Grade Psychologist |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Castlerea |
1 Senior Psychologist |
1 Staff Grade Psychologist |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Cloverhill |
1 Senior Psychologist |
Staff Grade Psychologist - vacant |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Mountjoy |
1 Senior Psychologist |
3 Staff Grade Psychologist |
2 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Dóchas |
1 Senior Psychologist |
Staff Grade Psychologist - vacant |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Portlaoise |
1 Senior Psychologist |
Staff Grade Psychologist – vacant |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Midlands |
1 Senior Psychologist |
2 Staff Grade Psychologist |
2 Assistant Psychologist |
|
NVRU |
1 Senior Psychologist |
Staff Grade Psychologist - vacant |
|
|
Wheatfield |
Senior Psychologist - vacant |
1 Staff Grade Psychologist |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Limerick |
Senior Psychologist - vacant |
Staff Grade Psychologist - vacant |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
|
Arbour Hill |
Senior Psychologist - vacant |
Staff Grade Psychologist - vacant |
1 Assistant Psychologist |
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that they continually monitor the staffing requirements and vacancies that arise as a result of multiple factors including promotions and retirements. The Prison Service recruit and hold internal promotional competitions on an ongoing basis to fill vacancies at all levels of the organisation as they arise. Currently the Irish Prison Service is filling vacancies for Assistant Psychologists, Staff Grade Psychologists and Senior Psychologists.
There are currently no Psychiatrists employed directly by the Service. Prison Psychiatry services are provided by the National Forensic Mental Health Service by agreement with the HSE.
1439. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice when she will receive the final report from a person (details supplied) in respect of the circumstances surrounding the death of a person; if she plans to publish the report in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19600/21]
View answer1455. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if the scoping exercise into the circumstances relating to the death of a person (details supplied) has been completed; when she plans to publish the report in full; if she will now establish a full independent inquiry into the circumstances of the death and the actions of State agencies prior to and subsequent to the death in line with the agreed position of Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19950/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1439 and 1455 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane's death.
Judge Haughton furnished an interim report to the then Minister for Justice in November 2019. In his interim report, the Judge stated that he would not restrict or limit Shane's family in their submissions to him or the nature and extent of the documentation they wished to furnish to him in his scoping exercise.
I can confirm that my Department expects to receive the final report from the Judge shortly.
The Judge is of course completely independent in his work, and I can neither intervene in or influence the outcome of the scoping exercise. My Department continues to provide all necessary assistance to the Judge to enable him to complete his work. The previous extensions requested by the Judge have, as the Judge has stated to the family, been necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Judge's desire to be as comprehensive as possible in conducting the scoping exercise.
While I genuinely regret that this process has taken longer than any of us would like, I am also aware that the Judge is doing all that he can to ensure that the concerns which the family have raised with him during the process are followed through to the greatest extent possible. Judge Haughton has been in contact with the O’Farrell family throughout his scoping exercise.
I am awaiting Judge Haughton’s final report on the outcome of his scoping exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out is necessary and if so the form of such investigation or inquiry and its terms of reference.
