Written Answers Nos. 1459-1477
1459. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the contingencies being put in place by the Courts Service to deal with the backlog of cases in the Family Circuit Courts which have not been dealt with (details supplied). [20031/21]
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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding court hearings.
The Courts Service has informed me that they are compiling the requested data. However, it is not possible for the Courts Service to compile the information within the time available. I will forward the information to the Deputy directly as soon as it is received from the Courts Service.
1460. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of case progression hearings none of which should require any witnesses and are usually attended only by solicitors and or counsel that have taken place remotely in the Dublin Circuit Family Court since 1 January 2020; the number that have taken place in other circuits; and the number of case progression hearings that have taken place in Dublin and outside Dublin, respectively since 22 March 2020. [20032/21]
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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding court hearings.
The Courts Service has informed me that they are compiling the requested data. However, it is not possible for the Courts Service to compile the information within the time available. I will forward the information to the Deputy directly as soon as it is received from the Courts Service.
1461. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date statistics on domestic violence cases issued in the Dublin District Court from 1 April 2020 to 1 April 2021 compared to the same period 2019 and 2020. [20033/21]
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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding the up-to-date statistics on domestic violence cases issued in the Dublin District Court from 1 April 2020 to 1 April 2021 compared to the same period 2019 and 2020
I am informed by the Courts Service that these statistics are compiled on an annual basis for the Courts Service Annual Report. The 2019 Annual Report, which was published last July, is available on the Courts Service website at: https://www.courts.ie/acc/alfresco/9bd89c8a-3187-44c3-a2e9-ff0855e69cb5/CourtsServiceAnnualReport2019.pdf/pdf#view=fitH.
The figures for the 2020 Annual Report are still being compiled and are not yet finalised so the Courts Service is regrettably not in a position to provide these to the Deputy.
However, I can assure the Deputy that from the outset of the pandemic, the Courts Service has prioritised urgent matters including domestic violence applications and this will continue.
1462. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if the audit of the way in which services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are segmented across State agencies due in March 2021 has been completed; if the report has been published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20045/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to conducting an audit of how responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) is segmented across different government agencies and this important commitment is reiterated in the Justice Plan 2021
The audit has been undertaken by external consultants Mary Higgins and Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop in consultation with relevant NGOs and service providers, as well as input from Departments and agencies. The consultants were, as part of their work, also required to take account of the views of those working at the frontline.
My Department has received a draft report from the auditors which is currently being finalised in the light of feedback provided by my Department; the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and Tusla.
The audit outcome, together with the ongoing work of implementing Supporting A Victim's Journey, the current review of accommodation needs undertaken by Tusla, and the development of the next National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, will provide us with valuable guidance for designing our systems to best meet the needs of victims of DSGBV and improve how we do this in the longer-term.
Tackling domestic abuse and ensuring we have the best possible infrastructure to support victims is a priority for me as Minister and for Government. I am working with my colleagues and with our partners to ensure we have an appropriate collective national response that supports victims and holds perpetrators to account.
1463. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the mechanism in place for international protection order applicants to track the progress of their applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20070/21]
View answer1464. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice if a mechanism can be put in place for international protection order applicants to track the progress of their applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20071/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1463 and 1464 together.
I have established a Programme Board in my Department to oversee the implementation of recommendations of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process, as appropriate and as relevant to my Department’s areas of responsibility. This includes recommendations to improve application processing times, as outlined in the recently published White Paper on Ending Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Service. The Programme Board 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.
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.
I am happy to advise that 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 well 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 the introduction of an online system to enable applicants to track their applications will be considered as part of the ongoing analysis of progress towards achieving the objectives outlined in the White Paper.
1465. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the recommended timeline for international protection order applicants to receive their personal and second interview; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20072/21]
View answer1466. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the actual timeline for international protection order applicants to receive their personal and second interview; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20073/21]
View answer1467. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the recommended timeline for international protection order applicants to receive their first instance decision following their personal and second interview; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20074/21]
View answer1468. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the actual timeline for international protection order applicants to receive their first instance decision following their personal and second interview; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20075/21]
View answer1469. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the recommended timeline for successful international protection order applicants to receive their confirmation letter from the Ministerial decisions unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20076/21]
View answer1470. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the actual timeline for successful international protection order applicants to receive their confirmation letter from the Ministerial decisions unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20077/21]
View answer1471. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice if consideration has been given to conduct interviews with international protection order applicants online by means of secure online video call technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20078/21]
View answer1472. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection order applicants that have received their personal and second interview from 1 March 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20079/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1465 to 1472, inclusive, together.
The International Protection Office (IPO) of the Immigration Service of my Department is absolutely committed to ensuring that all applicants have an equal opportunity to present their case, while adhering to measures to ensure the safety of all participants. Staff in the IPO have worked both onsite and remotely throughout the pandemic to ensure the protection process continues to operate.
In general, the scheduling of interviews by the IPO is done in accordance with the Prioritisation Policy agreed with the UNHCR and published on the IPO website www.ipo.gov.ie. This prioritisation, provided for under section 73 of the International Protection Act 2015, is subject to the need for fairness and efficiency in dealing with applications for international protection. Scheduling of cases will primarily be done on the basis of the date of application (oldest cases first).
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 public health measures required to ensure the safety of applicants, legal representatives and staff have resulted in additional logistical challenges that can slow down the scheduling process. The IPO continues to explore new ways of working but it must operate within legal and logistical constraints, with the health and safety of all involved as an absolute priority. In-person contact and support, which remains an indispensable part of the process also presents the greatest challenges during Covid-19.The IPO continues to work to ensure that those who had their interviews postponed are rescheduled as soon as possible.
Substantive protection interviews under section 35 of the 2015 Act were first suspended in line with public health requirements on 13 March 2020. They resumed, in lower numbers than before due to public health measures, on 20 July and continued until 21 October when they were again suspended in line with public health measures. Interviews resumed for the period 2 December until 18 December 2020, at which point they were once again suspended. There have been no interviews to date in 2021.
The IPO continues to maintain an interview schedule, to enable as rapid a resumption as possible once public health measures allow this to happen. Currently there are in the region of 500 applicants on that draft schedule. There will, inevitably, be a period between the date that the IPO is informed that interviews can resume and the first interviews taking place in the interests of fairness to allow applicants and their legal representatives to prepare for the interview.
According to IPO records, just under 2,700 section 35 interviews were scheduled during 2020 of which just over 1,100 proceeded. Just over 1,000 interviews were postponed due to Covid-19. This figure includes applicants who, unfortunately, had interviews postponed more than once as the situation evolved over the course of the year. The comparable figure for 2019 is approximately 4,500 interviews scheduled of which 3,200 proceeded.
The IPO successfully piloted interviews by video conference in 2019 and is now working to expand that programme with a view to making interviews by video conference a significant element of IPO operations.
Efforts to improve processing times have been seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reduced the output of decisions considerably and has impacted on the target set by the IPO to make first instance decisions in the vast majority of cases within 9 months.
The median processing times for determinations made by the IPO in 2020 for all cases was 17.6 months and for prioritised cases was 12.7 months. The median processing time for all cases processed to completion in the IPO in Q1 2021 was 22.2 months, and 16.1 months for prioritised cases. The median processing time for decisions made by the Ministerial Decisions Unit in 2020 was 1.6 months. The median processing time for cases completed in the Ministerial Decisions Unit in Q1 2021 was 0.2 months.
My Department is committed to implementing the key recommendations in the Expert Advisory Group Report to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively, as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service.
Work is underway in my Department towards identifying mechanisms which will assist with working towards improved processing times, including an end-to-end review of processes to guide enhanced processing times.
1473. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the Garda divisions currently without a crime prevention officer. [20095/21]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources, including deployment of personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am advised that under the current Divisional structure of 28 Divisions, 4 Divisions currently have vacancies for Crime Prevention Officers. Those Divisions are Kildare, Roscommon/Longford, West Cork and Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Division. However, I also understand from the Garda authorities that it is envisaged to fill the current vacancies in the near future.
I am also assured that the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau continue to maintain oversight and support of all Garda Divisions in respect of crime prevention matters, including those with current vacancies.
1474. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the Garda districts within the Dublin region that have currently stopped in-person neighbourhood watch meetings. [20096/21]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
1475. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of incidents of theft of MPVs reported to An Garda Síochána in the Blanchardstown district in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [20097/21]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021* |
|
439 |
425 |
239 |
55 |
1476. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of new cars and vans that were added to the Garda dog unit in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the number of vehicles withdrawn from the unit during same period. [20098/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at 15 April 2021 there were nine vehicles attached to the Garda Dog Unit.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that one vehicle was removed from the Garda Dog Unit in 2020 and two vehicles have been removed from the unit so far this year.
I am also informed that ten vans have been purchased for the Dog Unit and following fit out they will be available for allocation to the unit.
The allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with An Garda Síochána’s operational requirements.
Significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million specifically for the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
1477. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if she will intervene in the case of a family (details supplied) looking to relocate to County Carlow in order for a family member to undertake study at Carlow IT. [20139/21]
View answerThe Immigration Service of my Department has no record of any pending application from the person referred to by the Deputy.
In general, students have no rights to family reunification and will not be permitted to be accompanied or joined by their children or their spouse/civil partner or defacto partner. Any spouse, civil partner, defacto partner or children will be considered as applicants in their own right, and can make an application for an immigration permission. However, they cannot advance their application for entry or residence in the state on the basis of their relationship to the main student /applicant.
Any non-EEA national coming to study in Ireland must be enrolled in a full-time course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). This list is available on the Immigration Service website at: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Interim%20List%20of%20Eligible%20Programmes%20-%20ILEP .
The person concerned should check whether or not the course they wish to study is on the ILEP list, as student permission can only be granted where a person has enrolled on and commenced a course on that list.
Further information on studying in Ireland, including a number of policy documents for non-EEA national students is available at: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Students.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie) 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 my Department is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
