Tuesday, 12 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 406-425

Departmental Investigations

Questions (406, 407, 408)

Réada Cronin

Question:

406. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice if she will establish an investigation into (Details Supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49118/21]

Réada Cronin

Question:

407. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice if she will establish an investigation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49119/21]

Réada Cronin

Question:

408. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice if she will investigate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49120/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 406, 407 and 408 together.

I can advise the Deputy that any allegations of misconduct made against an employee of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) are treated very seriously, both by the IPS and by me. The allegations raised by the Deputy have not been made to me or to the IPS and we were not aware of them previously.

There are a number of ways a person can report allegations of misconduct to the appropriate authorities. Depending on the nature of the allegations this includes making the information known to my Department, to the IPS directly, or where appropriate in light of the nature of the allegations, to An Garda Síochána.

I would therefore encourage anyone with information relating to these allegations to provide it to the IPS or to my Department so that it can be fully examined and if appropriate, formally investigated. In the meantime, I have asked the Director General of the IPS to consider the allegations made and to the extent possible based on the limited information available, take whatever action she deems appropriate.

Question No. 407 answered with Question No. 406.

Question No. 408 answered with Question No. 406.

Antisocial Behaviour

Questions (409)

Mark Ward

Question:

409. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans by An Garda Síochána to extend Operation Irene across the Dublin mid-west area throughout the forthcoming Halloween period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49138/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information asked for by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, and I will contact him directly when this is to hand.

Victim Support Services

Questions (410)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

410. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a schedule of the supports and services available to the plaintiff following a court case that involves persons that suffered physical violence, psychological abuse and sexual assault; and if she plans to enhance the supports to persons that are victims of crime following the verdict of a court case. [49156/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

My Department provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services to victims of crime within the criminal justice system. The services that receive funding offer a wide range of support to people who become a victim of crime. Some of these organisations offer support to victims of any type of crime, such as the Crime Victims Helpline or Victim Support at Court, while others provide specialist services for victims of specific types of crime, such as AdViC or Support after Homicide, who work with families who have lost someone close to them as a result of a homicide.

These services provide important information and support such as emotional support, court accompaniment, and accompaniment to Garda interviews, to sexual assault treatment units and referral to other services.

While services that provide support of victims of domestic and sexual violence receive funding under the Victims of Crime fund, it is important to state that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency under the aegis of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and are the primary funders of organisations that deliver frontline services. Tusla is currently undertaking a review of its services.

In addition, some services for victims of sexual violence, such as Sexual Assault Treatment Units and counselling services fall under the remit of, and are funded by, the Department of Health.

A list of the organisations in receipt of funding from my Department made available to support victims of crime is set out below.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, my Department is currently implementing a program of reform in our criminal justice system to better support vulnerable victims through the implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journey - our detailed and ambitious plan to implement the recommendations of the O'Malley Review. To date, a number of key actions have been delivered including:

- Legislating for the introduction of preliminary trial hearings;

- The nationwide rollout of Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSU);

- The first cohort of staff at new sexual offences unit in the Director of Public Prosecutions office formally took up their roles in April;

- Work to advance the training for all personnel who come into contact with vulnerable victims is underway;

- Funding for NGOs providing court accompaniment and related information and support services has been increased;

- A review of grants for organisations supporting victims has been undertaken to identify gaps in service provision;

- An improved Victims Charter website which provides a comprehensive repository of information for victims has been created;

- The University of Limerick has been commissioned by my Department to develop the framework for the operation and training of intermediaries and they will soon be engaging with stakeholders to develop this.

In addition, my Department has undertaken a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing frontline services in order to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports have been identified and my Department is engaging with relevant NGO partners to agree revised funding to ensure that we meet the gaps identified. This piece of work will be completed shortly.

This work is in addition to the audit of how domestic, sexual and gender-based violence policy and services are organised which was published by my Department in July. The recommendations of this audit, as well as the Tusla Review and the Supporting a Victim's Journey mapping exercise will play an important role in the development across Government of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV. This new strategy will place a priority on prevention and reduction and will include a National Preventative Strategy.

The new strategy will be published before the end of the year and will be the most ambitious to date.

Victims of crime organisations currently funded by Department of Justice:

Adapt Domestic Abuse Services (Limerick)

AdVIC

Amal Women's Association

AnyMan

Aoibhneas

Ascend

A.S.S.C.

Barnardos

Beacon of Light Counselling Centre

Bray Women's Refuge

CARI

Carlow Women's Aid

Clare Haven Services

Connect Family Resource Centre

Cope Galway Waterside House

Crime Victims Helpline

Cuan Saor Women's Refuge Ltd.

Dignity 4 Patients

Domestic Violence Advocacy Centre (Sligo)

Domestic Violence Response Galway

Donegal Women's Domestic Violence Service

Drogheda Women's Refuge and Children's Refuge Centre

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Dundalk Counselling Service

Esker House Women's Refuge

Greystones Family Resource Centre

Hope Trust

Immigrant Council of Ireland

Kerry Women’s Refuge and Support Services (Adapt)

Kilkenny Women's Refuge Ltd (Amber)

Laois Domestic Abuse Service

Le Cheile

Letterkenny Women's Centre

Lifeline Inishoven

Living Life Voluntary Counselling Centre

Longford Women's Link

Meath Women's Refuge

Missing in Ireland Support Services

Mna Feasa Domestic Violence Project

Newpark Close Community Development Limited

OASIS HOUSE WOMEN'S Refuge

Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service

One in Four

OSS Cork

Rape Crisis Network

Roscommon Safe Link

Ruhama

SAFE Ireland

Sage Advocacy

Samaritans of Kilkenny and Carlow

Samaritans Newbridge & Kildare

Saoirse Housing Association

Sexual Violence Centre Cork formerly known as Cork Rape Crisis Service.

Support After Crime

Support After Homicide

Teach Tearmainn Housing Association Company Ltd.

Tearmann Housing Association

Victim Support at Court

West Cork Women’s Project

Westmeath Support Service against Domestic Abuse

Wexford Women's Refuge

Women's Aid Dublin

Women's Aid Dundalk

You are not alone

Citizenship Applications

Questions (411)

Patrick Costello

Question:

411. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the purpose for which a Garda Síochána or PSNI report would be requested from an application of Irish citizenship through naturalisation. [49187/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended provides that an application for a certificate of naturalisation may be granted if the applicant satisfies the statutory conditions, including that the applicant must be of good character.

In order to assess whether an applicant satisfies this criterion, a range of information and criminal history reports from this and other jurisdictions are considered. Such reports constitute a very important element of the process.

What exactly good character entails evolves over time, not least to take account of the enactment of new laws. However, in essence it speaks to the need for the applicant to have demonstrated a history of compliance to the laws of the land. The naturalisation application form specifically requires the applicant to list offences, but also provides an opportunity to provide additional details regarding any such offence(s). The mere fact that a person has committed an offence does not automatically result in their refusal. The individual facts of the case are assessed by the case worker and their line management.

All applicants for a certificate of naturalisation aged 16 years and older are subject to a criminal records check carried out by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána. Applicants residing in Northern Ireland are required to provide a PSNI report. This is an necessary step in the application process.

Victim Support Services

Questions (412)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

412. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered the matter subsequent to her Department’s analysis of issues and supports needed for victims of crime post court hearings including follow-up and psychological support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49194/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Reforming the system to better support vulnerable victims as they come into contact with our criminal justice system is a priority for this Government and is being done through the implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journey - our detailed and ambitious plan to implement the recommendations of the O'Malley Review.

As part of this work, my Department has undertaken a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing frontline services in order to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports have been identified and my Department is engaging with relevant NGO partners to agree revised funding to ensure that we meet the gaps identified. This piece of work will be completed shortly.

To promote more sustainable service delivery and planning, we are also offering multi-annual funding commitments to key NGOs we work with and where funding covers staff salaries. These funding grants cover accompaniment to court, to Garda interviews and to sexual assault treatment units and emotional support.

While the provision of counselling services is not directly under my remit and falls to Tusla and the Department of Health, I can confirm that both are represented on the O'Malley implementation group. All Departments and agencies on the implementation group are committed to delivering the recommendations as set out in Supporting a Victim's Journey and to providing all relevant supports for victims of crime.

It is important to add, however, that my Department is working to create a victim-centred system that supports and empowers victims and gives them the confidence to engage with all services knowing they will be supported, informed and treated with respect and dignity at every point and by every person they come into contact with. The supports being introduced will be provided regardless of whether or not criminal proceedings are in train and will extend beyond the trial and verdict because victims do not stop needing support at the end of a trial.

Probate Applications

Questions (413, 440, 441)

Bríd Smith

Question:

413. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties that the Covid-19-related delay in probate applications is causing for persons or couples buying a home whose mortgage approval is due to expire or has expired as a result of the delays; the steps the Probate Office will take to speed up the process now that public health restrictions have been significantly relaxed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49208/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

440. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice when the backlog in the Probate Office will be addressed (details supplied). [49430/21]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

441. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the impact that the backlog in the Probate Office is having on persons that are trying to sell and buy homes and in some cases in which their already extended mortgage approval is due to run out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49431/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 440 and 441 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court and 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. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices who are also independent in carrying out their 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.

The Courts Service works closely with County Registrars to support their timely processing of applications. It is also important to recognise the importance of probate being completed in a manner which provides legal certainty for the future. I am also informed that there would seem to be evidence of difficulties arising where houses are being put on the market without a Grant of Probate having been issued, or in some cases even applied for. This presents additional obstacles to the completion of the transfer of any properties concerned.

The scheduling of personal application interviews must be conducted in line with public health guidelines. The Courts Service advises that personal applications had to be curtailed in both the Dublin Probate office and District Probate Registries to ensure the safety of both the applicant and staff. However, interviews for personal applications resumed in May.

Applications by solicitors continued to be processed throughout the period of the pandemic restrictions in both the Dublin Probate Office and the District Probate Registries. The waiting time for solicitor applications at present in the Probate Office, Dublin, is eight to ten weeks assuming that the papers received are correct. Applications where queries had to be raised on foot of the papers first lodged are taking eight weeks from the date they are re-submitted. There are variations in waiting times across all of the other District Probate Registries.

The staff of the Probate Office are committed to clearing any backlogs while the Courts Service is committed to continuing to resource this area of work to minimise waiting times as far as possible. This is one of a range of measures being taken by the Courts Service as part of its ongoing recovery from the pandemic. The e-probate initiative remains a key objective of the Courts Service Modernisation Programme and reflects the Government’s support for the digitisation of the wider justice system.

National Development Plan

Questions (414)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

414. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which projects that fall within the aegis of her Department and are within the revised national development plan are at an advanced stage at present or are in course thereof; the extent to which preliminary work has taken place or on-site works are in hand or proposed; the expected delivery date of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49258/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The capital allocation for the Justice Vote Group encompasses An Garda Siochána, Courts, Prisons and Justice Votes. The capital expenditure ranges across a number of areas such as ICT, Transport investment and capital building and refurbishment works.

While much of this investment programme is ongoing, it will also encompass new projects over the period of the National Development Plan (NDP) which are at various stages of selection and preparation.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that three large infrastructural projects provided for in the NDP are due for completion next year, with further information about these projects provided below:

1) Construction of a new forensic science laboratory

- This project will provide Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) with a new modern forensic laboratory in Backweston in Co. Kildare.

- The procurement process for a modern laboratory incorporating up to date standards commenced in mid-2019 and concluded in March 2020.

- Construction commenced in March 2020 and this project is due for completion in Q3 2022.

2) Redevelopment of Limerick Prison

- This is a project to redevelop and modernise Limerick Prison to include new male accommodation block, female accommodation units together with related rehabilitation and support facilities.

- The Construction Contract was awarded in February 2019 and the project has been progressed well since then except for the issues arising from COVID-19 lockdowns.

- Estimated completion is now Q2 2022 with commissioning of various security/control systems to follow. The estimated delivery date is within Q2/Q3 2022.

3) Construction of a new Garda Control and Operations Centre

- This is a large capital development for An Garda Síochána at Military Road Dublin 8 (replacement for the Harcourt Square facilities).

- Construction commenced in March 2020 and estimated completion is in Q2/Q3 2022.

In addition to these projects, the capital investment will also allow for increased Investment in modernisation and reform programmes across the Justice sector including increased ICT expenditure in digital services, modernising service delivery, improving efficiency, reducing paper and providing data informed insights into policy development.

It will also provide for continuing investment in building and refurbishment projects across the Justice sector in new and refurbished Garda stations, court buildings and prisons. As the Deputy may be aware, construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane has now been set in train and this project will be delivered by way of PPP and as part of a Justice PPP bundle that will also see the delivery of 2 new Garda stations in Clonmel and Macroom. Allowing for procurement, which would be undertaken by the National Development Finance Agency, planning, and other activities, it is estimated that construction for this project will commence in mid-2023 with completion in late 2025/early 2026.

Provision is made too for continuing investment in the Garda Transport Fleet including the deployment of electrical vehicles where appropriate to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet.

Finally, as the Deputy may be aware, the Courts Service Modernisation Programme is a ten-year initiative extending to 2030 and comprises four delivery phases. The first phase, “Mobilise”, which focused on setting up the requisite governance mechanisms, initial core-team assembly and awareness building, is now complete and the second phase, “Transition”, which spans 2021 and 2022, is underway.

Victim Support Services

Questions (415)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

415. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if there is a policy or guidelines in relation to when An Garda Síochána are investigating credible allegations of sexual assault relating to passing this information onto relevant organisations in which the alleged perpetrators are working or volunteering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49266/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána on the matters raised by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the requested information is to hand.

Immigration Support Services

Questions (416)

Chris Andrews

Question:

416. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) will be granted an appointment at the INIS office on Burgh Quay in order to present their new passport. [49279/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the person concerned has obtained a registration appointment via the Registration Appointment Booking System. They should attend as scheduled and present their new passport to facilitate their registration.

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, [e-mail], 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Immigration Support Services

Questions (417, 428)

Chris Andrews

Question:

417. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the actions her Department is taking against persons using bots to block book INIS appointments at the Burgh Quay office (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49280/21]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

428. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the steps taken to date to eliminate the practice of the appropriation by third parties of immigration appointments at Burgh Quay on the INIS website in order to offer those appointments for sale to persons seeking appointments; the analysis undertaken by her Department to establish the extent of the issue; the number of appointments sold to persons seeking appointments in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49345/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 428 together.

My Department is aware that there have been issues in the past around the securing of registration appointments and has continually introduce software fixes designed to prevent such abuses of the system. These new measures have been partly successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents.

However, some third party agents continue to provide appointment booking services in return for payment on the basis that the person provides them with their personal details in advance. My Department strongly advises against this practice of providing sensitive and personal data to unregulated and unknown third parties.

Customers should continue to apply directly for appointments as they become available without charge, through the online appointments system: burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is continually working to establish methods to mitigate against this unregulated practice. A tender has been awarded for a new Immigration Service appointment and scheduling system, which will streamline and further improve the registration process. The new system is expected to be available to customers in November 2021.

Figures are not maintained by my Department on the number of appointments affected by the booking of appointments by third party agents; however, my Department makes every effort to accommodate those impacted.

Seized Property

Questions (418)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

418. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the total value of assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau in each of the past five years and to date in 2021, by county. [49289/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.

The Criminal Assets Bureau do not currently record the breakdown for the value of assets seized by county.

I am advised by CAB that the below table outlines the value of assets seized by the Bureau for the years 2016 – 2020.

To date in 2021, the Bureau has obtained orders in 10 new cases with a value of assets seized in excess of €1,806,000.

YEAR	AMOUNT
2016	643,063.07
2017	7,020,539.20
2018	8,263,582.30
2019	64,985,550.30
2020	5,814,206.00
TOTAL	86,726,940.87

It should be noted that, under the Proceeds of Crime legislation, following a determination by the court that a specified property constitutes the proceeds of crime, seven years must normally elapse before these criminal proceeds may be ultimately confiscated.

It should also be noted that not all of the proceeds of crime which are seized are made available to the State. For example, in 2019 the large increase in seized assets is due to the granting of a freezing order over cryptocurrency to the value of €53,023,140.

Seized Property

Questions (419)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

419. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the amount returned to the public purse by the Criminal Assets Bureau in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [49290/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.

I am advised by CAB that the below table outlines the value of monies returned to the Exchequer by the Bureau for the years 2016 - 2020 under Section 4 and 4A of the Proceeds of Crime Act, as amended.

To date in 2021, the Criminal Assets Bureau has remitted €671,372.54 to the Exchequer.

YEAR	AMOUNT (€)
2016	1,412,920.41
2017	1,698,721.08
2018	2,271,799.92
2019	1,559,726.31
2020	1,838,507.25
TOTAL	8,781,674.97

It should be noted that, under the Proceeds of Crime legislation, following a determination by the court that a specified property constitutes the proceeds of crime, seven years must normally elapse before criminal proceeds may be ultimately confiscated.

Social Welfare Fraud

Questions (420)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

420. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the value of social welfare payments recovered by the Criminal Assets Bureau in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [49291/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.

I am advised by CAB that the below table outlines the value of social welfare payments recovered by the Bureau for the years 1996 – 2020.

At 30/09/2021, the value of social welfare payments recovered by the Bureau is €218,323.93 for 2021.

YEAR	AMOUNT (€)
31/12/2016	297,430.12
31/12/2017	319,720.31
31/12/2018	302,673.36
31/12/2019	324,055.73
31/12/2020	317,236.57
TOTAL	1,561,116.09

Deportation Orders

Questions (421)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

421. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of Afghan citizens resident in Ireland who have received deportation letters in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [49293/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

The following table shows the number of deportation orders issued to Afghan nationals for the past five years. No deportation orders have been issued to Afghan nationals this year.

Furthermore, no existing deportation orders for Afghan nationals will be enforced in the current circumstances. For those with an existing deportation order, they can make a request to me to revoke the order and any such request will be prioritised.

Year DO Issued	Afghan Nationals
2016	42
2017	34
2018	8
2019	64
2020	7
2021YTD	0
Total	155

Human Trafficking

Questions (422)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

422. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons charged with human trafficking offences in the State in each of the past ten years; the number of persons convicted of human trafficking in each of the past five years; and the number of ongoing criminal or legal cases which relate to suspected human trafficking. [49301/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána on the matters raised by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the requested information is to hand.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (423)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

423. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda stations closed in each of the past ten years by county. [49302/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

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, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

Further, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that under the Garda Station Rationalisation Programmes of 2012 and 2013, one hundred and thirty nine (139) Garda Stations were closed nationwide. This included Kilmihil Garda Station, Co. Clare which was closed in 2013 but was subsequently reopened in 2015 and Lisseycasey Garda Station, Co Clare which was closed in its place.

Wexford and Kevin Street Garda Stations were also closed, however, they were replaced with new stations.

The Programme for Government 2016 contained a commitment to reopen six Garda Stations on a pilot basis. As part of this programme, the Garda authorities idenified Rush Garda Station, Co. Dublin; Stepaside Garda Station, Co. Dublin; Bawnboy Garda Station, Co. Cavan; Donard Garda Station, Co. Wicklow; Leighlinbridge Garda Station, Co. Carlow; and Ballinspittle Garda Station, Co. Cork as the six stations to be reopened.

To date, An Garda Síochána in conjunction with the OPW has successfully completed the refurbishment of four of the six Garda Stations to be reopened i.e. Donard Garda Station, Co. Wicklow; Ballinspittle Garda Station, Co. Cork; Stepaside Garda Station, Co. Dublin; and Rush Garda Station, Co. Dublin. There are two Garda Stations remaining which will require refurbishment in order to enable them to reopen; Bawnboy, Co. Cavan and Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow.

The table below provides a breakdown of the stations closed by county as a result of the Garda Station Rationalisation Programmes. As noted above, two further stations were closed in the intervening years and replaced with new stations (Kevin St and Wexford). There have been no additional closures.

County	2012	2013
Carlow	0	1
Cavan	1	4
Clare	1	8
Cork	7	7
Donegal	3	5
Dublin	4	2
Galway	1	10
Kerry	3	9
Kildare	0	3
Kilkenny	0	3
Laois	0	2
Leitrim	2	5
Limerick	2	6
Longford	0	3
Mayo	4	6
Meath	0	2
Monaghan	2	3
Offaly	1	1
Roscommon	3	4
Sligo	1	3
Tipperary	2	5
Waterford	0	2
Westmeath	0	3
Wexford	1	2
Wicklow	0	2
Total	38	101

Prison Service

Questions (424)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

424. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of times inmates, staff or prison officers have been assaulted or have reported assaults inside prisons in each of the past ten years by prison. [49303/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I wish to advise the Deputy that prior to 2012 the Irish Prison Service did not centrally record assault figures. The Irish Prison Service commenced centrally recording the data relating to prisoner on staff assaults and prisoner on prisoner assaults in 2012.

The data requested by the Deputy in relation to prisoner on staff assaults for the period 2012 to 2020 is provided in Table 1, the data in relation to prisoner on prisoner assaults for the period 2012 to 2020 is provided in Table 2.

Any act of violence against a person is unacceptable be they a prisoner, prison officer or other staff member. Necessary supports are available to those who are the victims of such assaults.

Any criminal act carried out within our prisons, including an assault on a staff member, is reported to An Gardaí Síochána for investigation and prosecution.

Table 1. Prisoner on Staff assaults

Prison/Place of Detention	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Arbour Hill	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Castlerea	7	5	9	11	1	13	12	12	4
Cloverhill	9	12	20	8	21	8	11	19	4
Cork	7	8	13	7	3	9	15	12	4
Dóchas Centre	3	7	8	5	26	14	8	23	12
Limerick	10	5	3	2	4	8	8	14	8
Loughan House	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Midlands	10	7	13	17	7	15	13	10	13
Mountjoy (Male)	19	34	30	22	12	18	24	20	17
St.Patrick's Inst.	36	49	20	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Portlaoise	0	3	2	6	5	3	4	0	1
Shelton Abbey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Training Unit	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wheatfield	6	10	26	10	12	10	5	10	5
Prison Service Escort Corps	0	7	6	3	5	6	9	3	2
Operational Support Group	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0
Total	107	147	151	91	98	104	110	123	70

Table 2. Prisoner on Prisoner assaults

Prison/Place of Detention	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Arbour Hill	4	7	6	5	0	0	1	2	0
Castlerea	73	103	119	117	139	79	76	85	44
Cloverhill	97	76	90	88	82	42	54	86	26
Cork	43	30	51	27	33	44	42	61	64
Dóchas Centre	25	21	16	47	30	33	28	39	0
Limerick	45	31	37	24	5	18	28	32	17
Loughan House	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1
Midlands	68	88	77	47	50	45	44	23	29
Mountjoy (Male)	92	107	96	176	156	113	110	103	26
St.Patrick's Inst.	156	57	9	2	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Portlaoise	12	5	11	2	15	14	0	1	4
Shelton Abbey	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
Training Unit	0	0	1	0	0	2	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wheatfield	98	77	74	47	55	24	20	10	28
Prison Service Escort Corps	0	2	2	4	7	3	12	9	1
Total	715	604	589	587	572	417	418	452	250

Prison Service

Questions (425)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

425. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently in prison. [49304/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I can advise the Deputy that on 8 October 2021 there were 3,792 people in custody.

The Deputy may wish to note that a full breakdown of the number of persons currently in prison is included in the Daily Population figures which are published on the website of the Irish Prison Service – www.irishprisons.ie.