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Thursday, 21 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 121-140

Crime Prevention

Questions (121)

Alan Farrell

Question:

121. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if she will address the need for Government to tackle gender-based violence and harassment in Irish society. [51087/21]

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Written answers

The government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of this heinous crime.

My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, which of course includes victims of domestic and sexual crime.

The commitment of this Government to combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence and to supporting victims is reflected in the funding allocated under Budget 2022, with a total of €13m allocated to my Department for this. This represents an increased allocation of €5.35m and will enable us to roll out specific awareness raising and training programmes to combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence. It will also allow us to provide additional supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes and it will support a number of front line activities.

As part of this, an additional €1.1m will be used to put in place a legal advice and legal aid service in court for victims of sexual violence and €1 million is being provided to the Garda vote to refurbish and upgrade the Divisional Protective Service Units. This will allow us to better support and protect vulnerable victims.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department is leading the development across government of the third national strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. This plan will outline how the government will radically improve services and supports for victims and will be the most ambitious plan to date. My Department is also currently implementing Supporting a Victim’s Journey, our plan to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases, and which was published by Minister McEntee last year. It will reform the criminal justice system at every point a victim comes into contact with it, while a national public awareness campaign on consent will further strengthen work to prevent these crimes.

The additional funding secured under Budget 2022 will allow us to continue to build on the work undertaken this year. We will continue to improve the system for victims, to better support them and through various means to raise awareness of, and to combat, all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

As part of our work to combat sexual harassment, domestic and sexual violence we are running awareness raising campaigns to bring about a change in long-established societal behaviours and attitudes and to activate bystanders with a view to decreasing and preventing this type of behaviour and violence.

The final instalment of a three-year awareness campaign on sexual violence, entitled ‘No Excuses’ is currently being aired across radio, tv and various other social channels. Work is also underway to develop a national campaign around the meaning and importance of consent in sexual relationships. It is also expected that as part of the Third National Strategy’s focus on prevention and informing victims of supports available, there will be new and potentially multi-faceted campaigns required.  

On the legislative side, a new law enacted earlier this year has introduced preliminary hearings for the first time. This will ensure greater protections for vulnerable victims and witnesses in sexual offences cases.

'Coco's Law', also referred to as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, entered into force on 10 February 2021. Among other provisions, it broadened the offence of harassment and increased the penalties for the more serious forms of harassment. It also created new offences of sending, or threatening to send, intimate images without the consent of the person whose image it is.

The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill has completed drafting and it is intended this Bill will be brought to my Government colleagues for approval to publish in the coming weeks. The purpose of the Bill is to enhance current systems for the assessment and management of convicted sex offenders and to put those systems on a statutory footing. 

Through the implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journey, I am reforming as a priority our criminal justice system, to ensure that vulnerable victims are supported and empowered at every stage of their journey, confident in the knowledge that they will be supported, informed and treated with respect and dignity.

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;

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

My Department has also 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. 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 in July.  The recommendations of this audit, as well as the Tusla Review of accommodation needs and outcome of the mapping exercise undertaken as part of implementing Supporting a Victim's Journey, will play an important role in the development across Government of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV. I intend to have a draft Strategy ready for a further round of public consultation in the coming weeks, and, as already indicated, this Strategy will have a preventative focus.

Budget 2022

Questions (122)

Pa Daly

Question:

122. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the capital expenditure measures Budget 2022 allocation for her Department contains; if she will provide the priorities in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51078/21]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that 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.

The capital allocation for Justice in 2022 of €270 million will facilitate a programme of sustained investment supporting an efficient and effective justice system providing important Government services and activities across policing, prisons and the courts. As the Deputy may wish to note, three large infrastructural projects provided for in the National Development Plan are due for completion next year;  a new laboratory for Forensic Science Ireland at Backweston in Co. Kildare, the redevelopment of Limerick Prison and a large capital development for An Garda Síochána at Military Road Dublin 8 (to replace the Harcourt Square facilities).

In addition to these projects, the capital investment granted to the Justice Sector will also allow for;

- Continuing investment in building and refurbishment projects across the Justice sector in new and refurbished Garda stations, in court buildings and prisons, and in advancing the PPP project in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency to develop two Garda stations (Clonmel and Macroom) and a family law complex at Hammond Lane, Dublin 7.

- 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.

- 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.

Furthermore, the capital allocation for An Garda Síochána in 2022 will continue to facilitate the significant ongoing programme of investment in ICT modernisation to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policing services.

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Questions (123)

Denis Naughten

Question:

123. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice if she is satisfied with the level of compliance by persons who are subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number of breaches of these conditions recorded by An Garda Síochána in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48280/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, An Garda Síochána has responsibility for monitoring persons convicted of sexual offences who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

The Garda National Protective Services Bureau, which falls under the remit of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime has a dedicated unit, the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit (SOMIU), which has National Governance on the management of registered sex offenders. SOMIU liaise on a daily basis with Nominated Divisional Inspectors and their teams throughout the Garda Regions with regard to the maintenance of records and the monitoring level of registered sex offenders in their area.

I am informed that, currently, there are one thousand, seven hundred and eight (1,708) people recorded at the Sex Offenders Management and Intelligence Unit who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

The number of breaches of the Sex Offenders Act as recorded by An Garda Síochána in the past 12 months totals seventy six (76).

A person subject to a Part 2 order who fails to comply with the order, or who provides false or misleading information, can be prosecuted and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €10,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both.

Prison Service

Questions (124)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

124. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will consider a separate wing for 18- and 19-year-olds within Wheatfield Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51635/21]

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Written answers

I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are no plans to accommodate 18 and 19 year olds together on a separate wing within Wheatfield Prison.

The creation of such separate unit, in Wheatfield or in any other Prison, would be a major policy decision which would require careful consideration and assessment given its operational implications for the Prison Service, particularly in terms of space and management of the Prison population.  

Prisoners aged 18 years and over are sent to the committal prison designated for their county in a direction under Section 17(3) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act 1914 - which is commonly known as the Consolidated Committal Order. It is however the practice of the Irish Prison Service, where possible, to subsequently accommodate prisoners close to their family homes to facilitate better contact with their families.

Crime Prevention

Questions (125)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

125. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the initiatives being put in place to tackle rural crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51427/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, a key pillar of the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is building stronger and safer communities.  I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, both rural and urban. 

While An Garda Síochána has provided very dedicated service to assisting in the national effort to combat the threat of COVID-19, ordinary policing has of course also continued throughout the period.

This includes the winter phase of Operation Thor, which was launched on 1 October 2021 and will run until 31 March 2022. Operation Thor is designed to tackle the increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur in winter months by undertaking targeted enforcement and preventative activity, highlighted through public information campaigns including 'Lock up, Light up' etc. These initiatives have been successful in dramatically reducing the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property-related crime since its introduction in 2015.

In addition, the Garda Community Engagement Bureau promotes Supporting Safer Communities’ campaigns each year. The main focus of the crime prevention campaigns is burglary prevention and reduction. I am informed that the next campaign is scheduled for 24 November 2021. The National Crime Prevention Unit at Garda Community Engagement Bureau also supports a nationwide network of Crime Prevention Officers. Each Garda division has an appointed Crime Prevention Officer.   

The Deputy may also be aware of the National Rural Safety Forum, which brings together An Garda Síochána, my Department and?the Department of Rural & Community Development, alongside national and local organisations including the Irish Farmers Association, Muintir na Tíre and the GAA. The purpose of the Forum is to develop a nationwide network for the distribution of crime prevention advice, increase engagement within communities, and prevent and reduce opportunities for crime.? My Department's Justice Plan 2021 commits to working with the Forum to develop initiatives to promote community safety and to reduce the opportunity for crime throughout the country.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre and a maximum refund of up to €350 is provided to the community.

For the last two years, my Department has committed to funding of up to €150,000 toward the costs of the scheme and, based on the number of applications received, it has had an average cost of €120,000 per annum.

My officials have been engaging with Muintir na Tíre in relation to continuing this scheme including reviewing whether newer technologies, including apps, would be appropriate for use. In terms of funding for the 2021 Scheme, a final decision has yet to be made but I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to continuing to support this scheme.

The Deputy may also be aware that An Garda Síochána commenced an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

Immigration Policy

Questions (126)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

126. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Justice her plans to regularise undocumented migrants in Ireland including those who have been issued a deportation order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51506/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to bring forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government, to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents with due consideration of Ireland's European Union and Common Travel Area commitments.

Proposals for the draft scheme and the criteria to apply are being developed by my Department in line with this commitment. This is being informed by research and consultation with key stakeholders and engagement with Government Departments as appropriate.  

Following this engagement with stakeholders, my Department is now working to finalise the details for the scheme, including eligibility considerations and qualifying criteria, with a view to bringing a proposal to Government shortly to allow for the launch of the scheme before the end of this year.  

In finalising a proposal, my Department is examining the implications of the principles underpinning this scheme for various groups who have spent extended periods in the country without an immigration permission to remain, including those subject to deportation orders. It is not possible at this stage to confirm the details of the scheme until it has been finalised, considered and approved by the Government.

The aim of the scheme is to provide an opportunity to regularise those who have been living for many years in Ireland without a legal status in light of the uncertainty and vulnerability that this brings. Many adults and children are expected to benefit from this scheme, for example through increased career and educational opportunities and enabling those who qualify to get on the pathway to one day applying for Irish citizenship, if they so wish.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (127)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

127. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the steps she has taken to address the management and cancellation of computer-aided despatch incidents and 999 calls by An Garda Síochána as outlined by the Policing Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51719/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, who summoned the courage to seek assistance may not have received it.

The Policing Authority was asked by Minister McEntee to oversee the review being carried by An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter, and there have been a number of engagements between the Authority and An Garda Síochána since March of this year.

I share the Authority’s concern about the continuation of what appear to be inappropriate cancellation and classification of calls since the introduction of the new procedures. These circumstances will of course be considered by the Authority as part of their continuing oversight of the Garda review of this matter, and will be taken into account in the work being carried out by an external policing expert who has been appointed to assist the Authority in this task. I await the outcome of the Authority's work in this regard.

My Department has ongoing engagement with the Garda authorities in relation to their work to address the issues which have arisen in respect of management of 999 calls. I will of course consider any recommendations the Authority choses to make regarding the future management of these matters.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (128)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

128. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for commencement and completion of works for the new Garda station for Macroom, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45581/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the construction of the new Garda station at Macroom is to proceed on the basis of a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which also includes the construction of a new Garda Station in Clonmel.  Planning permission for the new Garda station in Macroom was granted in March 2021.

There is ongoing engagement between my Department, An Garda Síochána, the OPW and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) (which is the procuring authority for PPPs) to progress this project with a view to the tender process commencing in 2022.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (129)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which training and the updating of legislation continues to be made available to An Garda Síochána and that such activity and upgrading of training continues to remain an integral part of the curriculum; the extent to which promotional opportunities remain part of their employment; if training and working conditions remain adequate to meet the challenges of a modern police force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51652/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the training of Garda members and staff, and personnel matters such as promotions. As Minister, I play no direct role in these independent functions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that training continues to be made available to An Garda Síochána on a fulltime basis and is continuously updated to reflect current legislative changes. I am further informed that the 2022 training plan for An Garda Síochána is currently being prepared and follows an in-depth training needs analysis by the organisation.

I am assured by the Garda authorities that the training and working conditions in the Garda College remain adequate to meet the challenges of a modern police force.

The Deputy may be aware that I recently introduced new regulations which will significantly reform the promotion process for the key Garda ranks of sergeants and inspectors and pave the way for the promotion of hundreds of members of An Garda Síochána. 

The Government is committed to ongoing recruitment into An Garda Síochána as well as allowing for promotional opportunities within the service. Together, these moves will both strengthen An Garda Síochána with new recruits and increase supervision and mentoring within the organisation.

Antisocial Behaviour

Questions (130)

Thomas Gould

Question:

130. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the status of her Department’s role in the roll-out of the scramblers initiative. [50096/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, I established a subgroup of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum earlier this year to examine measures which can be taken with regard to the misuse of vehicles such as scramblers and quad bikes in communities.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum delivered a community based proposal to tackling the misuse of scramblers and other vehicles. This scheme is based on the model developed by the Moyross Youth Diversion Project (YDP) and, again, is a means of intervention and diversion from this type of activity, rather than enforcement.

My Department opened applications to all YDPs and interested groups, such as motocross clubs, for funding for these initiatives. Almost €200,000 in funding has been granted to eight projects, some of which are joint ventures between more than one YDP (a total of 10 YDPs applied for funding, 9 in Dublin, along with additional support provided for Moyross in Limerick).

The Deputy may also be aware that €6.7million has been provided for youth justice services in Budget 2022. This represents an increase of one third in support for youth justice services. It provides the resources to kick-start delivery of key objectives in the Youth Justice Strategy and, in particular, the programme to expand and deepen the range of supports made available through local YDP services.

The main elements are:

- Establishment of a limited number of new youth projects and boundary extensions of existing projects so as to ensure that the youth diversion services are available throughout the State by end-2022 or shortly thereafter.

- Enhancement of the youth diversion service, in accordance with identified local needs, to include:

- Early intervention and family support work

- Outreach with harder-to-engage young people

- Support for schools to retain challenging children

- Other specific initiatives e.g. in relation to anti-social use of scramblers and knife crime issues.

Dedicated research and expert support, including best practice support for the nationwide project network, facilitated by the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice (REPPP) project team in the University of Limerick.

The Minister for Transport has this week published the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which includes provisions to strengthen the law in relation to the dangerous and antisocial off-road use of scramblers, quads and other similar vehicles.

Antisocial Behaviour

Questions (131)

Dara Calleary

Question:

131. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice the actions that will be taken to address a concerning increase of antisocial behaviour in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51418/21]

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Written answers

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour. I am very conscious of the negative effect it can have on the quality of life for local communities, including in Mayo. Our communities deserve to feel safe and be safe.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána which includes the planning and deployment of Garda resources in response to crime trends. I, as Minister, have no direct role in such decisions. 

I am informed by the Garda authorities that active engagement between An Garda Síochána and Mayo County Council is taking place regarding antisocial behaviour in the area. There have been two meetings held with local councillors and An Garda Síochána, which were chaired by a councillor from the Foxford Area. The meetings are run under the Mayo Joint Policing Committee (JPC) as a subgroup where issues, including anti social behaviour, are discussed. The next meeting is scheduled for December 2021

The Deputy will be aware that in line with a Programme for Government commitment, I established an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour. This forum will consider the effectiveness of existing legislation and propose new ways forward, including new powers for An Garda Síochána and additional interventions to support parenting of offenders.

Two subgroups of the forum have been set up to examine particular issues, including one on knife crime which met on 26 September, and another on the misuse of scramblers and quadbikes. Similar sub groups can also be established for other issues as they arise.

A new Youth Justice Strategy for 2021 – 2027 was also published on 15 April. In line with international best practice, a key principle of the new Youth Justice Strategy is providing as many opportunities as possible to enable young people to change direction in their lives and adopt more positive behaviours.

The Strategy includes 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 Strategy strengthens and expands the role of the Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) and promotes appropriate linkages and alignment with other community-based initiatives. Bringing the full range of relevant interventions together in a coherent and holistic response to youth crime will support the objective of diverting young people from crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Deputy will also be aware of the Local Community Safety Partnership pilots which are underway in 3 locations around the country.  Local Community Safety Partnerships are designed to take a holistic approach to safety issues in partnership with the community. The Partnerships will allow local communities to identify issues of particular concern within their area and work with the relevant State services to develop a local Community Safety Plan to specifically tackle these issues. The Local Community Safety Partnerships will be rolled out nationwide to all local authority areas after the pilot phase of two years.

For the Deputy's information, the Garda Commissioner and his team continue to utilise  Operation Soteria to ensure a reduction of assaults in public, reduce fear of assault within communities, prioritise assault investigations, and focus on problem areas and assault hotspots. The Operation includes targeting knife crimes in areas where it is shown to be appropriate and necessary.

The operation is based upon five principles for implementation: commitment to protecting people and communities; awareness and education as a crime prevention technique; policing operational efficiency; location management by working in partnership; and offender management.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (132)

John Lahart

Question:

132. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to the drug squad in the Dublin south Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51551/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the distribution and deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State under the Act. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by Garda management that as of 30 September 2021, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 24 Garda members were assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region South Divisional Drugs Unit. This allocation is composed of three Garda Sergeants and 21 Gardaí.

The Divisional Drugs Units are supported by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, as well as other Regional and National Units as required, such as the Armed Response Unit and Garda Dog Unit.

I am advised that it is a matter for each Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimal distribution of resources within their Division and that Garda management keeps this distribution under continual review in light of a number of factors, including emerging crime trends and identified operational needs.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (133, 144)

Alan Dillon

Question:

133. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide additional details on the new community safety innovation fund outlined in Budget 2022; if she will provide examples of the type of projects that may be supported through the fund; if addressing antisocial behaviour in residential areas will be included in this fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51682/21]

View answer

Emer Higgins

Question:

144. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice if she will elaborate on the new community safety innovation fund and the type of projects that it is envisaged would be supported through the fund. [51276/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 144 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m.

A call for funding proposals will issue seeking applications for community safety projects and similar initiatives from bodies involved in community safety, such as the new Local Community Safety Partnerships – pilots of which are in place in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford – and the Drogheda Implementation Board, as well as similar entities nationwide.

Applications will be assessed against stated criteria outlined in the call for proposals to ensure funding is allocated to encourage the development of innovative ways in which to improve community safety from those people who understand local community safety needs best. These criteria for allocating funding are currently under consideration and will be announced in due course. 

The approach we are taking will ensure that the best proposals to improve community safety will get the funding they need and will encourage the development of innovative ways in which to improve community safety from those people who understand local community safety needs best. It will also allow best practice on community safety to be shared with other partnerships around the country as new proposals get developed.

As the Deputies will be aware, all monies seized by CAB are remitted to the Central Fund of the Exchequer after the appropriate statutory time frame under the Proceeds of Crime Act; currently seven years must elapse from date of seizure to remittance to the Exchequer.

Responsibility for the identification, tracing, freezing, and ultimate confiscation of criminal assets rests with a number of different agencies and statutory bodies. These include An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, as well as Revenue, the Chief State Solicitors Office, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (134)

Joe Flaherty

Question:

134. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Justice the plans in place for the expansion of the Garda mountain bike unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51552/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.

The resources provided by the Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion in 2021 and over €2 billion in Budget 2022, which includes €12 million for investment in the Garda fleet.   

I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána recognise the need to be visible and accessible in communities but are also conscious of taking necessary actions to reduce their carbon footprint and, as such, An Garda Síochána intend to purchase an additional 100 mountain bikes and increased numbers of Electrical Vehicles as part of an overall fleet management strategy.

I am further informed that a needs analysis of each Division in respect of mountain bikes and associated equipment has been conducted. The deployment of the additional mountain bikes will be based on the results of the needs analysis survey. Any additional training will identified as necessary will be rolled out as part of any additional deployment of equipment.

An Garda Síochána is liaising with suppliers in advance of commencing a tender process to purchase additional mountain bikes. Enquiries have been carried out with a number of suppliers who have advised that there is currently a limited supply of the requisite mountain bikes. This matter is being monitored with a view to a tender issuing once sufficient quantities of bikes become available. 

I understand that there are currently 556 marked mountain bikes attached to the Garda Fleet.

The divisional breakdown of the 556 marked mountain bikes is as follows:

 Eastern Region

 105

 Southern Region

 118

 North Western Region

 113

 Dublin Metropolitan Region

 220

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (135)

Alan Dillon

Question:

135. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice the intended allocation of the additional €10 million provided in Budget 2022 to significantly increase digital services in her Department; if consideration will be given to increased investment at a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51681/21]

View answer

Written answers

Investment is required to significantly increase digital services in my Department in line with our strategy. This will include developing a fully digital, customer-centric immigration service, as well as integrating digital systems across the justice sector to increase efficiencies and provide data-informed insights to support policy development. The implementation of a new ICT strategy for my Department will also include measures to update older systems and strengthen business continuity arrangements in the Department.

The budget provided by government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding. This reflects the government’s commitment to making sure people are safe in their communities.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the allocation of resources to fund improvements in IT and digital services. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review.

Domestic Violence

Questions (136)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

136. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice the details of supports and funding made available for domestic abuse supports in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51634/21]

View answer

Written answers

The government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of this heinous crime.

My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, which of course includes victims of domestic and sexual crime.

The commitment of this Government to combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence and to supporting victims is reflected in the funding allocated under Budget 2022, with a total of €13m allocated to my Department for this. This represents an increased allocation of €5.35m and will enable us to roll out specific awareness raising and training programmes to combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence. It will also allow us to provide additional supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes and it will support a number of front line activities.

As part of this, an additional €1.1m will be used to put in place a legal advice and legal aid service in court for victims of sexual violence and €1 million is being provided to the Garda vote to refurbish and upgrade the Divisional Protective Service Units. This will allow us to better support and protect vulnerable victims.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department is leading the development across government of the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. This plan will outline how the government will radically improve services and supports for victims and will be the most ambitious plan to date. My Department is also currently implementing Supporting a Victim’s Journey, our plan to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases, and which was published by Minister McEntee last year. It will reform the criminal justice system at every point a victim comes into contact with it, while a national public awareness campaign on consent will further strengthen work to prevent these crimes.

The additional funding secured under Budget 2022 will allow us to continue to build on the work undertaken this year. We will continue to improve the system for victims, to better support them and through various means to raise awareness of, and to combat, all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

Furthermore, I understand that Minister O'Gorman has secured an increase of €41m for Tusla under Budget 2022 which includes the budget for funding organisations that deliver frontline services, including the funding of refuge spaces.

Since 2014, this part of Tusla's budget has almost doubled from €17.5m to €30m in 2021. While I understand Minister O'Gorman, in consultation with Tusla, is finalising the detailed allocation of funding resources to various programmes and service areas, I am assured that the budget for 2022 will allow Tusla to maintain supports for DSGBV services, which have seen a significant increases in demand in the context of Covid-19, and to progress recommendations emerging from its review of refuge accommodation provision.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (137)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

137. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the plans that are in place to reduce the number of drugs offences; the number of gardaí in County Tipperary currently assigned to drugs duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51426/21]

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Written answers

I am acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on the communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy, which emphasises a health-led approach to addressing the challenge of drugs in our society, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health. 

As the Deputy will also be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for decisions on the distribution of resources and personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.

However I can assure the Deputy that the continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past year to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the unprecedented demands placed on policing services by the vital support of public health guidelines.

On 2 July 2021, An Garda Síochána commenced an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

I am advised that three operations are underway in the Tipperary Division to tackle criminality related to drugs. Operation Overwatch is a divisional operation under the auspices of Operation Tara to target the sale and supply of drugs and that, as part of this operation, an intelligence-led operation is currently focused on the supply of drugs within the division, utilising support from Regional Units.

I am further informed that Operation Raffle is an anti-drugs operation specific to the Clonmel District and that Operation Geall is targeting offenders involved in organised crime, including drug trafficking, in the Tipperary Division.

The number of Garda members attached to the Tipperary Drugs Unit, as at 15 October 2021, is 1 Sergeant and 10 Gardaí. The members of this unit also work collaboratively with all Gardaí in the community.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (138)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

138. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of the Garda budget for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51629/21]

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Written answers

The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. Since 2016 the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €500m, or 33%. This has enabled 1,400 extra Gardaí to be deployed, as well as continued investment in modern equipment. In addition, we have freed up 800 Gardaí for front line policing work through the recruitment of Garda staff. 

As the Deputy may be aware, Covid-19 restrictions on the Garda Training College in Templemore constrained recruitment and training for periods over the last 18 months. However, I am glad to confirm that 450 Gardaí will be recruited this year and the funding provided for next year fully supports the sustained recruitment of Garda members and staff.

In particular, the funding announced last week includes provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 - an additional 1,200 personnel. The number of new recruits and new Garda staff envisaged means that we are on track to meet the Government’s target of 15,000 sworn members of An Garda Síochána and 4,000 Garda staff as we approach the centenary of An Garda Síochána’s establishment.

This increase in the number of Garda members and staff will deliver significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide and improved services to the public generally. Redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and support roles will also continue next year, thus allowing highly trained Gardaí to focus on frontline policing duties.  The organisation's capacity will be further strengthened by the recruitment of additional Garda staff, including to specialist roles to support the investigation of crime and enhance the management of the organisation .

Budget 2022 provides an additional €10.5 million for Garda operational expenditure – including provision for new mobile devices, equipment for a range of Garda specialist units and on-going training in relation to priority areas such as tackling sexual, domestic and gender based violence. It also includes a specific once–off allocation of €1.5 million to mark the centenary of An Garda Síochána in 2022.

Budget 2022 also includes provision for a capital budget of €147 million for An Garda Síochána’s ICT and Building Programme and ongoing investment in the organisation’s transport fleet. An Garda Síochána, recognising the need to be visible and accessible in communities but also conscious of taking proactive actions to reduce their carbon footprint, will purchase an additional 100 mountain bikes and increased numbers of Electrical Vehicles as part of an overall fleet management strategy.

The budget will also ensure continuing investment in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, with ongoing expansion of the Bureau between this year and next, including the recruitment of 20 civilian expert posts at engineer grade.

Budget 2022

Questions (139)

David Stanton

Question:

139. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the way in which the extra €6.7 million in funding allocated in Budget 2022 to progress the provisions of the Youth Justice Strategy is likely to be invested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51095/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 was launched earlier this year.  The immediate priority within the new Strategy is to enhance engagement with children and young people who are most at risk of involvement in criminal activity, principally by strengthening the services available through the existing network of 105 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) across the State.

YDPs engage with young people through a range of supports, including education, training and  employment support, social enterprise initiatives, as well as supports such as mentoring and personal development activities. Experience in the operation of the Children Act highlights the need to include children below the age of criminal responsibility (12 for  most offences) in preventative measures, and to consider the extension of measures to divert young offenders away from the criminal justice system beyond the age of 18.

The additional €6.7m provided for in Budget 2022 represents an increase of one third in support for youth justice services. It provides the resources to kick-start delivery of key objectives in the Youth Justice Strategy and, in particular, the programme to expand and deepen the range of supports made available through local YDP services. The main elements are:

- Establishment of a limited number of new youth projects and boundary extensions of existing projects so as to ensure that the youth diversion services are available throughout the State by  end-2022 or shortly thereafter.

- Enhancement of the youth diversion service, in accordance with identified local needs, to include:

- Early intervention and family support work

- Outreach with harder-to-engage young people

- Support for schools to retain challenging children

- Other specific initiatives e.g. in relation to anti-social use of scramblers and knife crime issues.

- Dedicated research and expert support, including best practice support for the nationwide project network, facilitated by the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice (REPPP) project team in the University of Limerick.

Data Protection

Questions (140)

Gary Gannon

Question:

140. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice her views on the two vacant seats to fill in the Data Protection Commission; her views on whether the filling of these seats would improve the efficiency of the Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47191/21]

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Written answers

Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection Commission is independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the Government ‘will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation’.

The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and protection of the data privacy rights of EU citizens, which is critical to the development and growth of our digital economy.

My Department continues to monitor the impact of the implementation of GDPR; the impact of any possible future regulatory changes across Europe as well as any changes within industry, in conjunction with the Data Protection Commission, to ensure that the Commission continues to have the resources required to fulfil its important, statutory obligations.

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, provision is made that the Government may determine that the Commission may consist of up to three members. I have asked my officials to consider the matter of appointing additional commissioners to the Data Protection Commission. If such a recommendation were to be made, it would require the Minister for Justice to bring that recommendation to Government for a decision.

There has been a year-on-year increase in funding for the Commission over the last five budgetary years. In Budget 2022, the Data Protection Commission vote has received an increased allocation of €4.1 million which represents a 21% increase on 2021. This brings the total allocation for the Commission to €23 million in 2022 – a six-fold increase compared to 2015.

Recognising the expanding breadth of the Commission’s regulatory role, its mission to safeguard data protection rights, and the increasing demands, I am making available this increased allocation to the Commission in 2022 to enable the recruitment of additional specialist and technical staff and to address the increasing case load and complexity of cases being faced by the Commission.

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