Written Answers Nos. 193-207
193. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice the current position regarding an application for a stamp 1G visa by a person (details supplied) who has previously had a stamp 2 visa and has recently graduated and is seeking employment in the State under the third-level graduate programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54824/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 2 permission, which has been extended until 15 January 2022, under the final automatic extension of immigration permissions announced on 14 September 2021.
It is open to the person concerned to apply for a Stamp 1G permission from their local immigration office if they meet the criteria for doing so. A Stamp 1G indicates that a person has permission to look for employment in the State under the Third Level Graduate Programme.
A Stamp 1G is granted or renewed under the Third Level Graduate Programme where the graduate satisfies the immigration authorities that he or she has taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment, for example, attendance at job interviews, signing up with graduate employment agencies, etc.
The Third Level Graduate Programme provides that when an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may qualify for a Stamp 1G for 12 months. Where an individual receives an award at Level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a Stamp 1G for up to 24 months subject to the overall limit of 8 years on student conditions that applies.
Graduates at level 9 NFQ or above who qualify for a Stamp 1G permission will be granted the permission for 12 months initially. This can be renewed for a further period of twelve months, subject to the overall eight year limit on student conditions not being exceeded.
As the Deputy will be aware, registrations for people living outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all registration offices outside of Dublin is available at: www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory.
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 at 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
194. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if the visa of a person (details supplied) will be extended; if so, the steps they need to take to progress same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54855/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 1G Graduate permission, which is valid until 8 September 2022. A Stamp 1G indicates that a person has permission to look for employment in the State under the Third Level Graduate Programme.
A Stamp 1G is granted or renewed under the Third Level Graduate Programme where the graduate satisfies the immigration authorities that he or she has taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment, for example, attendance at job interviews, signing up with graduate employment agencies etc.
The Third Level Graduate Programme provides that when an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may qualify for a Stamp 1G for 12 months. Where an individual receives an award at Level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a Stamp 1G for up to 24 months subject to the overall limit of 8 years on student conditions that applies.
Graduates at level 9 NFQ or above who qualify for a Stamp 1G permission will be granted the permission for 12 months initially. This can be renewed for a further period of twelve months, subject to the overall eight year limit on student conditions not being exceeded.
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 at 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
195. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the total amount spent by her Department on advertisements, including traditional forms of advertisement and online advertising, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [54912/21]
View answerThe amount spent by my Department on advertisements in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021 is set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Costs |
|
2011 |
113,243 |
|
2012 |
68,797 |
|
2013 |
60,152 |
|
2014 |
80,416 |
|
2015 |
108,001 |
|
2016 |
52,868 |
|
2017 |
120,685 |
|
2018 |
70,909 |
|
2019 |
102,607 |
|
2020 |
35,737 |
|
2021 |
76,551 |
The Deputy may also wish to note that my Department has responsibility for the six year, two-part ‘No Excuses’ national campaign to tackle domestic and sexual violence. This is a key action under the Second National Strategy, Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence, and has been running since 2016.
The funding for the ‘Still Here’ campaign, highlighting the supports for victims of domestic violence, and their ongoing availability throughout the pandemic, was also funded by my Department.
Each year in the run up Halloween, my Department also runs an annual awareness raising campaign to highlight the dangers and penalties associated with the use of illegal fireworks.
Spend for the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence campaigns from 2016 to date is set out below.
|
Year |
Costs |
|
2016 |
668,510.42 |
|
2017 |
910,998.00 |
|
2018 |
921,593.92 |
|
2019 |
677,107.23 |
|
2020 |
1,228,936.66 |
|
2021 (To date) |
750,795.19 |
Figures for spending on the annual fireworks campaign are set out below.
|
Year |
Costs |
|
2016 |
34,680.70 |
|
2017 |
36,676.44 |
|
2018 |
29,090.89 |
|
2019 |
17,840.81 |
|
2020 |
33,756.46 |
The fireworks awareness raising campaigns in 2016 and 2017 were predominately newspaper based, however, from 2018 onwards they have focused more on an online presence. The budget for the Fireworks awareness raising campaign allocated for 2021 is €44,091.44. As this campaign has only recently come to a close all amounts that will fall due have not yet been invoiced. It is expected that all relevant invoices will be processed for payment before the end of the year.
196. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the average timeframe it is taking to receive an appointment with the Probate Office from the time an initial application is lodged; and the length of time is it taking for each application to be processed. [54927/21]
View answerAs 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 in relation to the Dublin Probate Office.
Applications by solicitors continued to be processed throughout the pandemic. The waiting time for solicitor applications at present in the Dublin Probate Office 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.
The Courts Service advises that the reintroduction of restrictions on travel earlier this year necessitated the temporary closure of the personal applications process in the Dublin Probate Office. Interviews for personal applications resumed in May with additional resources allocated to facilitate these interviews. I am further advised that any arrears that had been built up have now been cleared and the waiting time for personal applications at present in the Dublin Probate Office is also eight to ten weeks.
The Courts Service has embarked on multi-year programme of modernisation to enhance the delivery of services to the people of Ireland. As part of its aims for the programme, the Courts Service is committed to simplifying services and processes. A key project in the civil law workstream for the Service is the development of an e-probate project, which will have the benefit of standardising the processing of probate applications and so enhance the delivery of the service to Courts Users.
197. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of permission to remain applications rejected by the independent International Protection Appeals Tribunal in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54929/21]
View answer198. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of permission to remain applications rejected by the independent International Protection Appeals Tribunal that have subsequently been reversed or overturned following a review by the International Protection Office in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54930/21]
View answer199. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the most common grounds upon which permission to remain applications are ordinarily refused or rejected following an application under each of the different categories (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54931/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive, together.
For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security.
Since the International Protection Act 2015 commenced on 31 December 2016, the International Protection Office of my Department has carried out the function of considering permission to remain (under section 49 of the 2015 Act), in respect of those applicants who have been refused international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) at first instance.
In the permission to remain element of the process, each case is given a detailed consideration on its individual merits under all of the prescribed headings. This includes a full consideration of their private and family rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, humanitarian factors, as well as consideration of a person’s work situation, among other issues, before a decision is taken to grant or to refuse permission to remain.
All applicants refused international protection have a right to appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) who must consider if the earlier International Protection Office (IPO) determinations on refugee status and subsidiary protection should be affirmed or set aside.
Where the IPAT upholds the IPO recommendation to refuse international protection, and if permission to remain has also been refused by the IPO, the applicant can make submissions for consideration as part of a formal permission to remain review by my Department.
This review is in place to provide for situations where an applicant’s circumstances may have changed in a material way since the initial decision was made to refuse permission to remain. Any decision taken to grant permission to remain under the review mechanism can only be made once the international protection appeal has been refused by the IPAT.
The IPAT has no role in the consideration of permission to remain either at first instance or under the review mechanism. I understand that my officials have engaged directly and intend to follow up in writing with the information sought in that engagement.
200. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if a visa will be granted to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54948/21]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was created online on 22 September 2021 and the supporting documentation was received by the embassy in Warsaw on 29 October 2021. Short stay visit visas applied for in Poland are processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs under delegated sanction from my Department.
The person referred to should contact the embassy in Warsaw and advise them of the urgent nature of their visit and submit any documentation in support of this. Full consideration will be given to any information received on behalf of the applicant. The applicant will be notified in writing as soon as a decision has been reached.
201. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice the progress that has been made on establishing a community safety innovation fund and the proceeds of crime that have been seized and allocated to this fund to date in 2021; the community safety partnerships that have received funding to date to implement their community safety proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54949/21]
View answerAs the Deputy 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 most directly involved. It will also allow best practice on community safety to be shared with other partnerships around the country as new proposals get developed.
202. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if a promised review took place following the conviction of a person (details supplied) for rape; the details of the outcome of the review; if the review will be published; the cost of the inquiry surrounding this particular case incurred by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54950/21]
View answerI understand that in 2017 arising from an incident of false imprisonment and rape, the former Assistant Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Region appointed a Chief Superintendent to conduct a fact finding review surrounding the issues of bail and breaches of bail.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that following the outcome of this review, an interdepartmental working group within An Garda Síochána was then established to commence further examination into matters identified. The work of this group is ongoing.
There was no representation from my Department on the Working Group and there have been no cost implications.
203. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed-charge notices issued to drivers for speeding, by Garda division, in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54960/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. This includes the management of the Fixed Charged Notice System. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I have been provided with the information below by the Garda Authorities in response to the Deputy's query. The table provides a yearly breakdown by Garda division of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offences of speeding.
Please note that below figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01.01.2018 to 31.12.2020, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Fixed Charged Notice System as was available on 01.11.2021 and is liable to change.
|
Divisions |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
4165 |
4486 |
5732 |
|
Clare |
5680 |
4536 |
4924 |
|
Cork City |
3203 |
4092 |
7164 |
|
Cork North |
5078 |
4940 |
6607 |
|
Cork West |
5464 |
4849 |
3444 |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
3439 |
4400 |
5529 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
3064 |
3325 |
4010 |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
8179 |
8668 |
11682 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
3723 |
3014 |
2736 |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
1623 |
1535 |
3438 |
|
D.M.R. Western |
2742 |
3302 |
12895 |
|
Donegal |
2887 |
3344 |
3743 |
|
Galway Division |
9039 |
9476 |
13815 |
|
Kerry |
3552 |
4108 |
3846 |
|
Kildare Division |
14863 |
12830 |
12700 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
5266 |
5060 |
5079 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
4665 |
5335 |
6723 |
|
Limerick |
10793 |
10908 |
8543 |
|
Louth Division |
2383 |
2318 |
4798 |
|
Mayo |
3010 |
5393 |
3911 |
|
Meath Division |
5728 |
3309 |
8350 |
|
Roscommon/Longford Division |
2760 |
3095 |
4430 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
3175 |
3123 |
1910 |
|
Tipperary |
3779 |
3536 |
6665 |
|
Waterford Division |
5197 |
5023 |
5521 |
|
Westmeath Division |
2452 |
3469 |
4847 |
|
Wexford Division |
4635 |
4492 |
5124 |
|
Wicklow Division |
5569 |
5174 |
13097 |
|
Totals |
136113 |
137140 |
181263 |
204. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers who paid a fixed-charge notice for speeding, by Garda division, within the statutory payment timeframe, in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54961/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the administration of the Fixed Charge Notice System. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions.
To be of assistance I have contacted the Garda authorities who have been provided the following information in response to the Deputy's query.
Below is a yearly breakdown by Garda division of the number of instances in which a party paid a Fixed Charge Notice issued for the offences of speeding. Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01.01.2018 to 31.12.2020, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 01.11.2021 and is liable to change.
|
DIVISION |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
3502 |
3768 |
4820 |
|
Clare |
4798 |
3734 |
4320 |
|
Cork City |
2804 |
3553 |
6220 |
|
Cork North |
4437 |
4301 |
5846 |
|
Cork West |
4834 |
4227 |
3066 |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
3126 |
3922 |
4872 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
2380 |
2399 |
2813 |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
6893 |
7010 |
9455 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
3187 |
2590 |
2173 |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
1383 |
1290 |
2850 |
|
D.M.R. Western |
2307 |
2779 |
10308 |
|
Donegal |
2335 |
2732 |
3217 |
|
Galway Div |
7806 |
8038 |
12141 |
|
Kerry |
2962 |
3438 |
3308 |
|
Kildare Div |
12500 |
10602 |
10869 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
4456 |
4301 |
4451 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
4013 |
4528 |
5684 |
|
Limerick |
8911 |
9195 |
7255 |
|
Louth Div |
1948 |
1906 |
3919 |
|
Mayo |
2494 |
4756 |
3422 |
|
Meath Div |
4920 |
2801 |
6974 |
|
Roscommon/Longford Div |
2365 |
2642 |
3827 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
2705 |
2692 |
1690 |
|
Tipperary |
3174 |
2893 |
5657 |
|
Waterford Div |
4495 |
4320 |
4765 |
|
Westmeath Div |
2120 |
2983 |
4195 |
|
Wexford Div |
3879 |
3876 |
4322 |
|
Wicklow Div |
4732 |
4455 |
11092 |
|
|
115466 |
115731 |
153531 |
205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers who availed of the third payment option and paid a fixed-charge notice for speeding, by Garda division, in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54963/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. This includes the management of the Fixed Charged Notice System. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I have been advised of the following information by the Garda Authorities. Below is a yearly breakdown per Garda division of the number of instances in which a Fixed Charge Notice was issued for the offences of speeding and was paid using the third payment option.
Court proceedings are initiated where a fine is not paid within the required timeframe. A third payment option is available where the fine can be paid up to a number of days before the court date. The fine will be double the original fine.
In this report all cases where a fine of €160 was paid (double the original fine amount of €80) have been included.
It should be noted that the below figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2018 to 31/12/2020 inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Fixed Charge Processing System as was available on 03/11/2021 and is liable to change.
|
Divisions |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
123 |
133 |
166 |
|
Clare |
183 |
191 |
225 |
|
Cork City |
115 |
137 |
129 |
|
Cork North |
171 |
169 |
189 |
|
Cork West |
199 |
161 |
101 |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
110 |
101 |
180 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
132 |
123 |
102 |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
305 |
269 |
280 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
145 |
99 |
58 |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
53 |
55 |
71 |
|
D.M.R. Western |
65 |
132 |
289 |
|
Donegal |
106 |
146 |
170 |
|
Galway Division |
320 |
350 |
528 |
|
Kerry |
131 |
121 |
135 |
|
Kildare Division |
344 |
454 |
413 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
193 |
138 |
148 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
165 |
192 |
215 |
|
Limerick |
377 |
370 |
359 |
|
Louth Division |
99 |
120 |
173 |
|
Mayo |
85 |
171 |
100 |
|
Meath Div |
177 |
104 |
101 |
|
Roscommon/Longford Division |
109 |
116 |
152 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
110 |
126 |
56 |
|
Tipperary |
153 |
153 |
270 |
|
Waterford Division |
185 |
162 |
186 |
|
Westmeath Division |
89 |
121 |
163 |
|
Wexford Division |
175 |
177 |
172 |
|
Wicklow Division |
212 |
186 |
232 |
|
Totals |
4631 |
4777 |
5363 |
206. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers listed in court for speeding by district court in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020; the number of drivers convicted of speeding in each of the years by district court; the number of drivers who had their cases dismissed and struck out each year by district court; the number of drivers' driver licence numbers recorded on conviction of speeding in each year by district court; the penalties imposed on conviction each year by district court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54965/21]
View answerI have made enquiries with the Courts Service regarding the information sought by the Deputy. The Courts Service have provided a significant volume of information in response to the Deputy's question which I will arrange to be sent to the Deputy directly.
207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers listed in court for speeding, by District Court, in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, which resulted in the case being struck out due to summons not served for speeding offence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54966/21]
View answerAs outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 331 of 04 November 2021, the Courts Service system does not record the reason a case was struck out unless the Judge includes the reason in their order, and for this reason, the Courts Service cannot provide the information sought by the Deputy.
As such, the Courts Service does not hold complete statistical information on the reasons for any case being struck out and the statistics as requested by the Deputy cannot be provided.
