Written Answers Nos. 575-596
576. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons successfully prosecuted under section 45(3) of the Sexual Offences Act 2017 in each of the years of 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [6207/22]
View answerManagement of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.
577. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if funding is being provided in 2022 for the purchase of additional Garda command control vehicles. [6209/22]
View answerBudget 2022 has allocated €12m for investment in the Garda fleet, which will mean more high visibility policing in our towns and cities.
The Deputy will be aware that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 4 Command and Control vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. I am further informed that there is no plan to purchase additional Garda command control vehicles in 2022.
578. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if a new contract has been put out to tender recently for the provision of additional unmarked Garda cars. [6210/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase of vehicles and their allocation to Garda units. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
Garda vehicles are purchased under contracts tendered by the Office of Government Procurement. The current contract came into effect in November 2020. This contract is effective for a period of two years, with the option of a 12 month extension.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. I am further advised that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.
579. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of high-speed rigid inflatable boats currently in the Garda water unit. [6211/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Water Unit, Operational Support Services is a national resource based at Santry Garda Station, Dublin Metropolitan Region, and Garycastle, Athlone, Co. Westmeath and is under the remit of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime. The unit provides a full dive and marine capability throughout the State and responds to requests for assistance from within An Garda Síochána and other relevant agencies.
I am further advised that the unit currently has four Rigid Inflatable Boats, two based in Santry and two based in Athlone.
580. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of committal warrants issued to gardaí in the Kildare division in 2021; and the number of these warrants that were executed within 28 days. [6212/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing, controlling and generally carrying on the business of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on 3 February 2022 to identify any Committal Warrant or Estreatment of Bail Committal Warrant issued during 2021 and first received by a station within Kildare Division. I am advised that 73 unique Warrant IDs were identified, 14 of which have a current status of ‘Executed’ and have also recorded an Execution Date within 28 days of Issue Date. I am informed that these figures are operational and liable to change.
581. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons successfully prosecuted under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [6214/22]
View answerSection 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 provides for the arrest and detention by a member of An Garda Síochána of any person suspected of having committed or being about to commit or being or having being concerned in the commission of an offence under any section of the 1939 Act or an offence which is a scheduled offence for the purposes of Part V of the 1939 Act.
The Deputy will be aware that for the renewal of certain provisions of the Offences Against the State legislation each year, the Minister for Justice is obliged to lay a report of the operation of the sections in question before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Those reports, in addition to providing details on the operation of the provisions falling to be renewed, also give details of the total number of persons arrested under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 for each reporting period.
Subsection (6) of section 30 provides that persons obstructing or impeding a member of an Garda Síochána in exercising any powers conferred under section 30, shall be guilty of an offence. I understand the Deputy to be seeking statistics in relation to prosecutions under this provision. I am however advised by the Courts Service that systems do not currently allow for these statistics to be generated.
582. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will be travelling abroad for St. Patrick’s week 2022 on official visits; and if so, the location she is scheduled to visit. [6237/22]
View answerAs announced by the Government today, I will be travelling to Savannah, Georgia in the United States for the 2022 St. Patrick's Day programme.
I look forward to promoting Ireland and Irish interests, and to communicating the message that Ireland is reopening and is a wonderful place to live, visit, work, study and invest.
583. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice if there has been a change of position regarding the pension entitlement of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6435/22]
View answerI can confirm that, as outlined to the Deputy previously, the situation regarding this matter remains unchanged.
I understand that the person concerned is entitled to preserved pension benefits and will be due reduced pension entitlements on application at the age of 60. I understand that this pension will be based on his actual service in An Garda Síochána and that there is no basis to pay this preserved pension prior to this date under the Pensions Regulations.
584. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if she and her officials have engaged with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and their officials on the need to reform the atypical scheme for non-EEA migrant fishers; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of such fishers who are currently resident in Ireland may not be covered by her Department’s new documentation scheme arising from the fact that they may have been documented at some point in time since 2016 under the terms of the atypical scheme; if she is considering a replacement system for the atypical scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6498/22]
View answerA review of the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA fishers is being carried out by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my own Department.
As part of the review, stakeholders involved, or with an interest, in the scheme, including relevant Government Departments and agencies, employer groups, solicitors representing applicants, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and others were invited to make submissions by 2 February 2022, and a number of submissions have been received.
The review remains ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of March.
Regarding the Regularisation for Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme, the scheme opened for applications on 31 January 2022. Anyone, including seafishers, who meets the scheme's published criteria is eligible to apply. Full details regarding the qualifying criteria, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and the required documentation for the Scheme is available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme/.
585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a schedule of the number of new Garda recruits deployed for their first module of work experience by district and by station in counties Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Dublin in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will provide the same information in respect of newly attested gardaí. [6504/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. I further understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
I am pleased to note that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, a total of 3,781 Garda members have been assigned to Garda Divisions throughout the country. For the Deputy's information, the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and station from 2015 up to 21 January 2022 is published on my Department's Website and can be accessed using the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Probationer_Gardaí.
Budget 2022 has provided an unprecedented allocation of in excess of €2 billion to An Garda Síochána, which includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Gardaí and a further 400 Garda staff, subject to the public health situation. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe.
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, in relation to the the number of new Garda recruits deployed for their first module of work experience by district and by station in counties Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Dublin but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
|
Intake No. |
202 |
203 |
211 |
212 |
213 |
214 |
||||||||
|
District |
Station |
Jun-20 |
Jul-20 |
Jun-21 |
Jul-21 |
Oct-21 |
Dec |
|||||||
|
Division |
2021 |
|||||||||||||
|
Dun Laoghaire |
Dun Laoghaire |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||
|
DMR East |
Blackrock |
Blackrock |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||
|
Bridewell |
Bridewell |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||
|
Fitzgibbon St |
Mountjoy |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||||||||
|
DMR N/Central |
Store Street |
Store Street |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
||||||
|
Ballymun |
Ballymun |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||
|
Coolock |
Coolock |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||
|
DMR North |
Raheny |
Raheny |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||
|
Kevin Street |
Kevin Street |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
||||||||
|
Pearse Street |
Pearse Street |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|||||||
|
DMR S/Central |
Donnybrook |
Donnybrook |
2 |
|||||||||||
|
Tallaght |
Tallaght |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
||||||||
|
Crumlin |
Crumlin |
2 |
2 |
|||||||||||
|
DMR South |
Terenure |
Terenure |
2 |
|||||||||||
|
Clondalkin |
Ballyfermot |
1 |
||||||||||||
|
Blanchardstown |
Blanchardstown |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||
|
Lucan |
Ronanstown |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
|
Clondalkin |
Clondalkin |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||
|
DMR West |
Lucan |
Lucan |
2 |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Intake No. |
202 |
203 |
211 |
212 |
213 |
214 |
||||||||
|
District |
Station |
Jun-20 |
Jul-20 |
Jun-21 |
Jul-21 |
Oct-21 |
Dec |
|||||||
|
Division |
2021 |
|||||||||||||
|
Kildare |
Athy |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||
|
Kildare |
Kildare |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||
|
Naas |
Naas |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
||||||||
|
Leixlip |
Leixlip |
2 |
||||||||||||
|
Kildare |
Kildare |
Newbridge |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||
|
Kells |
Kells |
2 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Trim |
Trim |
3 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Ashbourne |
Ashbourne |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Meath |
Navan |
Navan |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||
|
Wicklow |
Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
|
Bray |
Bray |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Wicklow |
Baltinglass |
Baltinglass |
2 |
1 |
586. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice the reason a person (details supplied) who was awarded a scholarship to study for a PhD at Dublin City University has had their visa application rejected; if she will review the manner in which visas are assessed for academic purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6531/22]
View answerThe visa application for the person referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 12 October 2021. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter issued at that time. An appeal of this decision was made on 22 November 2021. Following detailed examination of the appeal application, a decision was made to uphold the refusal of this visa on 12 December 2021.
Visa required individuals who wish to study a third level or English language programme in Ireland for a period longer than three months, must apply for a Type D Long Stay visa. All visa applicants are advised that they must provide as much information as possible in support of their application as this will improve their prospect of receiving a positive decision. Further details on the application process are available on my Department’s immigration website at:
www.irishime decision. Further details on the application process are available on my Department’s immigration website at:
www.migration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/.
In some cases where the applicant is offered a stipend and fees paid by the educational institution, it may be possible for the host organisation to apply for a hosting agreement. The applicant would then apply for an employment visa rather than a normal student visa. There is a separate process for hosting agreements and further details can be found at:
www.euraxess.ie/ireland/fast-track-work-permit-non-eu-rd-hosting-agreement-scheme.
I can assure the Deputy that each visa application is examined fairly and in detail on its individual merits. All applications for a visa, including those from applicants who wish to come to Ireland to study, are subject to a range of requirements. These requirements apply to all applicants, regardless of their location or nationality. While the Department appreciates that applicants from some countries may experience additional difficulties in sourcing official documents, it must be stressed that all applications are treated equally.
A visa refusal does not exclude a person from submitting a new visa application. When making a new application, the person should address any concerns raised in their previous refusal letters.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
587. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if a decision has been made on the review of a decision to withdraw a residency card from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6588/22]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 19 May 2021. My Department will correspond with the applicant directly should further documentation or information be required.
Applications are processed in strict chronological order, and a decision will issue to the applicant in due course. It is not possible at the present time to provide a definitive date by which a decision will be reached in this case, however, there will be no avoidable delay in completing same.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
588. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers listed in court for driving while holding a mobile phone by District Court area in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, which resulted in the case being struck out or dismissed due to the driver making a contribution to the court poor box; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6590/22]
View answerI have contacted the Courts Service for the information requested by the Deputy and have been advised of the below information. It should be noted that, where a Court Area is absent from a report, this should be read as a zero value for that Court Area. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is solely a matter for the presiding judge to determine if a case is struck out or dismissed and if such a strike out or dismissal is on foot of a contribution to the court poor box.
I have been advised that reasons for dismissals/strike outs may not be recorded by the judge in each case on the Courts Service system and that recording of same is a matter of judicial discretion. Further, a person may have had an offence struck out or dismissed in more than one court area so would be displayed more than once in this report.
|
Court Area |
Jan – Dec 2018 |
Jan – Dec 2019 |
Jan – Dec 2020 |
Jan – Dec 2021 |
|
BALLINASLOE |
1 |
|||
|
CARLOW |
1 |
|||
|
CORK CITY |
2 |
1 |
||
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
|
DUNDALK |
1 |
|||
|
DUNGARVAN |
1 |
|||
|
LONGFORD |
1 |
|||
|
LOUGHREA |
2 |
|||
|
MACROOM |
1 |
|||
|
MULLINGAR |
1 |
|||
|
TUAM |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL |
12 |
9 |
6 |
11 |
For comparison purposes, the Courts Service have provided the following information on the total number of persons listed to appear in each Court Area for the offence of driving whilst holding a mobile phone. Again, a person may be listed in Court for that year in one or more Court Areas so would be displayed more than once in this report.
|
Court Area |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
AN DAINGEAN |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
AN FAL CARRACH |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
ACAILL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
ARDEE |
19 |
36 |
12 |
25 |
|
ARKLOW |
20 |
24 |
11 |
34 |
|
ATHLONE |
46 |
42 |
25 |
57 |
|
ATHY |
13 |
20 |
10 |
20 |
|
BALLAGHADERREEN |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
BALLINA |
13 |
43 |
34 |
33 |
|
BALLINASLOE |
31 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
|
BALLYSHANNON |
9 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
|
BANDON |
30 |
46 |
27 |
48 |
|
BANTRY |
7 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
BRAY |
60 |
78 |
44 |
60 |
|
BUNCRANA |
27 |
32 |
31 |
34 |
|
CAHIRCIVEEN |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
CARLOW |
75 |
93 |
104 |
181 |
|
CARNDONAGH |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON |
19 |
36 |
19 |
16 |
|
CARRICK ON SUIR |
7 |
5 |
1 |
16 |
|
CARRICKMACROSS |
102 |
81 |
31 |
50 |
|
CASHEL |
38 |
39 |
22 |
39 |
|
CASTLEBAR |
27 |
65 |
90 |
81 |
|
CASTLEREA |
12 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
|
CAVAN |
63 |
65 |
44 |
51 |
|
CLIFDEN |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
CLONAKILTY |
15 |
15 |
8 |
11 |
|
CLONMEL |
18 |
18 |
16 |
49 |
|
CORK CITY |
361 |
371 |
190 |
314 |
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
|
DONEGAL |
4 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
|
DROGHEDA |
46 |
45 |
41 |
72 |
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT |
1218 |
1431 |
821 |
1104 |
|
DUNDALK |
52 |
50 |
35 |
54 |
|
DUNGARVAN |
34 |
39 |
17 |
75 |
|
ENNIS |
168 |
109 |
51 |
156 |
|
FERMOY |
43 |
45 |
20 |
34 |
|
GALWAY |
377 |
272 |
176 |
219 |
|
GOREY |
81 |
147 |
61 |
126 |
|
GORT |
55 |
32 |
13 |
19 |
|
KENMARE |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
KILCOCK |
24 |
23 |
0 |
0 |
|
KILKENNY |
107 |
121 |
55 |
139 |
|
KILLALOE |
9 |
11 |
4 |
10 |
|
KILLARNEY |
74 |
69 |
26 |
54 |
|
KILLORGLIN |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
KILRUSH |
16 |
15 |
7 |
5 |
|
LETTERKENNY |
18 |
31 |
49 |
62 |
|
LIMERICK |
476 |
430 |
295 |
182 |
|
LISMORE |
7 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
|
LISTOWEL |
18 |
15 |
17 |
23 |
|
LONGFORD |
35 |
55 |
40 |
68 |
|
LOUGHREA |
45 |
43 |
20 |
48 |
|
MACROOM |
46 |
44 |
17 |
25 |
|
MALLOW |
77 |
56 |
61 |
64 |
|
MANORHAMILTON |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
MEATH |
90 |
114 |
78 |
186 |
|
MIDLETON |
88 |
94 |
68 |
117 |
|
MONAGHAN |
14 |
19 |
12 |
15 |
|
MULLINGAR |
29 |
23 |
8 |
36 |
|
NA GLEANNTA |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
NAAS |
248 |
340 |
157 |
289 |
|
NENAGH |
11 |
26 |
26 |
52 |
|
NEWCASTLE WEST |
120 |
93 |
53 |
72 |
|
PORTLAOISE |
186 |
198 |
66 |
147 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
41 |
32 |
19 |
18 |
|
SKIBBEREEN |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
SLIGO |
62 |
106 |
42 |
25 |
|
STROKESTOWN |
13 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
|
THURLES |
24 |
48 |
26 |
47 |
|
TIPPERARY |
21 |
24 |
9 |
14 |
|
TRALEE |
134 |
121 |
96 |
129 |
|
TUAM |
62 |
51 |
27 |
21 |
|
TUBBERCURRY |
8 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
|
TULLAMORE |
91 |
64 |
38 |
69 |
|
VIRGINIA |
27 |
41 |
31 |
34 |
|
WATERFORD CITY |
72 |
176 |
112 |
210 |
|
WESTPORT |
7 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
WEXFORD |
158 |
166 |
115 |
154 |
|
WICKLOW |
28 |
37 |
28 |
52 |
|
YOUGHAL |
7 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
|
Total |
5612 |
6081 |
3635 |
5435 |
I am advised that figures for 2022 are not presently available; however, for the Deputy's information, the Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
589. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that were granted permission to remain or refugee status in each of the years 2019 to 2021; and the number of cases considered in those years in tabular form. [6602/22]
View answerThe figures requested by the Deputy are set out in the tables below.
The International Protection Office of my Department makes a first instance recommendation and decisions in respect of international protection are then made by the Ministerial Decisions Unit of my Department.
Grants of International Protection by the Ministerial Unit Decisions by year and type*
|
Year in which decision was made |
Grant of refugee status |
Grant of subsidiary protection status |
Refusals of international protection |
Total** |
|
2019 |
953 |
165 |
1,608 |
2726 |
|
2020 |
1,035 |
161 |
922 |
2118 |
|
2021 |
1099 |
99 |
971 |
2169 |
|
Total |
3087 |
425 |
3501 |
7013 |
*These figures are in respect of the year in which the decision was taken and not the year in which the application was made.
Where an applicant has been refused international protection, as part of a single procedure, a decision will be made on whether or not to grant the applicant permission to remain in the State. The table below provides details of the number of grants of permission to remain made in the years sought by the Deputy.
Grants of Permission to Remain at First Instance
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
266 |
200 |
591 |
If an applicant is refused either refugee status or subsidiary protection or both, the recommendation can be appealed to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). If the Tribunal upholds the refusal, and the applicant has been refused permission to remain by the IPO, the refusal of permission to remain will be reviewed on foot of further submissions from the applicant.
The table below provides the statistics requested in respect of such cases:
|
Year |
PTR Review Grant |
PTR Review Refusal |
|
2019 |
174 |
526 |
|
2020 |
135 |
371 |
|
2021 |
591 |
<=5 |
590. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons referred to the juvenile liaison officer services on a Garda divisional basis in each of the past five years to date in 2022; if she has engaged with the Garda Commissioner in respect of initiating a review of the juvenile liaison officer service; and if there the plans to broaden the scope of the juvenile liaison officers to include persons that currently exceed the threshold of referral to the service. [6745/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Diversion Programme. The aim of the programme is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the criminal justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the Garda Diversion Programme. Each such case is assessed and the Director of the Garda Diversion Programme (a Garda Superintendent) decides if the case is suitable or not for inclusion.
The operation of the programme includes informal and formal Garda warnings, delivered in the presence of parents or guardians, as well as provision for supervision by a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer (JLO). A JLO is a Garda who works full time with young people who come in contact with the criminal justice system.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the administration and management of Garda business, including the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has recently conducted two reviews of the Diversion Programme:
1. Hussey Review 2016 - 2018
2. Examination of the Youth Referral Process 2017-2019
I am further advised that the recommendations from both reviews have been mainstreamed and now form ‘business as usual’ practice with oversight and governance enhanced via the Governance & Oversight Structure set out in the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027.
Statistics for the number of persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Bureau on a divisional basis from 2016 to 2019 are provided in the attached document. These figures are sourced from S.44 Monitoring Committee Reports, which are available on the Garda website. I am further advised that statistics for 2020 have not yet been published.
The Youth Justice Strategy provides a comprehensive framework for the development of Youth Justice services including the Garda Diversion Programme. A key priority is the hard-to-reach cohort with problematic offending patterns.
In addition to the Garda Diversion Programme, the Deputy will be aware that Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are run by community-based organisations in partnership with An Garda Síochána. These local YDPs provide an essential support to the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme, and are fully funded by my Department.
I am pleased to note that the additional €6.7m provided for in Budget 2022 represents an increase of in excess 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 of this work 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 REPPP project team in the University of Limerick.
The ongoing development and review of Youth Justice systems is facilitated by the dedicated cross-agency governance and oversight structures provided for in the implementation of the Youth Justice Strategy, which include representatives of senior Garda management.
I can inform the Deputy that both I and my senior officials are in regular and frequent communication with the Garda Commissioner and his senior management team. These engagements take various forms and cover the full range of issues of relevance to our roles.
The Deputy may also be interested to note that the Department will shortly open a public consultation process on approaches to diverting young adults in the 18-24 age group away from crime, with a view to developing more effective measures which will lead to behaviour change.
591. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on her plans to develop a strategy to address gender-based violence committed by persons under the age of 18 years and if she has consulted with the Minister for Education in respect of the introduction of a module in primary schools that focuses on dignity, respect for others and gender-based violence. [6746/22]
View answerThis Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and to ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities.
The Deputy may be aware that the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 provides a developmental framework to enhance measures to address youth offending and the factors which contribute to it, including in relation to sexual offences. High-level governance and oversight structures are in place to guide implementation of the Strategy, as well as dedicated research support to support evidence-informed implementation
The Deputy will also be aware that I am currently leading work on a new whole of government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. This new plan will have a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring all victims including children are better supported. It will set an overall goal of zero tolerance in our society for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.The Strategy has been developed in partnership with the sector to ensure it is targeted, comprehensive and effective in achieving all of the goals set out.The new Strategy will be structured around the four pillars or goals of the Istanbul Convention which are -
- Prevention
- Protection
- Prosecution
- Co-ordinated PoliciesThe prevention pillar will focus on supporting actions designed to prevent DSGBV. Actions to be included under this pillar concerning people who are under 18 include:
- Education on healthy relationships, non-violence and equality between women and men in the formal curricula at all levels of education;
- Awareness-raising campaigns of the different forms of violence, and the impact that they have on adults and children.
The protection pillar will focus on actions designed to protect the safety and meet the support needs of adults and children who have experienced DSGBV. Actions under this pillar that are specially related to people under 18 will include:
- Ensuring the availability of accessible quality specialist and general DSGBV services across the state so that all people who experience DSGBV have access to integrated services;
- Recognising the child as an individual victim/survivor impacted by DSGBV.The prosecution pillar will focus on actions designed to support effective law enforcement and judicial proceedings that enable victims/survivors access the justice they deserve. The policy co-ordination pillar will focus on actions designed to support effective policy coordination and implementation at both national and local level. Actions under this pillar will recognise the voice of the victim/survivor both adults and children and young people and provide an opportunity for their voices to be heard at different levels.
Separately, the Programme for Government commits to the development of inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Social, Personal and Health Education and Relationships and Sexuality Education. This followed a review of the RSE curriculum by the NCCA which was commenced by the then Minister for Education and Skills in 2018.
My Department is engaging with the Department of Education to ensure that this important area of reform is included in the Third National Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
592. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on a policy matter (details supplied) relating to inclusion of section 10 and section 39 frontline staff within the Covid recognition payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6477/22]
View answerIn recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The cost of providing a recognition payment of €1,000 to all eligible public servants working in the health and ambulance services depends on the number of staff who are eligible for the payment. If there were 100,000 WTE deemed eligible, the estimated cost would be approximately €100 million. This figure of 100,000 WTE represents approximately 75% of the HSE/Section 38 workforce and would be the minimum expected to be eligible for this recognition payment.
Similarly, the cost of providing an equivalent recognition payment to relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19 depends on the number of staff deemed eligible for the payment. The estimated cost set out above does not include the cost in respect of nursing homes and Defence Forces staff. This measure will exclude all private sector health workers except those working in nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19. This measure, including costings, will be progressed by the Department of Health.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining services other than healthcare. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
593. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the allocation and sub-allocation of additional Covid-19 funding for the health needs of homeless persons since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic; the name of recipients or organisations of additional funding; the amount of funding left unspent in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6671/22]
View answer594. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that was allocated, unallocated or unspent on Covid-19 initiatives in the winter and pandemic plans for the period March 2020 to December 2021; the allocation to named recipients and organisations for additional addiction and mental health needs of homeless persons during this period; the allocations of funding for the health needs of homeless persons in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6672/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for this Government. The Programme for Government commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government will approach this challenge. The Department of Health and HSE are responsible for the delivery of a range of health-related services and supports to homeless persons. I have made the health needs of homeless persons a key priority. Issues of addiction and mental health among people who are homeless are of particular concern to me.
Covid-19 has created additional challenges for people who are homeless. In 2021 I secured additional funding of €11m, for the HSE, for once-off measures to protect vulnerable people who are homeless to ensure the Covid-19 protective and responsive measures for people who are homeless were continued for all of 2021. A further €10m in Covid funding was secured in Budget 2022, for the HSE, to maintain public health measures and to consolidate improvements in health services for people who are homeless, that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, in 2020, the Government Covid-19 Stability Fund provided €45 million to community organisations providing services, including social care. An additional €10 million was provided in 2021. The fund is managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development, and Pobal are administering partners.
As the details requested by the Deputy in relation to allocation and suballocation of funding by the HSE relates to operational and service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
595. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to those persons working in the front-line homeless services; and if it will be ensured that section 39 and section 10 funded services are recognised within the recognition payment scheme. [6740/22]
View answerIn recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The cost of providing a recognition payment of €1,000 to all eligible public servants working in the health and ambulance services depends on the number of staff who are eligible for the payment. If there were 100,000 WTE deemed eligible, the estimated cost would be approximately €100 million. This figure of 100,000 WTE represents approximately 75% of the HSE/Section 38 workforce and would be the minimum expected to be eligible for this recognition payment.
Similarly, the cost of providing an equivalent recognition payment to relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19 depends on the number of staff deemed eligible for the payment. The estimated cost set out above does not include the cost in respect of nursing homes and Defence Forces staff. This measure will exclude all private sector health workers except those working in nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19. This measure, including costings, will be progressed by the Department of Health.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services other than healthcare. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
596. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the amount that was spent on sepsis awareness campaigning in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5819/22]
View answerThis matter relates to the work of the HSE National Sepsis Programme which was established in 2014. The HSE has advised that several senior nurses and a National Clinical Lead for Sepsis have been appointed to coordinate and drive the work of the programme. Placing a focus on sepsis awareness, and promotion of early recognition of sepsis are key elements of the programme. While the initial priority was on raising awareness among healthcare staff, the focus has since moved to raising awareness in the community. To support this, several patient focused resources (including patient information leaflets, booklets, and posters) have been developed, along with educational and clinical management resources for healthcare staff. These are available on the HSE website under the webpages of the National Sepsis Programme. The work of the programme also supports the use and implementation of guidelines and resources, such as the NCEC National Clinical Guideline No. 26: Sepsis Management for Adults (including maternity) and the International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock & Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children (SSCGC).
As this Parliamentary Question also relates to service delivery it is an operational matter for the HSE and has been referred directly to the HSE for reply.
