Written Answers Nos. 521-540
521. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third-level student attending the Technological University Dublin, Tallaght campus have concerns in relation to in-person examinations given the current high numbers of Covid-19 cases; and if he will instruct the institution that they must offer online examination. [16112/22]
View answerFurther to the lifting of restrictions earlier this year, the opening up of society, including the further education, higher education and research sector, has been ongoing. The Safe Return Plan, which has facilitated the safe return of staff and students to onsite activity since June 2020, supports this wider opening of the sector and continues to provide a comprehensive framework for institutions to plan for the provision of significant on-site activity and a broader student experience fully supported by public health authorities.
In this way, the Safe Return Plan, facilitates institutions to be flexible and adaptable in response to changes in the public health environment. For activities that are context dependent, the Safe Return Plan supports institutions in using discretion to adopt public health measures appropriate to their own context, actively using significant precautionary measures to mitigate risk based on risk assessment and management systems, engagement with their stakeholders and building on the practices that have been accrued during the pandemic.
In relation to the holding of in-person examinations, the Department does not regulate sector specific matters at this level and there is no intention to introduce a specific direction in this regard. However, in line with the successful approach taken in relation to the holding of in-person examinations at the end of Semester 1, facilitated by the Safe Return Plan, the basic principle of risk assessment and the considered application of appropriate precautionary measures, continues to apply. In that context, institutions should ensure that in-person examinations are conducted safely and any protective measures considered appropriate are put in place, consistent with local risk assessment of the approach, taking into account the significant contextual factors that arise in different instances. Institutions should also ensure that the requirements of students who may have Covid-19 or underlying health conditions can be addressed.
Consistent with the successful operation of the Safe Return Plan, timely engagement and communications with their stakeholders will be essential and all institutions should continue to engage with their students on their arrangements for the holding of in-person examinations. In all instances public health must remain a priority and I know that there will be a continuing focus on the evolving and often quickly changing public health situation overall.
522. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the chairpersons of Higher Education Authority funded higher education institutions; the terms of office of each; the number of terms served by each; the method of appointment; the annual remuneration and expenses for each in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16126/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that all of the information requested concerning the chairpersons of higher education institutions; the term of office of each; the number of terms served by each; the method of appointment, annual remuneration and expenses for each in each of the past five is not readily available in my Department.
Officials will arrange for the compilation of the information sought and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
523. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of retainers his Department has with outside organisations; and the cost of each retainer in tabular form. [16152/22]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not hold any retainers with outside organisations. A retainer is defined here as when an advance payment is made to secure the services of an individual or organisation for use when required.
524. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 8 March 2022, the number of students enrolled in higher education institutions who would be eligible to apply to the student hardship grant; the amount expended in total by each such institution; the number of students who availed of such support; the average amount received by each student by institutions and by year for the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16173/22]
View answerThe Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is allocated to Higher Education Institutions to assist participating students in both temporary and ongoing financial need.
This fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). These funds are allocated to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on academic year basis.
Eligibility Criteria:
The HEA does not have information on the number of students who would be eligible to apply. However, eligibility criteria are published and issued to HEIs on an annual basis and the 2021/22 guidelines contain the following:
Student eligibility:
Applications for the SAF can be made by students registered on higher education courses of not less than one year in duration.
Students on courses that lead to a higher education award from level 6-10 of the National Framework of Qualifications are eligible to apply for the SAF. PhD students are eligible to apply for the SAF during the first four years of their studies. PhD students who have completed four years of their studies may also be considered eligible for support on a case-by-case basis.
Students on courses that do not lead to a higher education award are not eligible to apply for the SAF.
Students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
Students on Springboard+/Human Capital Initiative courses, or who are on blended/distance learning courses, are eligible to apply for support through the SAF subject to meeting the criteria outlined above.
International/non-EU fee paying students are not eligible for funding. HEIs are advised to ring-fence a small fund from non-EU fee income to provide for any emergency financial requirements arising for these students.
Students who are non-EU, including UK nationals, but who are eligible for free or reduced fees in line with the criteria for the Free Fees Initiative, may be considered for the SAF subject to meeting other relevant criteria.
Any student can receive funding from the SAF if their application is successful and they meet the relevant eligibility criteria i.e., a student does not have to be in receipt of a SUSI grant to be eligible to receive funding from SAF
Eligible Costs:
This fund is available to assist students who are unable to meet costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education, including:
- Books and other class material that are required to enable students to continue and participate in teaching and learning and/or complete examinations
- Rent, heating and lighting bills and other utility bills e.g., mobile phone data plans, that are required to enable students to continue and participate in teaching and learning and/or complete examinations
- Food
- Essential travel
- Childcare costs
- Medical costs
- Family difficulties e.g., bereavement
The above list is not exhaustive. However, it is important that the nature of the expenditure for which assistance is being provided is clearly identified.
The Guidelines for the Student Assistance Fund are available here hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/student-assistance-fund/
Allocations and Beneficiaries:
Please find attached details of allocations to HEIs and beneficiaries by Academic Year from 2016/2017 to 2021/2022.
The beneficiaries for 2021/22 academic year will not be available until October 2022 when the HEA receive the annual returns from HEIs.
The following should be noted on beneficiary numbers:
The HEA collect data on an annual basis from the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on the number of students in receipt of the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). From 2017/18 onwards, information is collected on the number of SAF beneficiaries. This followed a review in 2016/17, where it was found that some HEIs were counting the number of payments made to students rather than the number of students supported.
The following should be noted on allocations:
COVID 19– There was additional funding allocated to SAF for additional financial hardship faced by students resulting from COVID 19 in 2020/21 and 2021/22
525. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the external consultancy organisation or provider which delivered diversity and inclusion training within his Department in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the costs associated with such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16376/22]
View answerMy Department actively supports Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the workplace through a number of initiatives for staff to promote the EDI conversation in the Department.
This includes initiatives such as Lunch-and-Learn events for staff organised by the Human Resources (HR) Unit on EDI matters, through circulation of resources on an ongoing basis to staff members on EDI issues and details of any talks/seminars relating to EDI initiatives being hosted by other organisations as well as a dedicated EDI page on the staff intranet with a range of awareness-raising material on EDI issues.
To date, no external consultancy organisation or provider has been used to deliver diversity and inclusion training in my Department.
526. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase the earnings threshold for the receipt of SUSI grant in view of the current inflation and the extraordinary increase in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16557/22]
View answerI am acutely conscious of the difficulties which are experienced by students and their families on low incomes and the critical role of the Student Grant Scheme in supporting access and participation in higher education.
The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to higher education expenditure, including student grants for the 2022/23 academic year, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.
For the academic year 2022/23 the Department has secured through Budget 2022:
- An increase to all student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, of €200 per year which will benefit all students entitled to receive a maintenance Grant.
- The income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant has been increased by €1,000.
- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
In 2020 and 2021, as part of the package of COVID supports, the Department allocated €10m to an Access Funding package which resulted in the doubling of the Student Assistance Fund (€8.1m) and additional funding of €1.9m for other vulnerable students in line with the National Access Plan and through existing structures within HEIs.
Also in 2021, an additional €1.3m was allocated to the SAF.
SUSI’s online application process for renewal student grant applications for the 2022/23 academic year opened on 10th March, 2022. New applications will be accepted by SUSI from April 28th, 2022. The priority closing dates for the 2022/23 Student Grant Scheme are 7th July 2022 for new applicants and the 9th June 2022 for renewal students.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
The cost of education at third level is consistently considered by my Department in relation to policy developments and reforms, including in relation to a new funding model for higher education.
527. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide detailed breakdown of the total cost of external professional legal advice provided to the office of a person (details supplied) at Dundalk Institute of Technology since 1 January 2019; the purpose, subject matter and cost of each form of advice sought; if the office procured any advice from any legal firm in relation to contractual issues relating to the duration of the contract and tenure of the person; if any such costs that may have been incurred were met by the institute in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16628/22]
View answerMy Department has not engaged the services of any legal firm for the office of Dundalk Institute of Technology as referred to by the Deputy.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions, including Dundalk Institute of Technology. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions and as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution.
528. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure those arriving in the State from the conflict in Ukraine will have their professional qualifications recognised, particularly professions such as architects, solicitors and medical professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16023/22]
View answerWhere a person wishes to practice a regulated profession in Ireland, they must engage with the relevant Competent Authority with responsibility for that profession to seek the recognition of their qualifications. In the cases of architects, solicitors and medical professionals, this would be the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), the Law Society and, subject to the medical profession in question, the Medical Council, CORU, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or the Department of Health to name a few. A list of all of the regulated professions in Ireland, their corresponding competent authority and the relevant contact information for each authority is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/123679/f3dc868b-f95a-42fe-87b3-531983e3bd1f.pdf#page=null
My Department is supporting the work of these Competent Authorities by sharing best practice material supplied by the European Commission in relation to the recognition of professional qualifications of Ukrainian people in Ireland. In addition, these Competent Authorities have been advised of further information resources which are available to support their work from NARIC Ireland, which is hosted by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). NARIC Ireland provides advice on the academic recognition of a foreign qualification by comparing it to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The QQI NARIC database currently lists 18 Ukrainian qualifications, comparable to levels 3-10 on the NFQ, including general professional and higher education. NARIC Ireland is working with the NARIC network across Europe to continue building the list of Ukrainian qualifications. The NARIC Guide has recently been translated into Ukrainian and the Guide is also available in Polish, English and Russian, which many Ukrainian citizens also speak.
The NARIC service also helps to inform employers to determine if an applicant holds the academic qualifications necessary for a particular job or employment opportunity.
My Department will continue its work with the European Commission in relation to the recognition of professional qualifications of Ukrainian people in Ireland to ensure an EU-wide appropriate response. I will share further information and updates across the Houses when these are available.
529. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of civil servants in his Department currently on secondment to the private sector; if he will list the entities that they are working for in each instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17153/22]
View answerThere are no civil servants in my Department on secondment to the private sector.
530. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the current staffing levels of the section responsible for the processing of citizenship applications; and the plans there are to increase same given the expended period of time beyond normal that some applicants have been waiting. [16570/22]
View answerThe staffing levels in the Citizenship Division of my Department are kept under review in line with the business needs of the Division. Additional staff have been assigned to the team, as required.
At the end of February 2022, there were 25,048 naturalisation applications in progress. Notwithstanding the restrictions, last year, my Department made 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest level since 2015.
Currently, there are 2,556 approved applications in the system that require the completion and submission of the Declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State, the payment of the statutory fee and the submission of other required documents by the applicants. These applications will then be finalised and the certificate of naturalisation awarded.
All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Processing times have been extended due to the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health and safety related restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 disruption.
My Department has also been unable to hold in-person citizenship ceremonies during this time. However, I'm pleased to say that, subject to public health guidelines, my Department intends to host in-person citizenship ceremonies in June and December in Killarney.
The citizenship application process is reviewed on an ongoing basis to continually improve customer service quality. Feedback from applicants is taken on board and, as a result, a much more simplified, customer-focused and streamlined mechanism for applicants to provide their proofs of residence has recently been introduced.
To further speed up the processing of applications, a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team.
Since the beginning of this year, new applicants for citizenship no longer have to submit their original passport with their application. Instead, they can provide a full colour copy of their entire passport, including the front and back covers. This change in practice is welcomed by our customers and is also freeing up valuable staff time that up to now has been engaged in returning passports to applicants.
531. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of drug detection dogs trained to use their senses to detect illegal substances that are available in each Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16679/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, 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 deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State and, as Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit (GDU) is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and has a national remit under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime and the strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services. The Garda Dog Units at Cork and Limerick are under the direction of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime and the operational control of local Garda Management.
There are three types of working Garda dogs, namely:
- General Purpose Dogs,
- Drugs/Cash/Firearms Detection Dogs, and
- Explosive Detection Dogs .
Currently twenty-eight Garda working dogs are attached to the GDU, which includes those assigned to the Southern Regional Dog Unit based at Cork and Limerick.
The table below outlines the distribution of dogs within the GDU by type and location:
|
- |
DUBLIN |
CORK |
LIMERICK |
TOTAL |
|
General Purpose |
11 |
2 |
1 |
14 |
|
Drugs/Cash/Firearms Detection |
6 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
|
Explosive Detection |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
The training period for a Drugs/Cash/Firearms Detection dog is ten weeks, with the dog handler being trained with the dog at the same time. The dog handler and detection dog carry out ongoing training twice a month and receive refresher training every four months. Such dogs used for Drugs/Cash/Firearms detection are usually Springer Spaniel or Cocker Spaniel breeds.
The GDU has General Purpose Dogs which are generally German Sheppard, Belgian Sheppard or a Cross of German/Belgian Shepard breeds and are trained on human scent detection, public order (crowd control) and are trained to work with the Garda Public Order and Tactical Units at Major events.
Explosive Detection Dogs, which are all based in Dublin, are generally Labrador or Spaniel breeds. They are trained to detect the presence of explosive substances and are mainly used to conduct security searches to declare an area clear of explosives.
532. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the staffing complement of each Garda drug task force unit by Garda division for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16678/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 329 Garda personnel in Divisional Drugs Units assigned to tackle drug-related crime on a local basis throughout the country. This represents an increase of over 48% since 31 December 2018, when there were 222 Gardaí assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide.
These members are supported, as needed, by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which has 84 Gardaí attached to it as at 28 February 2022.
For the Deputy's information, the attached tables, which have been provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of Garda members assigned to the Divisional Drugs Units in 2018 and up to and including 28 February 2022, the latest date for when figures are available.
A detailed breakdown of Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. Information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available from the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
533. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of drug-related offences in each Garda district in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16677/22]
View answerUnder the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering criminal activity, and the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs. The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The Bureau’s work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. GNDOCB also works closely and productively with international law enforcement partners. Gardaí continue to work closely with local authorities, the HSE, NGOs, community groups and other State agencies to tackle the problems of drug addiction and abuse.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.
For the Deputy's information, the attached table outlines the number of controlled drug offences for the years 2016 to 2021.
Furthermore, the latest available crime statistics, Q4 of 2021, as published by the Central Statistics Office on 29 March 2022 are publicly available at the link below.
www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/presspages/2022/recordedcrimequarter42021/
534. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice her plans for the recruitment of more gardaí in rural areas to ensure the escalating drug problems as being reported by An Garda Síochána can be targeted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16676/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I am very pleased that, as we celebrate 100 years of service from An Garda Síochána, the Government is increasing the number of Gardaí on our streets. Budget 2022 includes an unprecedented allocation of in excess of €2 billion to An Garda Síochána, including provision for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí and 400 Garda staff this year.
Garda numbers continue to increase steadily with an overall complement of 14,315 Garda members, which is a 5.6% increase since 2017, including a 6.8% increase in Limerick where there are 596 Gardaí as of 28 February.
The Deputy will be aware that a Garda recruitment campaign closed earlier this month and I am advised that there was a strong interest, with over 10,000 applications received.
The Department of Health leads on government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland. The implementation of the strategy is led by my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Frank Feighan, and encompasses actions for all stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána and my Department. The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach of reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs, and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports the vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs.
Sustained action by An Garda Síochána has continued unabated throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing significant convictions and ongoing seizures of drugs, firearms and ammunition. I am advised by the Garda authorities that in 2021, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) seized almost €64m worth of illicit drugs and over €5.6m in cash, a significant increase from 2019, when there were over €21m worth of illicit drugs and over €2.5m in cash seized.
535. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the best route to progress an application for long-term residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15827/22]
View answerI was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January 2022 and applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close.
This once-in-a-generation scheme is designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.
The criteria for the scheme, including the period of four years undocumented residence at the date of the opening of the scheme for primary applicants, have been designed in line with the Programme for Government commitment, and are not open to change. Therefore, any person who does not meet the specified undocumented residency criteria for the scheme will not be eligible to make an application.
Based on the information supplied by the Deputy, the total residency of the person concerned is not clear. However, the Scheme does provides that for a family application with at least one dependent minor child (under 18), the spouse/civil partner /de facto partner of the principal applicant must be a non-EEA national over the age of 18 on the date that the Scheme opened (31 January 2022), and must have been living undocumented in the State continuously for the last two years with the principal applicant as a family unit and have continued to reside in the State undocumented as a family unit on the date they submit the family application.
Based on this, it may be open to the person concerned to be included in a family application submitted for consideration
A comprehensive FAQ document and further information on the requirements of the Scheme can be found on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FAQs-for-Regularisation-of-Long-Term-Undocumented-Migrants-Scheme-Feb-22.pdf.
536. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who were assigned to stations in County Meath in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [15834/22]
View answer537. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who were assigned to stations in County Westmeath in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [15835/22]
View answer539. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who were assigned to stations in County Westmeath in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [15837/22]
View answer540. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who are assigned currently assigned to stations in County Meath, by station in tabular form. [15838/22]
View answer541. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí currently assigned to stations in County Westmeath, by station in tabular form. [15839/22]
View answer542. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí currently employed in each county per head of population in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15840/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 536, 537, 539, and 540 to 542, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of in excess of €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff.
It should be noted that many of the Garda members to be recruited will be drawn from the recent Garda recruitment competition, which closed earlier in the month. I am advised that interest in the campaign was strong, with over 10,000 applications received, and this is an excellent response.
I would add that over 800 Garda members have also been redeployed in recent years from administrative duties to frontline policing roles as part of the ongoing implementation of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the distribution of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
Garda management have indicated that it is not appropriate to determine the allocation of Garda resources simply on the basis of population size alone. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review taking into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda Division. Where a deficiency in resources is identified, the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.
For the Deputy's information, the table included in the attached spreadsheet sets out the information requested by the Deputy.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that the majority of the information sought by the Deputy is made publicly available by both my Department and An Garda Síochána in tabular form and updated monthly. Information can be found at the following link on my Department's website:
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
538. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who were assigned to stations in County Meath who retired in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [15836/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and assignment of Garda members and staff.
Retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years and those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 55 years of age with 30 years service. Gardaí have the option of continuing to serve until they reach 60, subject to the Garda Commissioner being satisfied that they are fully competent and available to undertake their duties.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 25 Garda members retired from the Meath Division during the period requested by the Deputy and the table below sets out these retirements by rank and year.
|
Year |
Garda |
Sergeant |
Superintendent |
Total |
|
2018 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
|
2019 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
2020 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
|
2021 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
2022 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
25 |
