Tuesday, 29 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 113-127

Victim Support Services

Questions (113)

Colm Burke

Question:

113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the progress being made in implementing supporting a victim’s journey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16240/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I published and commenced implementation of Supporting a Victim's Journey, our ambitious plan which is introducing important reforms to support and protect vulnerable victims and ensure our criminal justice system is more victim-centred, in October 2020.

I am deeply committed to implementing in full all of the actions set out in Supporting a Victim's Journey and I am chairing an Implementation Oversight Group comprising all relevant departments and agencies responsible for driving the implementation of the agreed actions.

To date, a number of key actions have been delivered as part of implementing Supporting a Victim’s Journey including:

- The introduction of preliminary trial hearings;

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

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

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

- The University of Limerick has been commissioned by my Department to develop the framework for the training and accreditation of intermediaries;

- The establishment of a Victims’ Forum to provide further opportunities to engage closely with frontline organisations who support victims, and

- Work to promote the rights that victims of crime have and the supports that are available to them is advancing, including through the development of a new Victims Charter website www.victimscharter.ie and the distribution of informative printed material to public locations around the country.

In addition to the above, a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing frontline services has been conducted to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports were identified and my Department engaged with relevant NGO partners to agree revised funding to ensure that we met the gaps identified.

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

Minister Harris and I have also agreed with NUIG Active* Consent to fund an e-learning hub, which for the first time - provides an integrated, publicly available resource on consent awareness and learning, bringing together a variety of related educational and promotional material in one place. The information hub is live, with further elements being rolled out in the coming months.

In relation to the updates on sexual offences legislation that have been recommended in the O’Malley Report, work has started on drafting the heads of a General Scheme of a Sexual Offences Bill which is expected to go to Government in Q2 of this year.

Sentencing Policy

Questions (114)

Michael Creed

Question:

114. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice when she intends to introduce legislation to increase the penalty of conspiracy to murder to life in prison; the reason that she is of the view that this legislation is necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16090/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, on my request the Government approved the General Scheme of a Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in September 2020. The General Scheme, which is available on my Department’s website, contains eleven separate parts and provides for a number of required changes to criminal legislation.

Part 2, Heads 7 and 8 of the General Scheme provide for an increase in the penalty for conspiring to commit murder and soliciting to commit murder from a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

I consider a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be appropriate given the seriousness of the offences in question. The Deputy will appreciate that, ultimately, the Judiciary is best placed to decide on the appropriate sentence in any given case. The impact of all violent crime spreads far wider than the victims alone and it is vital that the powers available to the Judiciary are such as to provide an appropriate deterrent for conspiring to commit the most heinous crime of taking a person's life.

Work is continuing on the drafting of this Bill based on the General Scheme and further legal advices. I hope to be in a position to publish these provisions in the second quarter of this year.

Joint Policing Committees

Questions (115)

Dara Calleary

Question:

115. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to review the current plans for joint policing committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16202/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Deputy will be aware that my Department published the general scheme of the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill earlier this year. The Bill will provide for a key principle from the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland - that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safer does not rest with An Garda Síochána and my Department alone. Rather, it will be best achieved as a whole-of-government responsibility with Departments and agencies responsible for health and social services, education authorities and local authorities, the Gardaí and the wider community working together.

The new Bill will achieve this by establishing innovative Local Community Safety Partnerships to develop local safety plans, tailored to the priorities and needs identified by communities themselves. The Local Community Safety Partnerships will build upon and replace the existing Joint Policing Committees and will provide a forum for State agencies and local community representatives to work together to act on community concerns.

The Deputy will be aware that in November 2020, I announced the establishment of three new Local Community Safety Partnerships on a pilot basis in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford. The locations of the pilots, which will run for 24 months, were chosen based on a number of factors including population density, crime rates and deprivation. An independent Chairperson has been appointed to chair each Partnership pilot.

Each Partnership will devise and oversee a Local Community Safety Plan, which will be informed by the community itself. Each LCSP pilot consists of 30 members including an independent chairperson. The remaining 29 members are divided in a 14/15 split in favour of non-public representatives.

Non-public membership relate to those who are not members of public body agencies or service providers. This can include local residents, community representatives (including youth, older persons, minority and new community representatives), business representatives, education representatives, voluntary sector representatives etc. The specific membership composition of each individual partnership is flexible depending on the needs of the particular local community and is outlined in the individual Terms of Reference of each Partnership. The Partnerships meet on a regular basis with at least four meetings a year.

To date, each of the three pilot LCSPs in Longford, North Inner City Dublin and Waterford has a complete membership including an independent Chair. Each pilot has also employed a Community Safety Coordinator who provides the day-to-day contact between the community and the partnership, runs projects within the community and generally act as a focal point through which community concerns can be channelled.

As the pilots progress, they will be carefully evaluated and any necessary changes made to ensure the Partnerships work as effectively as possible for the communities involved. The pilots will inform the further development of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which will facilitate the rollout of Local Community Safety Partnerships in every local authority area.

Each pilot is also subject to an ongoing independent evaluation which will last for the 24-month duration of the pilots. The overall aim of the evaluation is to provide actionable evidence to help inform the development of the LCSPs and their rollout across the country on completion of the pilot period, after the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill is enacted.

The evaluation is exploring implementation approaches and processes that appear to be effective across the pilot communities. Over time, it will assess how well the LCSP pilots identified the priorities and concerns of their respective communities; how the LCSPs conducted their work; the engagement and relationships the LCSPs had with local communities; and the impact of the LCSP work on community safety.

Findings from the evaluation process will inform future rollout of the LCSP model in every local authority area. The initial phase of fieldwork (Q4 2021 – Q1 2022) is focused on reviewing processes and establishing baseline data. A baseline report will be completed and submitted to my Department in Q2 of 2022. The first report on findings and lessons will be due in Q4 2022.

A call for funding proposals for the new Community Safety Innovation Fund will issue shortly seeking applications for community safety projects and similar initiatives from bodies involved in community safety, such as the new Local Community Safety Partnerships 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. These criteria for allocating funding are now finalised, with the fund due to be launched in the coming weeks. The fund will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m, which is expected to grow in the coming years.

Crime Data

Questions (116)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

116. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the recent incidents of car thefts in areas of Cork city in recent weeks; if she has numbers of the incidents reported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16008/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with more than €2 billion allocated this year, including funding for the recruitment of up to 800 additional Garda trainees and up to 400 Garda staff. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe. To this end, a Garda recruitment campaign closed earlier this month and I am advised that there was a strong interest, with over 10,000 applications received.

Figures under the 'Theft/taking of vehicle and related' category of crime data, published at quarterly intervals by the CSO at Garda divisional level, illustrate that a 10 year low annual volume was reported nationwide during 2020 and 2021. Subsequently, there has been a return to pre-COVID levels of such crimes in many areas nationwide during 2022, with a comparable number of incidents to 2019, including in the Cork City Division.

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the organisation's approaches to preventing and investigating criminal activity. I am advised by the Garda authorities that local Garda management in Cork have initiated Operation Joyrider to combat incidences of unauthorised taking of vehicles and joyriding in Cork City Division. I am informed that this operation utilises location-specific patrols, intelligence-led operations, searches and arrests to combat known individuals involved in such crimes.

I am further advised that there is cooperation between plain clothes and uniform members to combat the recent escalation in crimes which involves conducting both high visibility and covert proactive patrols. Furthermore I am informed that the Garda Síochána Analysis Service is assisting with the monitoring of crime trends and pinpointing locations of crimes, times of incidents, and locations of recovered vehicles, to optimize the use of resources to tackle such crimes.

In addition, I understand that the Crime Prevention Officer for Cork City Division is liaising with local media to promote preventative measures around the issue of car thefts, including messaging around a ‘Park Smart - Secure your Vehicle’ information campaign.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (117)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

117. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the way the pilot community safety partnerships are progressing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16049/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, I announced the establishment of three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships in November 2020. These pilots schemes have been set up in Longford, North Inner City Dublin and Waterford. The pilots will run for a period of two years, and learnings from the pilot LCSPs will inform the eventual rollout of the model to every local authority area.

The Community Safety Partnerships will be rolled out nationally following enactment of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, completion of the three pilots and related monitoring and evaluation processes. I made a commitment to utilise a robust evaluation from the outset of this process. The overall aim of the evaluation is to provide actionable evidence to help inform the development of the LCSPs and their rollout across the country.

Each LCSP pilot consists of 30 members including an independent chairperson. The remaining 29 members are divided in a 14/15 split in favour of non-public representatives. Non-public membership relates to those who are not members of public body agencies or service providers. This can include local residents, community representatives, including youth, older persons, minority and new community representatives; business representatives, education representatives, voluntary sector representatives etc.

The specific membership composition of each individual partnership is flexible depending on the needs of the community and is outlined in the individual Terms of Reference of each Partnership. The Pilots meet on a regular basis with at least four meetings a year.

To date, each of the three pilot LCSPs in Longford, Dublin North Inner City and Waterford has a complete membership including an independent Chair. Each pilot has also employed a Community Safety Coordinator who provides the day to day contact between the community and the partnership, runs projects within the community and generally acts as a focal point through which community concerns can be channelled. Due to the size and complexity of the Dublin pilot, Dublin also employs an Administrative Officer to support the Coordinator and Chairperson.

Each pilot has had at least two formal meetings of the full Partnership and the Partnerships are all currently working to develop unique Local Community Safety Plans. Each partnership has also formed subgroups that are focussed on bringing actions forward between full meetings and/or developing the Community Safety Plan.

Each pilot is also subject to an ongoing independent evaluation which will last for the 24-month duration of the pilots. The overall aim of the evaluation is to provide actionable evidence to help inform the development of the LCSPs and their rollout across the country on completion of the pilot period, after the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill is enacted.

The evaluation is exploring implementation approaches and processes that appear to be effective across and within the pilot communities. It will, over time, assess how well the Local Community Safety Partnership pilots identified the priorities and concerns of their respective communities; how the LCSPs conducted their work; the engagement and relationships the LCSPs had with the local communities; and the impact of the LCSP work on community safety.

Findings from the evaluation process will inform future rollout of the LCSP model in every local authority area. The initial phase of fieldwork, between Q4 2021 – Q1 2022, is focused on reviewing processes and establishing a baseline for any outcomes of the LCSPs work over the next two years.

Establishing a baseline is an important aspect of the evaluation, it ensures a solid understanding of the starting point against which to compare the data at the latter stages of the evaluation. A baseline report will be completed and submitted to my Department during Q2 of 2022. The first report on findings and lessons will be due in Q4 2022.

Residency Permits

Questions (118)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

118. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the options that are open to gain permanent residence for a Columbian national currently resident on a study and work visa; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16256/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Ireland welcomes international students who wish to live here in order to pursue a full-time course of study.

Their primary purpose for being in the State is as a student. However, since April 2001, non-EEA students with an immigration Stamp 2 permission, and who are enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work.

This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.

The Stamp 2 permission will typically expire shortly after the conclusion of the course. The person will then need to leave the State or seek a change of permission, if they met the criteria.

Further information is available on my Department's website at:

www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/changing-your-immigration-permission/.

For those students who have Graduated with a level 8 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications Framework (NFQ) a Stamp 1G may be provided in order to assist students who are making genuine efforts to access suitable graduate level employment for example attending job interviews or signing up with graduate employment agencies.

A Stamp 1G indicates that a person has permission to look for employment in the State under the Third Level Graduate Programme. 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.

Following the period on the Stamp 1G it is open to the Graduate and any prospective employer to make an application to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an employment permit. If the application is successful, they can register on a Stamp 1 immigration permission.

Thereafter, it is open to any person who has been legally resident in Ireland for a minimum of 60 months (five years) to make an application for Long Term Residency or Naturalisation, subject to meeting the required criteria. Further details are available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie.

Crime Prevention

Questions (119)

Neale Richmond

Question:

119. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the steps she is taking to address assaults on frontline workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16245/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I am sure the Deputy will join me in condemning any attacks made on the men and women serving in An Garda Síochána, the Health Services and other frontline workers. The Deputy will agree that we are all immensely grateful to all our frontline workers for their outstanding dedication to serving the public, and for the important role that they play in our society, notably their sustained commitment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is imperative that frontline workers are protected in carrying out their work and that the law reflects and responds to the situations in which they find themselves.

As the Deputy is aware, it would not be appropriate for me to detail the operational measures that the Garda authorities have taken or would take in these situations. However, I can assure the Deputy that whatever protective and detection measures are deemed appropriate by the Garda authorities will certainly be taken.

I should also say that while the criminal law in this area is being kept under ongoing review, there are a range of robust legislative provisions available to the Garda authorities in circumstances where threats or assaults are made against Gardaí.

Any assault causing harm on any person is an offence under section 3 of the Non–Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. A person convicted of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a maximum fine of €2,500 or both, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine, or to imprisonment, for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.

Furthermore, an assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel, or a member of the Defence Forces would constitute an offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A person convicted of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of €5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. A person convicted of such an offence on indictment would be liable to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or both.

The investigation of any such offences under these Acts are, of course, a policing matter for An Garda Síochána. I would encourage anyone with information relating to the alleged or possible commitment of these offences to report this information to their local/nearest Garda station.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (120)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

120. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice her views on the Ballymun a Brighter Future Report, in the context of her youth justice strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16062/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I welcome the publication of the 'Ballymun - a Brighter Future' report, written by Mr. Andrew Montague. I note the Deputy's interest in this report, and I understand the report was commissioned by Dublin City Council following a request by the Deputy when he was the Lord Mayor at the time.

The Deputy will be aware that the Council asked for practical and achievable recommendations regarding a number of significant concerns about drugs and criminality raised by the local community and local agencies in recent years.

As the Deputy will already be aware, 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 for Health, however, the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.

As the Deputy will be aware, many of the themes and issues outlined in the ‘Ballymun - a Brighter Future’ report are reflected in the objectives of the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027, which I published with Minister McEntee in April 2021. These include:

- the principle of diversion of young people away from anti-social and criminal behaviour;

- developing supports centred on the need of the child/young person, which take account of issues such as trauma;

- supporting young people in education and considering alternative approaches where appropriate;

- employing innovative approaches to help break cycles of offending, including:

i multi-systemic therapy which is used in the Bail Supervision Scheme, currently expanding from its initial pilot area in Dublin to Cork and Limerick; and

ii a specialised approach to combat coercive control by criminal groups of young people – the Greentown programme which is currently being piloted in two locations provides an evidence-based intervention programme designed with the assistance of Irish and international experts.

Both the Bail Supervision Scheme and the Greentown approach have been recognised internationally as cutting edge approaches to addressing problematic youth offending.

A key priority in the Youth Justice Strategy is the further expansion and intensification of supports provided by Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs), of which there are 105 nationwide. As the Deputy will be aware, Crosscare’s Ballymun Youth Block (BYB) is a well-established YDP in the Ballymun area.

Budget 2022 includes significant additional funding to support initiatives under the Youth Justice Strategy - almost €6.7 million, representing an increase of one third in support for youth justice services. This funding 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.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (121, 130)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

121. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if staff at the Russian embassy are monitored for possible subversive activities. [16016/22]

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

130. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she has concerns regarding the activities carried out by accredited personnel of the Russian Embassy in Ireland. [16014/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 130 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that, for sound reasons, it is not the practice to comment on security matters nor would it be in the public interest to do so.

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Questions (122)

Seán Haughey

Question:

122. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if an update will be provided on the regulations and funding for Garda and community CCTV; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16088/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware, community CCTV schemes play an important role in local communities across the country, providing valuable reassurance and helping people to feel safer in their local areas. This is why it remains a priority for my Department to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in developing their local CCTV schemes, whilst balancing this with proportionate oversight of important data protection statutory considerations.

Since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme, supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. Eligible groups, including community groups and local authorities nationwide, can apply for grant aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum total of €40,000.

The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems, which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also seek a once-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs. Support and assistance for those running CCTV schemes is available by contacting my Department at a dedicated email address which is available on my Department's website.

To date, a total of 35 locations have been approved under the community-based CCTV scheme, with a total of almost €950,000 committed to these projects.

Justice Plan 2022, which I published this week, commits to the publication of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill, which relates to Garda powers to use modern digital technology including body worn cameras, ANPR and CCTV, with a view to enactment by the Oireachtas. The bill will also provide statutory underpinning for recording, which will include CCTV authorised in local communities by the Garda Commissioner. As part of the proposed bill, it is intended to repeal Section 38 of the 2005 Garda Act and to replace it with new CCTV provisions.

I secured government agreement for the General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill on 29 April 2021. The General Scheme was sent to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting, and drafting is continuing. It is my intention to publish the bill in the second quarter of 2022 with a view to its passage through the Oireachtas later this year.

Community-based CCTV is currently governed by Section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 2006). This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must:

- be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee;

- have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must also act as data controller; and

- have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner.

This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of how they are funded. These key legal requirements have not changed since 2006.

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Questions (123)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

123. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the way that An Garda Síochána is strengthening the resources it deploys to tackle violence against women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16192/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for directing and controlling An Garda Síochána and for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

I can assure the Deputy that both Commissioner Harris and I are committed to combatting all forms of domestic violence and to ensuring that the Service is resourced to support victims of this terrible crime.

As the Deputy may be aware, the national roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) was an action under Supporting a Victim's Journey, and it has now been completed.

An Garda Síochána has now established a Divisional Protective Services Unit (DPSU) established in every Garda division across the country. This ensures that vulnerable victims of crimes, such as domestic abuse and sexual violence, presenting to Gardaí are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

This specialisation will ensure that when victims of domestic and sexual violence present to Gardaí, at perhaps their most vulnerable moment, they are met with professional and expert assistance.

Under Budget 2022, an additional €1m is being provided to AGS to refurbish and upgrade the Divisional Protective Service Units. This commitment will allow us to better support and protect vulnerable victims.

In addition, the Divisional Victim Service Offices (DVSO) and front line Gardaí are also resources available to respond to domestic violence and support victims.

To be of assistance to the Deputy I contacted the Garda authorities to seek information on matters related to domestic violence training for the Service, both for those officers attached to DPSUs and to members generally. I am informed that significant investment in training for addressing instances of domestic violence and supporting victims has, and is, being made.

I am advised that in 2021, An Garda Síochána devised mandatory online training for its personnel in the area of Domestic Abuse. This is a comprehensive training package consisting of instructor led videos presented by subject matter experts from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB).

It also includes periodic knowledge checks and supporting materials. Furthermore, live webinar virtual classroom sessions in relation to the Domestic Abuse Risk Evaluation Training is currently being rolled out to Garda personnel on a phased basis, hosted by subject matter experts from GNPSB.

I am further advised that the Domestic Abuse Risk Evaluation Tool is a tool utilised by An Garda Síochána to aid a decision-making process through which members of An Garda Síochána determine the best course of action when responding to domestic abuse related calls by estimating, identifying, qualifying or quantifying risk. The Domestic Abuse Risk Evaluation Tool is currently in use in the North Western and Southern Garda Síochána Regions, and is in the process of being rolled out in the remaining Garda regions on a phased basis.

A separate online course, which consists of instructor led demonstration videos on the correct use of PULSE in dealing with Domestic Violence Orders has also been launched.

In addition, new content has been included on the Foundation Training Programme with a view to enhancing the learning for Garda Probationers during the course of their training.

While those assigned to the DPSU already receive specialist training, a review of this is currently underway and with a view to redeveloping the DPSU training to ensure an even more customised, fit-for-purpose and victim-centric training course is delivered to all DPSU members from Detective Garda to Detective Inspector.

To this end GNPSB have completed a nationwide canvass with a view to determining training needs and it has been established that there are 392 members of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector rank attached to Divisional Protective Services Units nationwide. Training was delivered in 5 individual modules titled as follows:

1. Sexual Crime;2. Online Child Exploitation;3. Domestic Abuse;4. Human Trafficking and Victims;5. Court Process.

The initial position in respect of the DPSU training requirement, is that anyone who has not completed all five modules of this training will be required to undertake the new training programme that will be ready for delivery by Q2, 2022.

The proposed training programme is expected to enhance the skills of DPSU members, to ensure that each one can carry out the full range of specialist tasks frequently necessitated within their roles.

Courts Staff

Questions (124)

Martin Kenny

Question:

124. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to appoint additional judges with a view to clearing the current backlog of cases before the Courts Service. [16217/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Courts Service continues to work closely with the Judiciary on a range of measures to help address backlogs within the system as a consequence of the pandemic.

Ensuring the courts and judiciary are adequately resourced is a Government priority. It is also the case that the Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity to ensure our courts continue to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. Some positions are due to be filled shortly following some recent retirements.

Additional resources have been provided for the High Court, where the number of judges was increased by five last year, from 37 to 42, with the enactment of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021.

In addition, section 8 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 provided for the number of High Court judges to be exceeded by a further one should the Government, at my request, having consulted with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, form the opinion that it was necessary due to the volume of business and to ensure the efficient administration of justice. I brought a Memorandum to Government on 19 January 2022, with a recommendation to have that additional High Court post filled.

With that recent appointment to the High Court, the complement of High Court judges is now six more than it was on 1 October 2021. This represents one of the largest increases in judges in recent memory and a very significant investment by the State in judicial resources.

Any further judicial resourcing needs will be informed by the report and recommendations of the Judicial Planning Working Group, which was established in April, 2021 in line with commitments in the Programme for Government and my Justice Plan 2021 to “Establish a working group to consider the number of and type of judges required to ensure the efficient administration of justice over the next five years”.

To help inform the work of the Group, the OECD have been commissioned to prepare an independent review of judicial resource needs, including benchmarks against international comparators. The latest indications from the OECD are that they hope to present their initial draft report to my Department in the coming weeks with the final report to be published later this year.

Deportation Orders

Questions (125)

Paul Murphy

Question:

125. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the deportation notice against a person (details supplied); if she will revoke this notice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16255/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I cannot comment on individual immigration cases or on matters that are currently before the courts.

More generally, I can inform the Deputy that it is open to any person with a Deportation Order to make a request to have that order revoked. The request needs to be based on new information or changed circumstances, which were not part of the original application when the Deportation Order was made.

Furthermore, on a general level, no deportation orders are being effected at present except in those exceptional circumstances where there are national security or serious public policy concerns at issue.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (126)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

126. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost to date since 25 February 2022 of providing an additional Garda presence in the environs of the Russian Embassy. [16013/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which is given the force of law in the State by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967, places on the receiving State a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of a diplomatic mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity.

An Garda Síochána keep under review the situation with regard to the protection of diplomatic missions in the State and provide an appropriate policing response. The Deputy will understand that it is not the practice for sound reasons of security, to comment on specific security measures in place in respect of diplomatic missions in the State, nor their costs.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (127)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

127. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the security and intelligence unit of An Garda Síochána. [16015/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Section 7 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 sets out the functions of An Garda Síochána which includes the provision of security services for the State. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is independent in his operational functions which includes the management of resources.

The Security and Intelligence Section is part of the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service and carries out a range of activity including the identification of security threats, the implementation of necessary security mitigation measures and the provision of advice to the Government on security threats.

In carrying out this function, the Security and Intelligence Section gather, assess and analyse information and intelligence to determine potential threats to the Security of the State, in addition to potential threats to public safety emanating from serious and organised criminality of a national and /or transnational nature. This work is informed and assisted through collaboration with international partners.