Tuesday, 12 Jul 2022

Written Answers Nos. 751-770

Immigration Status

Questions (751)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

751. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if an Indian citizen who is resident in Ireland on a stamp 3 visa must remain in Ireland for the full 365 days before applying for Irish citizenship; if not, if the continuous reckonable period of 365 days prior to application for Irish citizenship allows for reasonable periods of absence from the State for holidays or for exceptional family circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37946/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Applicants for naturalisation are required to have five years reckonable residence in the state prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to six weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.

Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.

Paramilitary Groups

Questions (752)

Patrick Costello

Question:

752. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the steps that are being taken by her Department and the Criminal Assets Bureau to tackle illegal paramilitary groupings in relation to their assets and illegal money-lending activities. [37974/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department.

The Bureau’s remit is to target assets, wherever situated, which derive or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. The Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction – disrupting the activities of criminal gangs through the removal of their ill-gotten gains - and has been recognised as a world leader in asset investigations, tracing and forfeiture.

Since its inception the Bureau has conducted investigations into individuals and Organised Criminal Groups including illegal Paramilitary Groups involved in various types of crime including illegal money-lending activities. These investigations are conducted in conjunction with and with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies. The Bureau does not record statistics in relation to a specific crime type in any given area.

Work is also underway to consider how best to support CAB in its important work. Last year my Department completed a review which presented a number of recommendations. One which I am intending to pursue as a priority is reducing the timeframe for the making of a ‘Disposal Order’. The intention is to substantially reduce the statutory timeframe before a ‘Disposal Order' can be made from seven years. Reducing this period would mean that those who generate criminal assets cannot benefit from them for extended periods.

Earlier this year I also launched the Community Safety Innovation Fund Scheme. The new fund will use money seized from the proceeds of crime to support investment in innovative community safety projects and is a fitting reflection of the successful work of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau in identifying and seizing proceeds from criminal activity.

The fund has an initial allocation of €2 million under Budget 2022, and I expect this funding to increase in future.

Immigration Policy

Questions (753, 758)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

753. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if a person who was in employment prior to their spouse or civil partner of Irish national scheme, can remain in employment throughout the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37987/22]

Jackie Cahill

Question:

758. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if a person who was in employment prior to their spouse or civil partner and who has applied for naturalisation can remain in employment throughout the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38063/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 758 together.

In all cases, whether a non-EEA national can remain in or seek employment, will depend on the immigration permission that they were originally granted and currently hold when they make any new immigration or citizenship application.

A person who makes a Spouse of an Irish National (SOIN) application or an application for naturalisation while resident in the State must have a permission to be in the State prior to that application being made. If the permission held allows the person to take up employment then that entitlement will remain, and should be renewed while awaiting a decision on their application.

Information on the different immigration stamps and the conditions that apply to them is available on my Department's immigration website at:

www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/information-on-registering/immigration-permission-Stamps/#passport-Stamping.

Departmental Records

Questions (754)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

754. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice when files will be handed over to the relevant authorities (details supplied). [37995/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, Kenova is a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases. The legal distinction between investigations and reviews is important in this context.

An Garda Síochána is committed to cooperating to the greatest extent possible with Kenova and already has in place a High Level Agreement which supports mutual co-operation and exchange of information with the Operation Kenova Investigation Team in the context of criminal investigations. The Historical Investigation Coordination Unit within An Garda Síochána continues to support this work.

Operation Denton is an ongoing independent analytical review by the Kenova Investigation Team into the activities of what was known as the Glenanne Gang in Northern Ireland. As Operation Denton is an analytical review being carried out in another jurisdiction rather than a formal criminal investigation, in order to achieve the strong desire of myself, An Garda Síochána and the Government to co-operate with Operation Denton to the maximum extent possible, it was necessary to obtain the advices of the Office of the Attorney General to confirm the available legal measures to facilitate Garda cooperation and the sharing of information.

Following receipt of advices from the Attorney General, I sought and received Government approval on 21 June to create a dedicated cooperation mechanism, following which on 23 June I signed a directive under section 25(1) of the Garda Síochána Act directing the identification and preparation for release of relevant records to Operation Denton. The directive under section 25 was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the law.

In order to to facilitate the transfer of information to Operation Denton, I have today signed the Data Protection Act 1988 (Section 2B) Regulations 2022.

The legal mechanism is therefore now in place for An Garda Síochána to cooperate with Operation Denton. The provision of any material relevant to the review in the possession of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

I can assure the Deputy of my continuing commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána in pursuing this work and in providing the greatest assistance possible.

International Protection

Questions (755)

Pa Daly

Question:

755. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for international protection that were dealt with under the single application procedure to date in 2022. [37999/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security.

I want to assure the Deputy that my Department continues to innovate to improve our processes and to reduce processing times, in line with the recommendations made by the Catherine Day Expert Advisory Group, and the commitments in the Government's White Paper published by my colleague, Minister Roderic O’Gorman. However, the substantially higher number of applications currently being received will present a significant challenge in achieving this.

Since the introduction of new efficiency measures, in the first six months of this year we have been able to increase the number of first instance recommendations and permission to remain decisions being made by the IPO by 56% when compared with the same period pre-Covid in 2019.

The total number of first instance recommendations made by the IPO under the single application procedure for the first six months of 2022 was 2,656, compared with 3,408 for all of 2019.

My Department is taking all possible steps to ensure we can process applications as quickly as possible. An end-to-end review of relevant international protection processes by a multi-disciplinary team from my Department has been completed and published. New measures and procedures will continue to be put in place to improve efficiencies across all aspects of the protection process. My Department will, by October 2022 at the latest, commence a review of progress made in reducing and improving processing times.

Criminal Assets Bureau

Questions (756)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

756. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the monetary value of assets seized by the CAB in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and the amount which has been returned to the Exchequer in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [38036/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department.

The Bureau’s remit is to target the assets, wherever situated, of persons which derive or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction – disrupting the activities of criminal gangs through the removal of their ill-gotten gains - and has been recognised as a world leader in asset investigations, tracing and forfeiture.

The Bureau works closely with Gardaí and all law enforcement agencies at national and international levels and continues to focus its efforts on targeting assets deriving from all types of criminal conduct. The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005 makes provision for the Bureau to seize assets that were generated in foreign jurisdictions. This Act enables the Bureau to cooperate fully with other international asset recovery agencies.

The table below, provided by CAB, indicates the total value of assets and cash seized by the Bureau for the years 2011-2021.

Year	Section 2 Interim OrdersEURO	Section 2 Interim OrdersSTERLING
2011	5,384,559.73	6,725.00
2012	2,110,334.78
2013	2,821,302.00
2014	6,760,182.00
2015	941,078.59
2016	643,063.07
2017	7,020,539.20
2018	8,263,582.30
2019	64,985,550.30
2020	5,814,206.00
2021	3,068,528.00

The table below sets out the total monies returned to the Exchequer under Section 4(1) & 4A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996. Also included are taxes collected and social welfare recoveries for the years 2011 – 2021 which are remitted to the Exchequer via the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection.

Year	Total to Exchequer from Section 4(1) & 4A Proceed of Crime Act	Revenue Collections	Social Welfare Recoveries
2011	€2,734,715.22	€3,804,867.00	€454,037.49
2012	€4,850,540.17	€1,967,925.00	€393,797.00
2013	€1,038,680.52	€5,418,000.00	€287,380.00
2014	€467,152.37	€3,017,000.00	€335,911.00
2015	€1,642,962.29	€2,038,000.00	€185,354.32
2016	€1,412,920.41	€2,106,000.00	€297,430.12
2017	€1,698,721.08	€2,374,000.00	€319,720.31
2018	€2,271,799.92	€3,097,000.00	€302,673.36
2019	€1,559,726.31	€2,206,000.00	€324,055.73
2020	€1,838,507.25	€1,800,000.00	€314,484.60
2021	€5,549,661.95	€4,401,000.00	€364,827.00

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that this information is publicly available in CAB’s Annual Reports. For the Deputy's information the CAB Annual Reports are available to view at the following link: https://www.cab.ie/annual-reports/.

I am advised by the Bureau that figures for 2022 are not yet available, and will be published as part of the CAB Annual Report for 2022.

Question No. 757 answered with Question No. 743.

Question No. 758 answered with Question No. 753.

Visa Agreements

Questions (759, 760)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

759. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 188 and 189 of 6 July 2022, the number of Ireland Immigrant Investor Program applications that have been approved for social housing and healthcare respectively from the 800-figure cited in her previous reply. [38065/22]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

760. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 188 and 189 of 6 July 2022, the number of Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme applicants who invested in social housing and healthcare respectively since the programme was established, without publishing the details of the persons or companies involved in tabular form. [38066/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 759 and 760 together.

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced by Government Decision in April 2012, to encourage inward investment and to create business and employment opportunities in the State. The Programme was introduced at a time when Ireland was going through a very significant economic downturn and Departments were tasked with initiating innovative programmes to attract investment and create employment as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest.

The criteria applied when assessing applications under the IIP is set out in the guidance published on my Department's immigration website at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-live-in-ireland/i-want-to-invest-in-ireland/.

IIP applications for investment in social housing and healthcare is facilitated through the Enterprise and Investment Fund options to the IIP scheme.

I can confirm that approximately 400 applications have been approved for both social housing and healthcare investment respectively. It should also be noted that there may also be a social housing or healthcare dimension to some of the Investment Funds that IIP applicants invest in and such applicants are not included in the aforementioned figures.

Therefore, my Department is unable to provide a precise number of applications specifically for social housing and healthcare. This number may change where applicants, for a variety of reasons and subsequent to the approval of their initial IIP application, may apply to transfer their investment to a different IIP project or scheme or where alternative projects, in line with the IIP published criteria, are commenced as determined by the Investment Fund Manager.

Question No. 760 answered with Question No. 759.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (761)

David Cullinane

Question:

761. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the Action Plan for the Disability Capacity Review; his annualised implementation plan along the timeframe outlined in the Disability Capacity Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37992/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised.

Disability Services

Questions (762)

Patrick Costello

Question:

762. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when a school (details supplied) will have the following services; behaviour therapist, speech and language therapists, occupational therapist, on-site nurse and access to a play therapist. [37993/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Questions (763)

Carol Nolan

Question:

763. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children on a waiting list for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy in counties Laois and Offaly; the length of time that these children have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37156/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Progressing Disability Services Programme for Children and Young People is being rolled out across each HSE Community Healthcare Organisation.In Laois and Offaly there are three (3) Children’s Disability Network Teams, namely Network 12 (covering Portlaoise, Stradbally, Mountrath, Borris in Ossary, Abbeyleix and Ballickmoyler), Network 11 (covering Mountmellick, Portarlington and Edenderry) and Network 10 (covering Banagher, Birr, Clara, Daingean, Shinrone and Tullamore). Waiting lists are not kept for individual disciplines as this does not reflect the nature of the support provided for children with complex needs. There will be one multi-disciplinary team which will provide a more integrated model of service delivery. The Children’s Disability Network Teams in Laois /Offaly are currently reviewing all children within the service and in the process of planning and delivering on Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs) for children within the service. An IFSP is an Individual Family Support Plan and is developed by the family, child and the members of the CDNT. It guides how the team supports the child. This is a process which requires getting to know the child and their needs (if not already known), preparing the family to create the IFSP and the development of the document along with the development of the supports to address the identified goals which include universal, targeted, and individual supports. Each IFSP is estimated to take up to 12 clinical hours across 2-3 staff to develop over a period of 6 weeks. This does not include the supports delivered after the IFSP to meet the goals and priorities identified. There are currently 810 children who are registered with Network 12. It is estimated 450 children with complex needs will require an IFSP within the model of service. There are 643 children who are registered with Network 11, of which an estimated 360 children with complex needs will require an IFSP. In Network 10 there are 1100 children currently registered with the team, of which an estimated 700 children with complex needs will require an IFSP. Children with non-complex needs will likely not receive an IFSP, but will require Multi-Disciplinary Team supports. There are some children where the complexity of needs has not been confirmed and the CDNTs are planning to make contact with these families to further understand their needs.

Mental Health Services

Questions (764)

Verona Murphy

Question:

764. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the vacant senior dietician post for Waterford/Wexford CAMHS has been filled from the national panel that is in place; when he will approve a whole-time paediatric dietician for the Wexford CAMHS team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38126/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (765)

Verona Murphy

Question:

765. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the new 96-ward block at Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38127/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Home Help Service

Questions (766)

Verona Murphy

Question:

766. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department is currently taking to address the challenges of recruitment and retention of staff within the homecare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38128/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I have established a cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine the various challenges across the home care sector. The Group has met five times since March and is currently working with key sectoral stakeholders in a structured programme of ongoing consultative engagements to further explore the issues and identify approaches to respond to the strategic workforce challenges.

Areas being considered by the Group include the recruitment, retention, training, pay and conditions, and the career development of front-line carers in home-support and nursing homes. Ensuring the adequate recruitment and retention of appropriately skilled healthcare support assistants and healthcare assistants is a key objective of this initiative.

The structure and membership of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was informed by submissions received by my Department from key stakeholders in January 2022 as well as by a short-life scoping exercise to gather initial data and evidence on the extent of the challenges in the sector.

The Group provides a forum for agreement on strategic approaches to address sectoral workforce challenges and will submit a report for my consideration by September 2022. This report will outline the Group's key findings and recommendations.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (767)

Seán Canney

Question:

767. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the capital funding that has been allocated to children’s health projects in Ireland under the Shared Island Fund to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36973/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Enhancing North/South co-operation is a priority for the Government. The government’s Shared Island initiative involves:

- Working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to address strategic challenges faced on the island of Ireland.

- Further developing the all-island economy, deepening North/South cooperation, and investing in the North West and border regions.

- Fostering constructive and inclusive dialogue and a comprehensive programme of research to support the building of consensus around a shared future on the island.

I am committed to working with partners in Northern Ireland to improve cooperation in health and social care where there are clear benefits for both jurisdictions and for patients across the island. We can build on the successes of recent years, including all-island provision of paediatric cardiac surgery in Dublin and cross-border provision of radiotherapy and coronary intervention services in Derry.

Project prioritisation in the health sector is driven by healthcare needs. The development of new /refurbished healthcare facilities anywhere in the country cannot be seen in isolation or separate from the delivery of related health care services. Therefore, the determination of the specific model of care and how where it interfaces with the wider health service is a critical element in the specification /project brief that determines the type of facility to be provided.

These criteria apply equally for health infrastructure projects which may be funded under the Shared Island programme.

At time of writing, no allocation has been provided from the Shared Island Fund for any children’s health capital projects.

My Department will continue to work with the Department of the Taoiseach on the Shared Island Initiative and is considering how best to deepen North-South collaboration in healthcare with Shared Island support.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (768)

Seán Canney

Question:

768. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will endorse a project (details supplied) as a capital project under the Shared Island Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36974/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Officials from my Department, along with the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) met with representatives of the Cancer Fund for Children on May 24th to discuss the "Daisy Lodge Connaught Project" and their plans for the funding of its construction. My Department and the NCCP continues to engage with the Cancer Fund for Children on their plans for this project, including any proposals which may be received seeking funding under the Shared Island Fund.

Mental Health Services

Questions (769)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

769. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason for the correspondence received by the parents (details supplied) of a child seeking CAMHS. [36981/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (770)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

770. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a chair that is urgently required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36983/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.