Written Answers Nos. 577-596
577. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the provisions that are being made available under budget 2023 to assist postgraduate students in relation to the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50257/22]
View answerI was pleased to announce as part of Cost-of-Living measures in Budget 2023 a once off increase in the Post Graduate fee grant by €1,000 from €3,500 to €4,500. Postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution will benefit from this measure.
Postgraduate students who receive the Special Rate of grant will not receive this as they have their tuition fee contribution paid up to €6,270. Those students already receive the maximum support available to postgraduates and the €1,000 once-off increase is targeted at students who receive a lower level of support. However, postgraduate students on the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant will receive a once-off extra maintenance payment equivalent to one month’s maintenance, to be made by this December. The special rate of maintenance grant will also increase by 14% effective from January 2023.
In addition, from September 2023 postgraduate students will benefit from an increase in the postgraduate fee grant by €500 on the 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000. This will benefit postgraduate students whose reckonable income is up to €55,240 and who are not eligible for the special rate of grant. This will come into effect in the 2023/24 academic year. Circa 2,400 students stand to benefit from this increase.
I also announced a further investment of €8 million in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This will help many students who continue to struggle financially.
578. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider expanding the postgraduate grant process in order that more students can avail of these much needed supports; if he will increase the financial assistance and grant rates that are currently being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50258/22]
View answerI was pleased to announce as part of Cost-of-Living measures in Budget 2023 a once off increase in the Post Graduate fee grant by €1,000 from €3,500 to €4,500. Postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution will benefit from this measure.
Postgraduate students who receive the Special Rate of grant will not receive this as they have their tuition fee contribution paid up to €6,270. Those students already receive the maximum support available to postgraduates and the €1,000 once-off increase is targeted at students who receive a lower level of support. However, postgraduate students on the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant will receive a once-off extra maintenance payment equivalent to one month’s maintenance, to be made by this December. The special rate of maintenance grant will also increase by 14% effective from January 2023.
In addition, from September 2023 postgraduate students will benefit from an increase in the postgraduate fee grant by €500 on the 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000. This will benefit postgraduate students whose reckonable income is up to €55,240 and who are not eligible for the special rate of grant. This will come into effect in the 2023/24 academic year. Circa 2,400 students stand to benefit from this increase.
I also announced a further investment of €8 million in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This will help many students who continue to struggle financially.
579. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he will take in relation to the fact that the only graduate-entry medicine specific loan has been removed by a bank (details supplied); if he has discussed the matter with the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50260/22]
View answerThe loans available for Graduate Entry Medicine students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. However, I do understand from both students who have written to me and engagement with the relevant higher education institutions that the availability of such loans has been important in supporting people, including mature students, to study medicine.
Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study medicine. Students pursuing graduate entry medicine (GEM) programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority (HEA). In academic year 21/22 the state contribution was €11,950 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student.
The Student Grant Scheme Review comments on the issue of Graduate Entry Medicine and states that a wider issues remains as to whether greater flexibility in the criteria for student grant scheme could be considered in areas of critical skills shortage reflecting graduate entry routes. There are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations, as well as wider implications, if the current treatment of graduate entry medicine was amended. However, all elements of the review will be subject to consideration by my Department through the annual estimates processes.
I have been actively considering the range of policy and funding tools we have available to increase the supply of domestic medical graduates, which has involved considerable engagement with the medical schools and the Department of Health. On the 12th July last, I, along with the Minister for Health, announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years. The agreement reached with the medical schools has begun with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, which will climb to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026. This marks a significant expansion in the number of places available to students applying through the CAO system. It increases the opportunities for students to progress to study medicine in Ireland and to help build our talent pipeline. Budget 2023 saw a significant increase in the amount the State pays for medicine places, including graduate entry. As part of this agreement, the state contribution for new places will increase to €14,500. For existing places, an increase in the state contribution to this level will be phased in.
The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) identifies target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education who would not have considered attending higher education without such supports. The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund is the funding mechanise established to implement the National Access Plan (NAP). There are three strands to the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH). Strand 2 provides bursaries (1916 Bursary) to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students in the target groups under the National Access Plan. I have recently changed the rules so that students who hold a 1916 Bursary may continue their bursary if they wish to participate in Graduate Entry Medicine.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may also be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that 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. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, revenue.ie.
580. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports that he has in place for students who have paid repeat fees (details supplied); if they will be entitled to claim a refund as announced in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50326/22]
View answerApplications to undertake a repeat period of study are made directly to individual higher education institutions. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of the academic affairs including the criteria governing the level of repeat tuition fees to be charged are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. In this regard any repeat fees payable by a student will vary by institution.
As part of Budget 2023 the Government has approved a once off state support of €1,000 towards the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department’s free fees schemes in academic year 22/23.
In order to qualify for funding under the FFI, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the progression and repeat year period of study criteria. Typically, students are not supported for a repeat period of study under the Free Fees schemes, however in exceptional circumstances, such as ill health or a student receives a leaving certificate upgrade on appeal, an exception may be allowed by the institution attended.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution. In this regard the once off student contribution support of €1,000 cannot apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study that were not deemed eligible for the Free Fees schemes in 2022/23 by the institution attended.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty 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. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. 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.
As part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2023 an additional €8 million has been invested in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year 2022/23.
More information on the SAF is available at studentfinance.ie.
581. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in workplaces within his Department and the workplaces of public bodies and agencies under his remit, including a list of said buildings which do and do not have these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50342/22]
View answerIn line with Circular 31/06 - Implementation of the Regulations of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, available at circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/finance/2006/31.pdf, staff returning to my Department from maternity leave who are breastfeeding are entitled to paid breaks from work (one hour per day taken as a one hour break, two 30 minute breaks or three 20 minutes breaks, as required) or reduced daily working time (one hour per day) without loss of pay to facilitate breastfeeding or expressing breast milk until the child is two years of age. These entitlements are made available to work-sharing staff on a pro-rata basis.
A phased return to physical attendance in the workplace commenced for staff members in my Department following the easing of Government restrictions earlier this year. The majority of staff of my Department are currently attending the office for a minimum of two days per week and working remotely for the remaining days. Presently, there are no dedicated facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk in my Department’s locations as no request for such a facility has been made by a member of staff. In the event that a staff member requires such facilities, I can assure the Deputy that my Department will facilitate such requests.
The requested information in respect of the Department’s aegis bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.
582. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice if there is a policy regarding the appropriate use of domestic flights in his Department and bodies under the aegis of the Department. [50120/22]
View answerMy Department has a dedicated Policy on all matters relating to official travel by staff of the Department and its Offices, including air travel. The Policy is framed on the relevant circulars and advice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and reflects the general principle of achieving efficiency and value for money and minimising travel and subsistence costs. The Policy is regularly reviewed. The last such review was completed in March of this year.
In respect of the Agencies that come within my remit, they are statutorily independent in their functions and this is an operational matter for them.
583. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to a report by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence that was published by the Istanbul Convention Action Against Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence which states parental alienation (details supplied) is being used to minimise evidence of domestic violence in the courts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49491/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may know, in June I published Zero Tolerance, our new Strategy to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence and to ensure we fully support those who are victims of it.
It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it.The €363 million strategy is built on the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention framework and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions for implementation this year and next.I am aware of the report which the Deputy refers to. On the issue of parental alienation, my department launched a public consultation at the end of May, which was open for four weeks. The consultation focussed on people’s experiences of parental alienation, their views on the topic, its impact on them and how it might be responded to in the future. My Department is currently working through the volume of responses received. To better inform further discussion on this complex topic, my Department also arranged for a separate strand of independent research on parental alienation to be carried out this year. I am pleased to say that a draft report has been received by the Department and is now being reviewed. It is expected that both the research and the public consultation will create a deeper understanding of the issue, and inform my Department’s consideration of policy and law in this area. I expect a report outlining the outcome of the research and consultation process and any arising recommendations, towards the end of this year.
584. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the next steps that she will take in the context of her adoption of the Dublin Declaration. [49496/22]
View answer585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the supports that are available to persons from her Department in the context of the recent adoption of the Dublin Declaration (details supplied) [49498/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 585 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Dublin Declaration is a statement of intent by the Council of Europe member states on the importance of taking measures to prevent domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). It is a clear statement of our collective commitment to preventing such heinous crimes. A substantial majority of Council of Europe member states, 38 in total, have aligned with the Declaration, giving it a clear political mandate within the Council of Europe.
The commitments outlined in the Declaration are fully in line with the actions of Zero Tolerance, our Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, which I launched in June.
This new plan has a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV, or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.
This is a whole-of-society plan of action for Ireland which is structured on the four pillars of the Istanbul convention – prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination. The accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions for implementation this year and next. Implementation will be ensured by strong oversight and coordination at central Government level.
Under Budget 2023 I have secured an extra €9m, which represents a 22pc increase, for combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence. This record level of funding will also support the implementation of this new action plan.
This additional €9 million includes increased funding of €7m for organisations funded by TUSLA to address acute demands in existing services throughout the country, and for investment in new services as outlined in the new Strategy.
This funding also strengthens the nationwide supports and services for victims of crime (€920,000), provides for targeted awareness raising campaigns (€750,000) and for work to establish the new DSGBV statutory agency (€450,000) which will become operational in January 2024. The new agency will ensure we deliver excellent services, supports and accommodation and set world class standards in this area.
586. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the status of the proposed arrangements for special exemption orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49559/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023 I, along with Ministers Donohoe and McGrath, announced a halving of Special Exemption Order court and excise fees. The court fee for each Special Exemption Order is now €150, rather than €300 as was the case previously. Excise duty, payable to the Revenue Commissioners, is now €55 rather than €110 as was the case previously. This means that the cost of a Special Exemption Order comes to a total of €205 instead of €410.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Justice Plan 2022 commits to publishing and enacting new laws to update and modernise alcohol licensing laws in Ireland. I am delivering on that commitment by preparing Heads of a General Scheme of a Sale of Alcohol Bill.
The objective of the proposed Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018, the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008, and the Public Dance Hall Act 1935, and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions more suited to the 21st century. In addition, codifying alcohol licensing law into a single Act will make it more accessible and user-friendly for the licensed trade, courts, Gardaí and the public. Special Exemption Orders are being reviewed in the context of the Sale of Alcohol Bill.
Work on the consolidation and reform of the licensing laws and the drafting of the General Scheme is advancing well and it is intended to progress this legislation in the months ahead. Submissions from stakeholders will, of course, be carefully considered in the context of publication of the forthcoming Bill.
Details of the proposed reform will be included in the General Scheme when published.
587. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the establishment of an environmental and planning law court as set out in the programme for Government; if a budgetary allocation for the establishment of this court was made in budget 2023; if so, the amount; the number of judges envisioned to sit on this court; the number of staff and their relevant grades who will be assigned to work for the court; when the relevant legislation required to set up the court will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and when she expects the court to be established and in a position to hear cases. [49584/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, both the Programme for Government and the Government's Housing for All Strategy commits to the establishment of a new division of the High Court dealing with planning and environmental issues. The Programme for Government specifies that the new law court will be managed by specialist judges and established on the same basis as the existing commercial court model.
Officials in my Department have been working with the Courts Service and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in advancing the commitment and have put in place a Steering / Implementation group to progress this matter. The resourcing of the new Court, along with its scope, how it will operate, and the steps involved in its establishment, are being examined by the group. Bilateral discussions are also ongoing between officials in my Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
In parallel, the Judicial Planning Working Group (JPWG), established by my Department in April 2021, is due to report in the coming months. The JPWG was set up in line with commitments in the Programme for Government and Justice Action 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". Its recommendations will help inform any future judicial resourcing needs, including for the proposed new Planning and Environmental Law Court.
I expect that the proposed approach to the establishment of the new Court will be announced before the end of 2022, with implementation progressing in 2023.
588. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the provision of a women's refuge centre in Carlow; the immediate supports that will be provided to women seeking refuge in Carlow given the latest report released by An Garda Síochána, which showed that half of all murders in Ireland in 2021 were linked to domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49608/22]
View answerIt is my intention that every person who needs a refuge space will have access to one. I fully acknowledge the need for a significant increase in the provision of refuge spaces and I am committed to achieving this in order to ensure that victims have a safe place when they need it.
In June, I brought to Government Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence. The Strategy has a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported. As part of this it contains actions for nationwide delivery of refuge accommodation.
The Strategy commits to the delivery of additional refuge spaces nationally and aims to address the current shortfall, double the number of refuge spaces in the medium term, and meet the targets set out in the Istanbul Convention in the longer term. This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces. By the end of the strategy we aim to have over 280 refuge spaces, and we will also work to deliver additional safe homes as a key part of this.
As the Deputy will be aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency completed a review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which identified a number of priority locations where there is a particular urgency. It is my intention to use the findings of this review as one of the ways to address gaps in the provision of refuge places.
A key recommendation of the Tusla review is to provide more safe accommodation with a focus on short-term safe ‘emergency’ accommodation. Further analysis, as well as the work of an Inter-Departmental Group on the provision of domestic violence accommodation, has identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of additional family refuge spaces would have the most impact, if prioritised.
These locations represent areas where there is the most significant under-provision and are a starting point to increasing refuge spaces comprehensively across the country.
The 12 priority locations nationwide identified include Carlow, where eight family places are suggested as a potential refuge size requirement.
As part of the work to implement the Third National Strategy, my Department will advance the recommendations made in the Tusla review to improve how effectively, we deliver refuge spaces.
A practical approach will be taken to achieve targets as many factors can influence the speed at which a project is delivered such as, the identification of a suitable site or building, planning processes, tendering processes, appointment of contractors, etc. The areas identified are a priority for the development of refuge accommodation and every effort will be made to ensure this happens as speedily as possible while ensuring a high standard of quality.
The strategy contains actions for doing so both in the immediate and longer term and commits to the delivery of 24 refuge places currently underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by 2024 with all units in priority locations delivered by the end of the strategy in 2026.
589. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline her proposed spending plans for the €9 million additional investment in domestic, sexual and gender-based violence response awarded to her Department in budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49664/22]
View answerUnder Budget 2023 I have secured an additional €9m, which represents a 22% increase, for combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence. This record level of funding will also support the implementation of Zero Tolerance, our Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which I launched in late June.This additional €9 million includes increased funding of €7m for organisations funded by TUSLA to address acute demands in existing services throughout the country, and for investment in new services as outlined in the Third National Strategy.
This funding also strengthens the nationwide supports and services for victims of crime (€920,000), provides for targeted awareness raising campaigns (€750,000) and for work to establish the new DSGBV statutory agency (€450,000) which will become operational in January 2024.
590. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to parliamentary question No. 40 of 5 July 2022 and No. 389 of 27 September 2022, the total number of persons who have arrived in Ireland further to the Afghan admissions programme which opened in December 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49750/22]
View answerIn response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the Department of Justice remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland.
I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and their loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to assure them that we are processing applications as quickly as possible. Where applicants are missing important information, such as proof of identity and familial relationships, my Department is contacting applicants directly to try to gather the required documents. This will help to ensure as many people as possible can avail of this important programme.
I would also like to assure the Afghan community that the applications continue to be assessed in a pragmatic and humanitarian manner with a view to issuing decisions soon.
While no application has yet been approved under this Programme, since the beginning of August 2021 to 26 September 2022, a total of 140 join family visas have been approved for Afghan nationals and 77 family reunification applications have been approved.
A significant number of Afghan people have also been allocated places under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), which is under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality. Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department provides the visas to facilitate their travel to Ireland and almost 600 visa waiver letters have been issued to date.
591. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who applied for or expressed an interest in joining An Garda Síochána in 2022. [49759/22]
View answer592. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who applied for or expressed an interest in joining An Garda Síochána in 2021. [49761/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.
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. This includes responsibility for the recruitment and deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I can, however, advise the Deputy that the 2022 recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána saw 11,000 people apply to join the service. A recruitment competition was not run during the period of Covid restrictions, including during 2021. A further campaign is planned for 2023. In this regard, the government has allocated An Garda Síochána an unprecedented budget of €2.14 billion for 2023, which will enable sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.
593. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice when the Bill to outlaw grooming children into crime that was announced in January 2021 will be introduced in the Houses of the Oireachtas.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49762/22]
View answerDiverting young people away from involvement in criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and the exploitation of young people and children is a particular concern.As the Deputy will be aware, while the existing law allows an adult to be prosecuted for a crime which has been committed by a child who has been incited to do so by the adult, there is currently no mechanism in law to explicitly address the harm done to the child. This is a complex issue as, in many cases, the adult in question is known to the child and may in some cases even be a family member, causing potential issues with regard to witness testimony. It is also important to ensure that new legislation in this area is aimed at the adults who control criminality, without risking further criminalisation of children, some of whom may be involved in directing the criminal activities of other children.The Programme for Government commits to developing a law which would take account of this and penalise adults for the exploitation and harm done to the child in such cases.I can inform the Deputy that officials in my Department are already working to develop legislation in this regard. The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Exploitation of Children in the Commission of Offences) Bill was published in January 2021. The Bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in November 2021 and is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
I hope to publish this bill before the end of this year and to see it pass through the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly thereafter.
594. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on visa applications (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49772/22]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the applications he refers to were created on a number of dates during the month of August. Supporting documentation in relation to the applications was subsequently received in the visa office on various dates between the 7 and 27 September 2022.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having first been issued with a visa. The applicants will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
It should be noted that the granting of a work permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has no bearing on whether a visa will be subsequently granted. There are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
595. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the estimated total cost of Garda drivers being provided to Ministers; and the number of gardaí who will be employed in this service. [49789/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible, under section 33 of the Act, for determining the deployment of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána does not comment on matters of security, including matters relating to the allocation of resources within key protection positions, or costs associated with these matters.
596. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to delays in the Probate Office for issuing grants of probate; the efforts that are being made to address these delays. [49809/22]
View answerManagement of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Probate is an operational matter for the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.
