Wednesday, 7 Dec 2022

Written Answers Nos. 90-109

International Protection

Questions (90)

Carol Nolan

Question:

90. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 30 November 2022, his views on the reason the State has experienced such a huge surge in IPAS applications during 2022; if his Department has conducted any specific studies on the cause for this sudden increase in numbers; if so, if he will provide a summary of the findings of any such studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61251/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

In recent months, the number of people claiming international protection has increased significantly, with 12,453 applications to the end of November 2022, a 176% increase on the equivalent figures for 2019. 

It is not clear if the increase in international protection arrivals is a once-off impact due to the pent-up demand after the Covid-19 pandemic, or a result of the war in Ukraine or if this is a trend that will continue into 2023 and beyond. 

A recent that was commissioned by my Department and published by the Economical Social & Research Institute (ESRI) in November 2022 titled "Explaining recent trends in International Protection applications in Ireland" surmises that there are a number of contributing factors that include but are not limited to Post Covid-19 catch up migration deriving from pent up demand; the ongoing war in Ukraine and ongoing conflict in certain countries; policy changes in the UK and economic, social and policy conditions in Ireland currently.

Asylum Seekers

Questions (91)

Carol Nolan

Question:

91. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 30 November 2022, the reason that giving a breakdown of nationalities would breach the right to anonymity of those applicants, given that his Department has clearly determined that providing details of their gender, age and family status does not affect their right to anonymity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61252/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Deputy, my Department releases generic information such as age ranges and gender as these are traits common to people in the entire country. As such, they cannot be used to locate or identify a specific person.

However, nationality is more specific and may identify a person as an International Protection (IP) applicant. In addition, the person making the application is doing so on the basis that they are being persecuted or discriminated in their country of origin and they may have good reasons not to attract the attention of people they have fled from at home or of the diplomatic or security services of the country of ther nationality.

My Department cannot specify nationality as, given the nature of the application, would leave this person's anonymity in jeopardy and may put them at risk.

Under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, the right to confidentiality of an IP applicant's identity is protected.  Section 26(1) states that "The Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential".

I trust this information clarifies the matter.

Question No. 92 answered with Question No. 87.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (93)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

93. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the application by Cork Education and Training Board under the strategic infrastructure investment fund for the development of a new centre for Youthreach in Macroom, County Cork; if his Department has finalised a site acquisition process to be applied in respect of this development; if such a process is required; when his Department will notify Cork Education and Training Board of its decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61189/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The primary focus of the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF) is to support ETB capital projects that will upgrade existing FET infrastructure and provide a high quality teaching and learning environment, aligned with the principles of the FET College of the Future.

The assessment of all proposals received under this programme call was recently completed, by an evaluation team, which was led by SOLAS and included representation from DFHERIS. Cork ETB’s proposal for a purpose built Youthreach facility in Macroom was evaluated as part of this process, but was deemed to require further interrogation in particular around the site appraisal and site options. This proposal will remain under consideration as part of this programme call and will be subject to further engagement between SOLAS and Cork ETB over the coming period.

The Deputy will be pleased to know that Cork ETB’s second proposal which will see the development of a new facility on the Mallow Further Education College Campus to consolidate FET services onto one site was successful. This proposal is one of 13 projects which will now progress to the next stage of development through the design stage.

Third Level Fees

Questions (94)

Ged Nash

Question:

94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for not including third-level students who are repeating first year in the scheme whereby student fees were reduced by €1,000 as part of the Government's cost-of-living support package; if he will provide a costing for the 2022-2023 academic year; if students in this category were to be included in the measure; if he plans to review the policy decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61259/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

As part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes. Funding through this once-off measure is available to full time undergraduate students eligible for the Department’s free fees schemes in academic year 2022 to 2023.

A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative and the SUSI scheme is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level.

There are provisions whereby students who find themselves experiencing exceptional circumstances, for example serious certified illness, can apply from an exception from either their institution for free fees or from SUSI as the case may be.

What this means is that the once off student contribution support of €1,000 therefore does not apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study if that period of study is not eligible for the free fees scheme in this academic year.

Where students do not qualify for the Department’s free fees schemes, an appropriate repeat or tuition fee may be determined by each higher education institution as autonomous bodies. An estimated cost to the State of introducing a specific support towards such fees for repeat students is not readily available.

While not all students are eligible for free fees or student grants, the Deputy may wish to be aware that I have also allocated over €17 million in funding for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. 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. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.

Third Level Fees

Questions (95)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

95. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a response will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in respect of third level fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61281/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

As part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes. Funding through this once-off measure is available to full time undergraduate students eligible for the Department’s free fees schemes in academic year 2022 to 2023.

A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative and the SUSI scheme is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level.

Where students do not qualify for the Department’s free fees schemes, an appropriate fee may be determined by each higher education institution as autonomous bodies.

What this means is that the once off student contribution support of €1,000 therefore does not apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study if that period of study is not eligible for the free fees scheme in this academic year.

While not all students are eligible for free fees or student grants, the Deputy may wish to be aware that I have also allocated over €17 million in funding for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. 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. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (96)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

96. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of newly qualified apprentices to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61390/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Please see the spreadsheet detailing the number of newly certified apprentices to date in 2022, as per the latest data available.

Number of Certificates issued in 2022 to date

Month Issued	Number
February	706
March	330
May	271
August	994
September	266
Grand Total	2567

Further and Higher Education

Questions (97)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

97. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a full list of all approved undergraduate courses for application under SUSI provided in the State to which the free fees scheme does not apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61391/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. I have arranged for officials from my Department to forward the information directly to the Deputy's office once it is available.

Probate Applications

Questions (98)

Seán Haughey

Question:

98. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of delays in finalising the processing of wills in the probate office.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61062/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Management 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: [e-mail].

Probate is an operational matter for the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.

Prison Service

Questions (99)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

99. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the reason behind the delay in publishing the 2021 annual resort of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons, which was submitted to her office on 16 February 2022 and published on 14 September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61075/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Section 32 of the Prisons Act 2007 provides that the Inspector of Prisons shall submit a report to the Minister for Justice, not later than 31 March in any year or such later date as may be specified by the Minister for Justice, on the performance of the Inspector’s functions during the previous year. 

I can confirm that the Inspector of Prisons' Annual Report for 2021 was submitted to my Department on, 16 February 2022, and that it was broadly completed at that stage. However, on review it was found that the report did not fully meet reporting requirements in relation to the Office’s own governance. The Office engaged constructively with the appropriate officials of the Department to address these requirements and the report was finalised in May 2022. 

Under Section 32(3) of the Prisons Act 2007, the Minister for Justice is required to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas the Annual Reports submitted by the Inspector of Prisons. Such reports are first required to be brought to the attention of the Cabinet. Having considered the finalised report Minister McEntee brought it to Cabinet on 31 August 2022. Once noted by Cabinet, Minister McEntee published the report shortly thereafter.

It would be my intention always to publish Annual Reports as early as possible.

Departmental Reports

Questions (100)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

100. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice when she intends to publish the report on the study on familicide and domestic homicide reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61112/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware, an independent study has been commissioned by the Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews.

This independent research, initially led by Norah Gibbons until her untimely passing in 2020, has involved consultations with a wide range of stakeholders including family members of victims, State agencies and non-governmental organisations, with a view to making recommendations to improve the State's response to familicide and domestic homicide.

Prior to finalising the report, the person who took over as study lead, Maura Butler, paid particular attention to the fair procedures part of the process which involved allowing any persons or organisations who might be affected by the contents of the draft report (including the families concerned) to be given an opportunity to reply to the contents of the report. 

The study lead recently presented the final report to me and it is now being considered by officials in my Department. I intend to publish the report as soon as this examination and analysis is complete.

Crime Prevention

Questions (101)

Martin Kenny

Question:

101. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of youth diversion programmes by county in each of the years between 2016 and 2022, in tabular form. [61137/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. There are over 100 YDPs nationwide providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long term employability prospects for participants.

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand. 

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

The table below sets out the number of Youth Diversion Projects by County for the years 2016 to 2022.

County	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Carlow	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Cavan	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Clare	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Cork	12	12	12	12	12	13	13
Donegal	2	2	2	2	2	1	1
Dublin	36	36	36	36	36	36	37
Galway	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Kerry	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Kildare	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Kilkenny	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Laois	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Limerick	7	7	7	7	7	6	6
Longford	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Louth	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Mayo	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Meath	2	2	2	2	2	3	3
Monaghan	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Offaly	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Roscommon	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Sligo/Leitrim	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Tipperary	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Waterford	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Westmeath	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Wexford	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Wicklow	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Total	105	105	105	105	105	105	106

 

The Garda Youth Diversion Programme aims to redirect young people who have been involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, through the above network of 106 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) throughout the state.

 

These YDPs support over 4,000 young people who have been identified as ‘at risk’, by trying to divert them away from the criminal justice system.

 

 

The communities within which YDPs are based are diverse, geographically distributed, and vary accordingly in population size. The vast majority of YDPs are in existence for more than 10 years, and are based in cities or towns, and about two-thirds are integrated with universal youth services. The number of YDPs in a particular county does not reflect the resources available in that county, or the coverage of the service in that county. The staffing levels, and accordingly the funding provided to different YDPs, varies in line with need in each location.

 

In Budget 2023 a further €2.5 million in funding was allocated to youth justice services, increasing the total budget allocation for the YDPs and other youth justice projects to €30.24 million. This funding will be deployed with the assistance of the best available research and expert evidence to keep young people away from crime.

 

Under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-27, the intention is to further develop this service so that it is available to every child in the State who could benefit from it, through an ongoing expansion of existing services and the foundation of new projects where necessary. 

 

You may also wish to be aware that I recently invited proposals from community and youth service organisations to establish new Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) in South Monaghan, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, South and West Co. Wicklow and West Cork.

 

I trust that this information is of assistance.

Departmental Data

Questions (102)

Martin Kenny

Question:

102. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of adult cautions by county in each of the years between 2016 and 2022 in tabular form. [61138/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing matters and the management of the Garda PULSE system. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions, however, to be of assistance I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised of the following. 

The Adult Caution Scheme is a non-statutory scheme agreed between, and administered by, An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions. As the Deputy will also appreciate, the DPP is fully independent in her functions and I have no role in the operations, oversight or governance of the office of the Director. 

The below table provides the number of Adult Cautions by County for the years 2019 - 2022 to date.

It should be noted that a record of the particular date in which offender status was updated to Adult Caution has only been recorded on PULSE since 2019. Therefore figures prior to 2019 are unavailable.

	2019	2020	2021	2022
Carlow	131	79	68	76
Cavan	90	84	92	105
Clare	75	108	108	89
Cork	709	695	847	882
Donegal	137	302	197	253
Dublin	1,231	1,679	1,707	1,704
Galway	267	253	301	374
Kerry	161	112	141	130
Kildare	167	189	222	245
Kilkenny	116	97	96	104
Laois	93	89	104	89
Leitrim	37	43	19	37
Limerick	256	374	293	283
Longford	37	54	84	69
Louth	135	177	138	160
Mayo	109	111	111	119
Meath	109	92	211	124
Monaghan	91	103	80	82
Offaly	125	106	105	91
Roscommon	36	39	39	30
Sligo	67	82	75	85
Tipperary	167	122	233	195
Waterford	291	237	257	334
Westmeath	115	172	112	189
Wexford	136	198	179	228
Wicklow	73	114	221	133

Figures are operational and liable to change. Data is as recorded on PULSE to 2 December 2022.

Domestic Violence

Questions (103)

Martin Kenny

Question:

103. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of women’s refuges available by county in each of the years between 2016 and 2022, in tabular form. [61139/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.  

The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for the allocation of funding for domestic violence services continues to be channeled through Tusla.

As this will continue to be the case until services formally transfer to the new DSGBV agency, I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (104)

Martin Kenny

Question:

104. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of community gardaí by county in each of the years between 2016 and 2022 in tabular form. [61140/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion. This unprecedented amount will fund the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff.

While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimal use.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs. I am further advised that there are no set requirements to have a specific number of Community Gardaí posts across the Divisions.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí by Division at end December 2016 up to end December 2021 and at 31 October 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.  

Community Gardaí by Division	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	31 Oct 2022
D.M.R. EAST	32	34	28	25	21	24	29
D.M.R. NORTH	53	47	51	39	26	61	63
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL	110	90	83	75	71	66	56
D.M.R. SOUTH	39	40	42	48	53	58	51
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL	34	30	28	48	57	54	44
D.M.R. WEST	53	64	63	66	86	66	64
KILDARE	0	4	4	7	9	9	10
LAOIS / OFFALY	2	2	8	8	13	13	11
MEATH	9	7	9	6	9	8	6
WESTMEATH	10	8	10	11	7	7	13
WICKLOW	14	14	13	11	10	9	5
CAVAN / MONAGHAN	4	2	0	4	5	16	16
DONEGAL	2	2	4	4	15	17	64
LOUTH	15	12	13	11	15	13	23
SLIGO / LEITRIM	8	6	6	7	10	10	10
KILKENNY/CARLOW	88	85	112	99	94	99	96
TIPPERARY	71	68	72	79	72	73	9
WATERFORD	44	35	35	15	26	22	22
WEXFORD	8	7	6	12	11	11	16
CORK CITY	26	27	24	32	38	40	38
CORK NORTH	8	6	7	7	7	7	7
CORK WEST	5	4	4	4	4	4	4
KERRY	7	9	9	10	9	10	10
LIMERICK	42	38	31	30	31	33	33
CLARE	7	8	8	7	9	9	10
GALWAY	14	14	13	13	19	22	24
MAYO	3	3	1	13	12	12	11
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD	10	10	11	11	12	11	10
TOTAL	718	676	695	702	751	784	755

*The above information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

To date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (105)

Martin Kenny

Question:

105. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have resigned from An Garda Síochána by county in each of the years between 2016 and 2022, in tabular form. [61141/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all matters relating to recruitment and personnel within An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the table below sets out the members of An Garda Síochána who have resigned, broken down by Division, for the years requested, up to 5 December 2022.

Divisions	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
* Career Break Resignation	3	23	25	8	10	9	11
Cavan/Monaghan	0	0	0	2	0	3	2
Clare	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Cork City	0	1	3	4	1	3	3
Cork North	0	0	2	1	1	1	3
Cork West	0	0	2	0	0	2	2
D.M.R	9	10	25	31	37	43	60
Donegal	0	1	2	0	3	2	0
Galway	0	0	1	3	0	2	0
Kerry	1	0	0	0	2	1	1
Kildare	1	2	0	3	2	3	1
Kilkenny/Carlow	2	0	2	2	1	1	4
Laois/Offaly	0	0	0	3	1	2	5
Limerick	0	0	1	3	1	1	3
Louth	0	1	1	1	1	4	0
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford	0	1	0	0	1	0	1
Meath	1	1	2	3	0	5	1
Sligo/Leitrim	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Tipperary	2	1	4	3	2	1	0
Waterford	1	0	3	2	2	3	5
Westmeath	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Wexford	1	0	2	1	2	4	1
Wicklow	3	0	2	0	2	1	0
Total	24	41	77	72	69	95	104

 * These figures are for members who have resigned from the organisation while on Career Break.

Courts Service

Questions (106)

Martin Kenny

Question:

106. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of judges at each level of the courts in each of the years between 2016 and 2022, in tabular form. [61142/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively for citizens in their access to justice. The Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity, and a number of such vacancies have been filled recently.

The number of judges assigned to each jurisdiction for each year between 2016 to 1 December 2022 is provided in the Table underneath. The numbers provided include the Chief Justice, and the Presidents of the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Circuit Court and District Court.

Court	31/12/2016	31/12/2017	31/12/2018	31/12/2019	31/12/2020	31/12/2021	01/12/2022
Supreme Court	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
Court of Appeal	10	10	10	16	16+1	16+1	16
High Court	38+2	38+2	38+2	38+2	38+2	43+2	44+1
Circuit Court	38+3	38+3	38+3	38+2	38+2	38+2	38
District Court	64	64	64	64	64	64	64

In the case of additional judges, the Deputy may wish to note that the number of the Court of Appeal judges may be exceeded by one where a Court of Appeal judge is appointed as a member of the Law Reform Commission. This is provided for under the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975, as amended by the Court of Appeal Act, 2014.

In the case of the High Court, under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 and the Courts (No. 2) Act, 1997, the number of High Court judges may be exceeded by one in each instance where a High Court judge is appointed as Chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission or as a member of the Law Reform Commission.

Finally, the appointment of Specialist Judges to the Circuit Court is provided for under the Personal Insolvency Act, 2012. At present, there are no specialist judges.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (107)

Martin Kenny

Question:

107. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda vehicles, including unmarked cars and vans, that have operational dash cam technology. [61143/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am however advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently no vehicles in the Garda fleet that have dash cameras. 

As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 was published on 4th August 2022. Section 9 of the Bill provides a power for a member of Garda personnel acting in the course of his or her duties to operate a digital recording device. With a view to future proofing, the legislation does not specify the type of device that may be operated. It could include a dash camera.

As the Deputy can appreciate the choice of recording devices will be an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide on.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (108)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

108. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice the average response time for gardaí on receiving 999 calls in each of the Dublin metropolitan regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61195/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand. 

A Deferred reply was issued under Standing Order 51.

I am advised that An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy which ensures that Garda resources are available to respond to calls for service from the public, including situations where a local resource is not immediately available.

Calls for service, whether received through a local Garda station or the 999 ECAS system, are routed through the Regional Control Rooms and prioritised for response. Higher priority calls will always take priority over lower priority calls.

I am advised by Garda authorities that it is not possible at this time to accurately report on the response times for Gardaí after receiving 999 calls.

However I am also advised by An Garda Síochána that they aim to answer 80% of 999 calls within 7 seconds and deploy resources immediately giving an estimated time of arrival. An Garda Síochána will take appropriate steps to deal with all incidents and ensure that emergency and life threatening calls receive priority. They will endeavour to get to you within 15 minutes in urban locations and as soon as possible, given the distance to be travelled, in more rural areas.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (109)

Martin Kenny

Question:

109. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown by Garda division of Garda response times to calls between 2016 and 2022, in tabular form. [61197/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that due to limitations on the current Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, they are unable to provide the information requested by the Deputy. An Garda Síochána have informed me that this information should be available following the implementation of CAD 2. 

The Deputy may be aware that in line with 'A Policing Service for our Future', the implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system has been procured to support the regional control room structure and replace the existing system.  The system will be deployed in each of the four regional control rooms on a phased basis starting with the North - Western Region in Q1 2023 in Galway.