Wednesday, 1 Mar 2023

An Garda Síochána

Questions (151, 153)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

151. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to the Newbridge, Kildare and Athy areas of County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10481/23]

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Patricia Ryan

Question:

153. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda personnel in Newbridge Garda station per working shift to serve a town of almost 30,000 people. [10483/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 153 together.

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 Garda business, including responsibility for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible under Section 33 of the Act for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

The spreadsheet at the link sets out the number of Garda members assigned to Kildare Division at 31 January 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.

Gardai Kildare Division

You will appreciate that the number of persons on shift in a Garda station at any one time is an operational matter. Due to shift patterns, it is not possible to give such numbers. In addition, this information is not disclosed for sound operational security reasons.

I can, however, assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened Garda Síochána is at the centre of that.

Since 2015, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment and as Minister, I am committed to delivering the necessary resources to bring the number of Gardaí to 15,000 and beyond.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,029 Garda members have attested, this includes the 369 Probationers who attested in 2022 and the 24 Probationers who attested on the 13 January 2023.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that at end January 2023 there were 14,125 Garda members nationwide. This represents an increase of over 10% since end December 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members nationwide.

Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/

An Garda Síochána

Questions (152)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

152. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice his views on crime prevention resources in the Newbridge area of County Kildare. [10482/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested an update from the Garda authorities on the crime prevention resources in Newbridge, Co Kildare and I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 1 March 2023 where you sought my:“views on crime prevention resources in the Newbridge areas of County Kildare.”

As you will recall, the information you requested was not available at the time, and I undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of resources, including Garda personnel to a given Division, District or Station.

I would like to assure you that the Government is committed to creating stronger and safer rural and urban communities and a strengthened Garda Síochána is at the heart of that. My Department is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of over €2 billion. This includes provision for the recruitment of 1,000 Gardaí.

In addition to new recruits, the rollout of the new Garda Operating Model will support the redeployment of Gardaí from non-core duties to frontline policing across the country. The new model will see larger Divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services, and a strong focus on community policing.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Garda resources in the Kildare Division have increased by 40% since end December 2015. I am further advised that the Garda resources in the Kildare District, which includes Newbridge Garda station, have increased by over 29% during the same period.

I am informed that all available resources play a vital role in Crime Prevention in the Newbridge area. I am informed that on 3 March 2023 there was 1 Community Garda assigned to the Newbridge area. In addition, 1 Crime Prevention Officer of Sergeant rank is dedicated on a full-time basis to providing crime prevention advice and information in the Kildare area to include Newbridge.

As you are aware, Operation Thor is designed to tackle burglaries and associated criminal activities, which often increase in the darker winter months, through targeted enforcement and crime prevention activity and information.

One of the main focus areas of Operation Thor is crime prevention through visible, focused patrols at specific times of day, targeting burglary ‘hot-spots’ and also utilising high-visibility check points that prevent ease of movement. Operation Thor also aims to reduce burglaries by ensuring every burglary is appropriately investigated to the highest possible standard and by monitoring crime data daily for changes in trends of burglaries, associated crimes and detection rates.

I hope that this information is of assistance.

Question No. 153 answered with Question No. 151.

Capital Expenditure Programme

Questions (154)

Robert Troy

Question:

154. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10552/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed.

I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51:

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 154 to my Department with the answer provided below:

Courts Service

The Deputy will be aware that the Courts Service annual capital expenditure includes over €14m (Annual Unitary Charge) for the Finance, Operation and Maintenance of seven court buildings throughout the country, including the Courthouse in Mullingar, through the Courts Public Private Partnership Bundle project.

Other than this, capital investment in courthouses in Westmeath, similarly to every other county in recent years, has been limited to works required due to Covid-19 or other minor maintenance (e.g. roof works, window and boiler replacements). The only Courts Service building project in the current National Development Plan (to 2025) for which significant capital funding has been provided to date is the proposed new family law court in Hammond Lane in Dublin. Further capital investment in courthouses by the Courts Service will depend on the availability of additional funding in the National Development Plan from 2026-2030.

An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), have undertaken the following capital building projects in Westmeath since June 2020:

Project	Details	Cost	Completion Date
Athlone Water Unit	Development of a purpose-built facility for the Garda Water Unit, Garrycastle, Athlone.	€2.3m	December 2020
Athlone Garda Station	Refurbishment/upgrade and extension of existing Garda Station, incorporating adjacent former Government Buildings into Station footprint.	€9.1m	December 2021
Mullingar Garda Station	Development of Regional Cyber Crime Hub in Mullingar Garda Station.	€0.2m	June 2020

The Deputy may wish to note that Capital funding in the Garda estate is not split on a county by county basis. The Garda Capital Refurbishment Programme has been allocated significant funding through the National Development Plan. Intermediate projects, to a value of €1M, will be progressed over the remainder of the NDP across the whole of the Garda estate, including in Garda Stations in Co. Westmeath.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (155)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

155. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health given the paid leave for the public health service employees unfit for work post-Covid infection is due to finish in the coming months, if his Department has engaged with the relevant unions regarding the above payment ceasing; if he will outline the long-term plan for those currently in receipt of the payment who will not be able to return to work due to long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10427/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those who got injured at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work.

Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—

(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and

(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.

The decision of whether to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence. My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission and is consulting with other relevant departments on the matter.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Health Services Staff

Questions (156)

Patrick Costello

Question:

156. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurse posts in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10290/23]

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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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (157)

Patrick Costello

Question:

157. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurse posts filled in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10291/23]

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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.

Care of the Elderly

Questions (158)

Marian Harkin

Question:

158. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if she will establish a commissioner for ageing and older people. [10295/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to supporting healthy and positive ageing as well as to ensuring that older persons can continue to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

Acknowledging the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic on older persons, the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020) commits to the establishment of a commission on care that will ‘assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens’, learning the lessons from COVID 19.

In 2022 preliminary desk research was undertaken within the Department of Health in preparation for the establishment of a commission on care. In 2023 the scoping and planning for the commission on care is being further advanced as a priority. While, accordingly, the scope of the commission has yet to be determined, it is envisaged that it will be established mid-2023 and consideration of matters such as an independent commissioner for ageing and older people will fall within the commission’s remit.

Dental Services

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (164)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

164. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have their assessment of need carried out. [10327/23]

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Written answers

Written answers

Minister for Health

Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card and is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.

Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account, i.e. mortgage payments, which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card.

With effect from April 2013, the gross income thresholds for people aged 70 and over were amended to €600 for a single person and to €1,200 a week for couples. From January 2014, the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013 amended gross weekly medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 or older to €500 per week for a single applicant and €900 per week for a couple. With effect from November 2020, the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 increased gross weekly medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 or older to €550 per week for a single applicant and €1,050 per week for a couple.

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The free contraception scheme for women was launched in September 2022, initially for women aged 17-25 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland.

The scheme has now been expanded to include 26-year-olds from January 1st, 2023, and will be expanded further, in September, to include women aged 27-30. Approximately €32m has been assigned to support the scheme in 2023.

Over 2,200 GPs and 1,850 pharmacies have signed up to provide products and services under the scheme to date.

Funding through Budget 2023 was also allocated to expand the scheme to 16 year-olds also, but this is subject to consultation across Government, legal advice and legislative amendment.

In order to fully inform forthcoming legal advice, a consultation exercise was commenced in 2022, with opinions sought from a number of Government Departments, the HSE's clinical consent experts, the Ombudsman for Children's Office, the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics and representatives of the voluntary sector.

The majority have reverted, with the closing date for receipt of submissions Friday 3/3/2023. The input provided by the stakeholders will be considered as part of legal considerations of extending the scheme to 16 year olds. Legal advice will be provided by the Department's legal team with a request made to the Office of the Attorney General for final consideration.

Should legal advice confirm there are no legal impediments to extending the scheme to 16 year olds, a legislative amendment to section 67E of the 1970 Health Act will be required and it is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Cabinet to seek a decision in principle, followed by a decision for permission to draft, as soon as possible.