Written Answers Nos. 230-239
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) might qualify for the State pension (contributory); if their case might be considered as a matter of urgency given their work record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22360/23]
View answerThe person concerned will reach pension age on 21 May 2023. An application form for State Pension (contributory) was received on 22 February 2023.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equates to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 347 full-rate contributions. Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for State pension (contributory).
They were notified in writing of this decision on 20 April 2023, provided with a copy of their social insurance record on which the decision was based, and afforded the right of review and appeal.
Both the homemaker’s scheme and home caring credits can be used to improve a person’s rate of pension entitlement. However, a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions for State Pension (contributory) to avail of either of these schemes.
It is open to the person concerned to apply for the means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (contributory). I have arranged for a State Pension non-contributory application form to issue to the person.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
231. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he has any plans to help evacuate the relatives of Irish citizens still trapped in Sudan; if the State will fast-track applications for family reunification or issue emergency visas to ensure family members can come to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/23]
View answerI am very conscious of the grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan. I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Sudanese community and their loved ones and I can assure you that all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa and family reunification applications.
My Department will process any new applications received speedily and sympathetically and, with the Department of Foreign Affairs, is also working closely with all EU member states to ensure a coherent EU response to events in Sudan.
The Embassy in Nairobi and the Department of Foreign Affairs are maintaining contact with and advising Irish citizens and their families still in Sudan. Consular teams in the region continue to work with people as they are evacuated, helping to arrange accommodation when needed and supporting and advising and assisting on onward arrangements.
For those seeking further information the Department recommends that citizens should follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice.
232. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice the number of people waiting for visa appointments in each Garda division, sub-analysed for each district within each division, as of 1 May 2023, in tabular form; the plans, if any, to address the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22209/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) has oversight of the registration and renewal of immigration permissions for persons residing outside of the Dublin area.
The responsibility for the registration function at Immigration Offices outside of the Dublin Metropolitan Region rests with local Superintendents or the relevant Detective Superintendent.
The waiting time for appointments outside of Dublin is dependent on the demand for registrations in each office, and fluctuates based on seasonal demands and other variations. The Garda National Immigration Bureau does not record waiting times.
To date in 2023, An Garda Síochána have conducted 128,401 registrations, which compares with a total of 126,321 registrations performed by An Garda Síochána during 2022.
233. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the visa application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22245/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the application he refers to was created on the 11 April, 2022. Supporting documentation was received in the Belgrade office on the 11 July, 2022. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 19 August, 2022 where it awaits examination and processing.
Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf
This Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders, should be dealt with within 6 months of application.
A 12 month target will apply for applications to join Category B sponsors, such as Non Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders or Stamp 4 holders not covered by other more favourable arrangements.
However, it must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application 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.
The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
234. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases processed under the Afghan admissions programme, with particular reference to the number of applications completed; the number of arrivals in Ireland; the number of staff working on the programme; the reason for the delay in completing this programme in light of the fact applicants are receiving no financial benefits or assistance, simply permission to live in Ireland with their relatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22286/23]
View answerI understand this is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and their loved ones. My Department has issued 450 approvals for beneficiaries under the Afghan Admission Programme as of 10 May and continues to process the remaining applications. To date no refusal letters have issued.
A total of 528 applications in respect of 1,492 potential beneficiaries were received under the Programme. To ensure as many people as possible can avail of this important programme the Department has been liaising with representatives of the Afghan Community, including the Afghan Council, and with applicants directly to ensure the Afghan Admission Programme team have everything needed to progress applications.
Where applicants are missing important information, such as proof of identity and familial relationships, the Afghan Admission Programme Unit contacted people directly to gather the required documents. This process is now complete and applications continue to be assessed in a pragmatic and humanitarian manner. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application as soon as is possible.
There are currently five staff allocated to the management of the Afghan Admissions Programme.
The figures requested by the Deputy in relation to arrivals in Ireland of beneficiaries under the programme are not available. However, I can advise that from August 2021 to April 2023 the total number of Join Family Visas granted to Afghan nationals is 432. This figure would include those who have applied under the Afghan Admissions Programme, but would also include people that have been granted join family visas outside of the programme, such as family reunification and other join family applications. It should also be noted that some people who have been approved under the programme have not yet applied for a visa to come Ireland.
235. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice how many civil servants are currently seconded to An Garda Síochána; how many of those seconded employees have an active transfer request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22317/23]
View answer236. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice how many civil servants were seconded to An Garda Síochána in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to 1 May 2023; how many seconded employees transferred out of An Garda Síochána in the corresponding timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22318/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
|
Year |
Total secondments in at Year End |
Secondment ended/returned to parent organisation |
|
2020 |
15 |
0 |
|
2021 |
17 |
1 |
|
2022 |
10 |
2 |
|
2023 (up to 12 June) |
8 |
1 |
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) might be considered for residency approval, given the rest of their family has been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22349/23]
View answerAn application by the person concerned under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 16 May, 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue.
The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is a single or family application, the supporting documentation and the vetting process with An Garda Síochána (AGS). Applications where there is an existing deportation order will also require additional processing.
Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22358/23]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 1 immigration permission, which expires on 12 October 2023. It is open to the person concerned to contact their local Immigration Office four weeks before the expiration of their immigration permission.
I note the person concerned has also submitted an application for naturalisation. This application continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether they meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 4 May 2023, if he will provide a schedule of sporting organisations that have made proposals in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 in respect of the distribution of the horse and greyhound fund; and the number of occasions on which he, his predecessors and-or his officials have met with sporting organisations in the context of the horse and greyhound fund. [22307/23]
View answer247. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of sporting organisations that have made proposals in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 in respect of the distribution of the horse and greyhound fund; and the number of occasions on which he, his predecessors and-or his officials have met with Horse Racing Ireland and Greyhound Racing Ireland. [22308/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 247 together.
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. The Fund is distributed in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Act, with 80% going to HRI and 20% to RCÉ.
Since 2019 both my predecessors and I have received a number of requests for financial support, both directly and indirectly, on behalf of the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA).
The table below outlines the number of meetings my predecessors, Department Officials and myself held with HRI and RCÉ.
Meetings with HRI and RCÉ from 2019 to date in 2023
|
Year |
Number of Ministerial Meetings
|
Number of Meetings with officials of Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine |
||
|
|
HRI |
RCÉ |
HRI |
RCÉ |
|
2019 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
2020 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
2021 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
2022 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
2023 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
