Written Answers Nos. 548-567
548. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if citizenship applications are continuing to be processed in chronological order; the number of applications from 2021 and 2022 that are still being processed; the number of applications for 2023 to date that have been processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24397/23]
View answer568. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice why a large number of applicants who applied in 2020 – 2022 are experiencing significant delays in the processing times for their Irish naturalisation applications, compared with applicants who applied in 2023, who have had their applications processed and have also received Garda vetting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24834/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 568 together.
I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. My Department knows that delays in processing times can be very frustrating and would like to apologise for any stress or uncertainty it has caused applicants.
Citizenship Division’s current policy remains to process applications within sequence wherever possible. There are however significant changes underway as the Division examines how it can become more efficient.
As the division moves from its old processing structure to a new model there may seem to be variation in how it processes files i.e. how long it takes to register, process and grant decisions. This will not disadvantage older applications but is important to ensure our new process works. This will ultimately help reduce how long it takes to process all applications.
One of the improvements that has become visible recently has been the reduction in wait times for files to be registered. Last year it took on average about 7 months for a file to be acknowledged. This year it is done in a matter of weeks. A related improvement is that Garda vetting is now carried out earlier in the naturalisation process to help improve processing efficiency.
To ensure older files are also progressing under the new system my Department has recently written to 13,000 applicants with electronic links to commence eVetting. When the vetting is complete, and any additional information is not awaited from an applicant, the file will be progressed towards naturalisation.
I am advised by the Citizenship Division of my Department that for the years 2021 & 2022 there were 29,156 applications received. 5,931 of these have been naturalised leaving a balance of 23,225 applications currently being processed. Up to 19 May, 5,665 applications have been registered in 2023. Our expectation is that applicants from across 2021-23 will be amongst those invited to citizenship ceremonies over the course of 2023. My Department intends to communicate with all applicants on a quarterly basis to provide regular updates on progress in this regard.
549. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of firearms offences [seizures, discharging, possession or theft from a legal holder] over the past ten years, broken down by district and offence, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24474/23]
View answerI am informed by An Garda Síochána that the only incidents requested by the Deputy recorded on PULSE are discharging a firearm and possession of a firearm. I am further advised that it is not possible to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of offences at a District level as there is not a sufficient volume of incidents recorded in order to report at this level.
The Deputy may find it useful to review the data on firearms offences available at a Divisional level from Q1 2003 to Q4 2022 on the CSO website at the following link data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06.
550. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of firearms-related deaths over the past ten years, broken down by district, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24475/23]
View answerI have asked An Garda Sìochàna if it is possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy. Unfortunately it was not possible to confirm this within the timeframe allowed.
I will revert to the Deputy with any relevant information upon receipt.
|
Year Reported |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
*Up to 23/05/2023 |
|
Count |
16 |
12 |
10 |
15 |
<10 |
<10 |
11 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
551. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of any incidents relating to the 3D printing of illegal firearms within the State; and his plans to counter these [24477/23]
View answerI am advised by An Garda Síochána that they are aware of the potential misuse of 3D printing technology to create 3D printed firearms and/or firearms components, and I can assure the Deputy that Gardaí take appropriate investigative steps upon receipt of intelligence relating to this activity.
It should be noted that 3D printed firearms are already considered firearms under the Firearms Act 1925 and therefore it is an offence for a person to possess, carry or use a 3D printed firearm without a licence. The issue of such firearms is also being considered in the context of the ongoing commitment to carry on the process of firearms reform.
While incidents pertaining to 3D printed firearms or the obtaining of materials relevant to them are not common, they are not unknown in this jurisdiction.
I am further advised by An Garda Síochána that a conviction has been secured of a person for serious firearms-related offences in this context. The person concerned was involved in the importation of firearms contrary to section 17 of the Firearms Act 1925, as amended, and the suspect was found to be in possession of imported component parts for firearms and a 3D printer, among other items. The material seized was examined by members of the Garda National Technical Bureau Ballistics Section.
552. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the work of the firearms expert committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24478/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I established the Firearms Expert Committee (FEC) on a non-statutory basis with representation from stakeholders, my Department and An Garda Síochána.
The purpose of the FEC was to serve in an advisory capacity to me as Minister, providing guidance on a wide range of matters related to firearms licensing in the State. In line with its comprehensive terms of reference, which were made publicly available, the FEC was tasked with making recommendations on a range of firearms matters for my subsequent consideration, including carrying out an assessment of all types of firearms to determine their current use under the existing licensing system and their suitability for future licensing.
The final meeting of the FEC took place on 3 March 2023 and I published the final report on Friday, 31 March 2023 on Gov.ie.
As I stated throughout this process, any proposed changes to policy or legislation arising from any of the recommendations of the FEC will be subject to prior consultation with firearms stakeholders.
On the, 3 May 2023, I launched the FEC consultation online on Gov.ie.
The online consultation can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/consultation/411f7-consultation-on-the-recommendations-of-the-reports-of-the-firearms-expert-committee/ . I would encourage as many people and organisations as possible to engage with this survey in order to make their views known.
In addition to this, I have sought written submissions on the recommendations of the FEC from a range of stakeholder organisations and intend to meet with such groups, having received their written submissions and following the conclusion of the wider public consultation, which runs until 2 June. This will ensure that stakeholder organisations can engage fully in this consultation.
553. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if the numbers of live firearms licences are tracked by individual holders; the number of people who hold multiple firearms licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24479/23]
View answer555. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the number of currently active firearms licences, broken down by district, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24481/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 555 together.
I have asked An Garda Sìochàna if it is possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy. Unfortunately it was not possible to confirm this within the timeframe allowed.I will revert to the Deputy with any relevant information upon receipt.
554. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the work of the firearms range inspector; the number of inspections that they have carried out in the last ten years and where those took place, broken down by district, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24480/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Firearms Range Inspector (FRI) is a statutory appointment made by my Department in accordance with Section 4B of the Firearms Act 1925-2009.
Under this legislation, my Department appointed one FRI.
The FRI is tasked with examining applications for the certification of rifle and pistol target shooting ranges and thereafter the inspection of such facilities for ongoing compliance with the construction standards for the range as set out in Statutory Instrument 622 of 2011, Firearms (Authorisation of Rifle or Pistol Shooting Ranges) Regulations 2011.
The authorisation of use of a target shooting range is the function of An Garda Síochána and the Garda Superintendent of the district in which the range is located.
The number of inspections that the FRI has carried out over the last ten years are laid out in Table below by location. This data is gathered and recorded by County only so it is not possible to provide this information by Garda District. The number of inspections from 2020 to 2022 reflect the restrictions in place due to the pandemic.
Number of inspections carried by the Firearms Range Inspector
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Cork |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
||||
|
Donegal |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Dublin |
11 |
16 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
15 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Galway |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||
|
Kerry |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
|||||||
|
Kildare |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|||||||||||
|
Laois |
2 |
|||||||||||
|
Limerick |
3 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Louth |
1 |
2 |
||||||||||
|
Mayo |
1 |
2 |
||||||||||
|
Meath |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
||||||
|
Monaghan |
1 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|||||
|
Offaly |
2 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Sligo |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Tipperary |
4 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
||||||
|
Wexford |
6 |
3 |
11 |
7 |
6 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
||||||||
|
Wicklow |
4 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
9 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Total |
37 |
55 |
60 |
48 |
57 |
45 |
35 |
49 |
12 |
19 |
20 |
12 |
*Data up to 19/05/2023
556. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide details of the number of cases of violent disorder, as defined by Section 15 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, prosecuted by the DPP in each of the past five years, including the numbers of these that resulted in conviction. [24501/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is completely independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). As the Office of the Director is not a body under my remit as Minister for Justice, falling under the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach, I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Director. I am therefore unable to provide any information related to the work of the DPP.
Additionally, 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: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
To be of assistance I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for reply to the applicable section of the question.
557. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of providing an additional 331 domestic abuse refuge spaces to meet Ireland’s obligations under the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24541/23]
View answerOne of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance Strategy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this.
In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence, we will double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, bringing it to over 280.
The Tusla review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence identified priority locations where between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed.
Further analysis undertaken identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces would have the most impact if prioritised.
In the initial phase of this work, we expect to have delivered 28 places in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by end 2024.
In addition, by putting in place the correct structures to deliver additional refuge accommodation, including the development of a new statutory agency, we will accelerate the number of additional spaces that can be opened each year.
I am determined that the implementation of the Strategy will bring us significantly closer to reaching our Istanbul target and to ensuring that organisations providing these vital services to victims are supported in doing so.
Reflecting the Government’s commitment to make this the most ambitious Strategy to date, and in particular to make a real impact on the provision of refuge units and other associated support services, will require additional expenditure.
The overall cost of implementing the entire Strategy is estimated to be in the region of €363m.
Operational costs for refuges are estimated at €100k per unit annually, according to the 2022 Tusla review.
The capital development cost of a refuge, which would be a one-off initial cost, depends on a number of factors including construction costs, specific site costs, timing of the construction, and so on.
558. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of protected disclosures he and-or the Irish Prison Service has received in respect of Dóchas centres in the past five years to date; the number of and names of and costs associated with engaging external experts to investigate same; the number of protected disclosures over that time period that were rejected, investigated and closed, remain under investigation; and if any person was sanctioned or dismissed on foot of the outcome of investigations. [24550/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers report alleged wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. The Act, as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on nor confirm the existence of any specific protected disclosure.
The protection of those wishing to make a protected disclosure rightly prioritises the confidentiality of the process, which is central to the efficacy of that process.The Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service publishes annual reports on their websites detailing the numbers of disclosures received and resulting actions. Disciplinary matters are a personal and confidential process pertaining to the individual concerned.
559. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice if he can provide the policy framework from An Garda Síochána for its pricing structure for public events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24726/23]
View answer560. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice if he can provide a breakdown of the costs charged by An Garda Síochána for the policing of all public events, including sporting, civic and commercial events such as concerts, for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form [24727/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 560 together.
The Deputy will be aware that section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) makes provision for An Garda Síochána to charge for policing services provided for events on private property or in areas open to the public.
Section 30 covers events such as sports fixtures, concerts, festivals, the making of films, TV programmes and so on. Policing services may be provided where it is in the public interest and consistent with Garda functions.
I am advised that An Garda Síochána do not charge for policing public events. I am further advised that the table below sets out the sums invoiced by An Garda Síochána for the years 2018 to 2022, related to policing services for events as described under Section 30 of the Act.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
€5,726,985 |
€6,875,649 |
€2,533,806 |
€1,830,634 |
€7,015,565 |
I am further advised by An Garda Síochána that a breakdown of the costs as requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile.
561. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he will clarify when the familicide and domestic homicide review commissioned by the Government will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24765/23]
View answer572. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice when the study on familicide and domestic homicide reviews will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 572 together.
As the Deputy is aware, an independent study was commissioned by my Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews.
This independent research 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.
Given the sensitivities involved, it also required the study lead to pay particular attention to the fair procedures part of the process which involved allowing any person or organisation 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 Deputy will appreciate that, due to the gravity of the subject matter and the impact on victims' families, thorough examination of the report was necessary before publication.
I recently met with the victims’ families to inform them of my intention to bring the report to Government which I now intend to do. Once I have done so, I will provide a copy of the final report to the families and will then publish it.
562. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the construction of the new family court facility at Hammond Lane, Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24785/23]
View answerReforming the operation of the family justice system to ensure that we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court system is a key continuing commitment in the Department's Justice Plan. The Programme for Government also contains a commitment to build a new Family Law Court building in Dublin.
The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane is a key project in the National Development Plan. The Hammond Lane complex will be built with the specific needs of family law users in mind and will provide a modern facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment with a range of support services at hand. It will replace the present inadequate and fragmented facilities for family law in central Dublin at Dolphin House, Chancery Street, Phoenix House and in the Four Courts.
A Preliminary Business Case developed in compliance with the requirements of the Public Spending code was approved in principle in June 2022. The original intention was that Hammond Lane would be delivered as part of a bundle of PPP projects including two Garda Projects. It has now been decided that the two Garda projects will be decoupled from the PPP and proceed by traditional direct exchequer funding. Accordingly, Hammond Lane will proceed as a stand-alone PPP Project with appropriate governance arrangements being revised in that context.
Detailed plans and layouts for the Hammond Lane building have been prepared by the OPW and provide for a 5 storey over basement building, comprising 19 courtrooms, consultation rooms/spaces, staff and judicial accommodation, a variety of public waiting areas, space for mediation and domestic violence support services, accommodation for legal practitioners and custody facilities. The Courts Service undertook an extensive consultation exercise with stakeholders during Q4 2022 during which the plans were very positively received.
The submission of the Part 9 planning application is the immediate priority for the Hammond Lane project, work on which is being undertaken on behalf of the Courts Service by the OPW and will be completed in advance of the tendering process.
In parallel to the Part 9 planning process, the NDFA has commenced preparations for a procurement process, including procurements for legal and technical advisors.
The procurement and construction stages of the project will be undertaken and managed by the NDFA and, in line with Government PPP procedures, it is anticipated that this key project will be delivered in the latter half of the current NDP.
563. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice if there a dedicated email address for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24786/23]
View answerAs the deputy may be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie. Additionally, the Courts Service can also be contacted directly regarding probate matters through the following e-mail address: ProbateProbateGeneralOffice@courts.ieGeneralOffice@courts.ie.
564. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice to provide in tabular form a breakdown of the increased funding of €7 million for organisations funded by TUSLA to address acute demands in existing domestic violence services throughout the country; and in tabular form, a breakdown of funding allocated to investment in new services as outlined in the new strategy, and the new services these moneys have been or will be allocated to at the close of this year. [24806/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is 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 domestic violence services continues to be managed by 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.
565. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision is expected to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24817/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
The median processing time for applications now currently stands at 19 months. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
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 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 e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
566. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24822/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
The median processing time for applications now currently stands at 19 months. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
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 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 e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
567. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if documentation, including declaration and police record, have been received in respect of the ongoing application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); if this file is at an advanced stage of processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24829/23]
View answerI can confirm the documents referred to by the Deputy have been received by the Citizenship Division in my Department and have been associated with the application for naturalisation.
The Citizenship Division have advised me that they will make direct contact with the applicant in due course.
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 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 e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
