Peadar Tóibín
Question:504. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people arrested for fraud offences in each county in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [25778/23]
View answerAn Garda Síochána
Questions (504)
Written answers
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.
Control of Firearms
Questions (505)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:505. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people arrested for firearm offences or possession of firearms in each county in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [25779/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (506)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:506. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people arrested for burglaries in each county in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [25780/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (507)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:507. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people arrested for drug offences in each county in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [25781/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (508)
Patrick Costello
Question:508. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 30 March 2023, if he will provide an update on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25785/23]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
The costs incurred relate to the production and delivery of IRP cards nationwide. IRP cards are posted to applicants registered home address using An Posts non-registered express post services for those attending at the Registration office Burgh Quay. For applicants registering at a Local Garda station IRP cards are posted to the relevant Garda station for collection by the applicant.
|
Year |
Cost of IRP Cards |
|
2013 |
€1,691,681 |
|
2014 |
€3,349,672 |
|
2015 |
€2,012,495 |
|
2016 |
€2,101,751 |
|
2017 |
€975,102 |
|
2018 |
€2,123,841 |
|
2019 |
€2,643,863 |
|
2020 |
€1,750,932 |
|
2021 |
€2,147,090 |
|
2022 |
€2,486,038 |
The Deputy may wish to note:
• The lower figure in 2017 is mainly attributed to;
• A transition period between card suppliers and the costs associated with this were significantly lower than in other years.
• No project costs in this year that there were applicable in prior and subsequent years.
• The lower figure in 2020 is attributed to the reduced number of applications processed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Some postal costs that may not directly be attributed to the creating and issuing of IRP cards may be included in the figures for each year as they could not be separated out.
Legislative Measures
Questions (509)
Paul Donnelly
Question:509. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice if he has plans to update the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. [25867/23]
View answerWritten answers
The legislation in question is kept under ongoing review by my Department.
More specifically, the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, which is currently before the Seanad, will amend the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 . The amendments will introduce certain reforms to the naturalisation process for children born in Ireland to parents who are not Irish citizens and to the ‘continuous residence’ requirement for all persons applying for naturalisation. They will also set out clear procedures that will apply where a citizenship application is made on behalf of a child.
The Bill will provide a shorter pathway to citizenship for children born in the State by reducing the residency requirement from 5 years to 3 years.
Departmental Staff
Questions (510)
Paul Donnelly
Question:510. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of WTE immigration officials, by grade, employed by his Department working in Dublin Airport as of 23 May 2023; the number of vacancies by grade; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [25868/23]
View answerWritten answers
The table below sets out the figures relating to the number of immigration officials working at Dublin Airport.
|
Grade |
Employed |
Vacancies |
|
AP |
1 |
0 |
|
HEO (Immigration Control Manager Grade) |
6 |
0 |
|
EO (Immigration Control Supervisor Grade) |
18 |
0 |
|
CO (Immigration Control Officer Grade) |
136 |
15 |
|
Total |
161 |
15 |
There is currently an Immigration Control Officer (ICO) panel in place, with a number candidates in clearance due to start in the coming weeks. We are continuing to engage with the Public Appointments Service to fill the remaining ICO vacancies.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (511)
Paul Donnelly
Question:511. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the capital budget allocation to An Garda Síochána in 2022; the amount of that capital budget allocation that was spent in 2022; and the capital budget allocation for An Garda Síochána in 2023, in tabular form. [25869/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is accountable for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. Additionally, works on the Garda Estate are progressed by the OPW, working in close cooperation with the Garda authorities.
The below table provides details as requested by the Deputy.
|
Capital allocation |
€000 |
|
Original 2022 Garda capital budget |
146,500 |
|
2022 Garda capital supplementary |
25,074 |
|
2022 spend |
171,214 |
|
2023 Garda capital budget (as published in Revised Estimates) |
183,000 |
I am also informed that the €183 million 2023 allocation includes €100 million for Garda ICT, €50 million for the Garda Capital Building Programme, €11.5 million for Transport & Communications, and €21.5 million for aircraft.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (512)
Paul Donnelly
Question:512. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda command and control vehicles in use as of 23 May 2023; and the corresponding figures as of 1 January 2021, in tabular form. [25870/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (513)
Paul Donnelly
Question:513. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the costs incurred by An Garda Síochána from policing the visit of the President of the United States in April 2023. [25871/23]
View answerWritten answers
In terms of the cost associated with the visit to Ireland of President Biden, the Deputy will appreciate that there is an obligation on the State to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of every visiting dignitary, in line with risk assessment. Similar measures and courtesies are as a matter of course also extended to Ireland, when members of Government travel on official visits to other States.
I am sure the Deputy will also appreciate, given the short time frame since the Presidential visit to Ireland, the Garda authorities are not in a position to provide final costings at this time, as further detail on final costs are yet to be received. The final figures will become more clear in the coming months as payments are processed to completion.
Immigration Status
Questions (514)
Bernard Durkan
Question:514. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the options available to a person (details supplied) to regularise their status given that they have been refused by the undocumented scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25932/23]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme by the person referred to by the Deputy was refused on 18 May 2023.
It remains open to the person concerned to appeal this decision. The decision letter and the Immigration Service website contain detailed information on how to submit an appeal.
If the person concerned chooses not to appeal, or their appeal is unsuccessful, their file will be referred to the Arrangements Unit as there is a valid deportation order against them.
It is also open to the person to submit a request pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) seeking to have their deportation order revoked.
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.
Childcare Services
Questions (515)
Carol Nolan
Question:515. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if his Department assists with, or makes a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff members of any grade or position; if so, the names of the providers; the costs incurred for the period 2020 to date in 2023; the number of staff who have availed of such assistance over this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25977/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not have the facilities or make a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff.
My Department does, however, actively support family friendly initiatives such as flexible working hours, shorter working year and blended working.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Questions (516)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:516. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the total spend allocated to Tusla under the third Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy for capital works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26054/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under Budget 2023 an extra €9m was secured for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, a 22pc increase. The €9m includes increased funding of just under €7million (€6.88m) for organisations funded by Tusla.
Funding of €5.75m is being provided to maintain and support current DSGBV service provision, which includes a 6pc across the board uplift to address service sustainability and cost pressures. Additionally, €1.13m is being provided to support new service developments around domestic violence accommodation.
Funding allocations were based on engagement with the DSGBV sector and priorities set out in the Third National Strategy which was launched by Minister McEntee last June.
In total, Tusla has been allocated approximately €37m for DSGBV services in 2023. Funding from Tusla supports the ongoing revenue costs of operating refuges and providing support services.
The Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government provides capital funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for the development of refuge spaces, including for those immediate priority places to be delivered as per the Third National Strategy. As such, questions on capital funding should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government.
As the Deputy will be aware, a new Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency, under the remit of my Department, will be established in January 2024. The new agency will continue to work closely with the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government to support organisations in advancing plans to provide additional refuge places.