Written Answers Nos. 241-260
241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an oral hearing can be arranged in respect of appeal against a decision to refuse disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26982/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a disability allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 May 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.
When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
On receipt of the papers the Deputy's request for an oral hearing will be brought to the attention of the Appeals Officer. The regulations governing appeals provide that it is a matter for the Appeals Officer to decide whether an oral hearing is necessary or whether an appeal can be decided by way of summary decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
242. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice if she will confirm the progress that has been made to date in respect of having a single application process, both for employment permits and entry visa applications; if an interdepartmental group has been established between her Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26829/23]
View answerWork is underway to reform the current system whereby employment permits and immigration permissions are dealt with separately, with a view to improving the user experience and enhancing Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting skilled migrant workers. The Government agreed in principle late last year that a single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions should be developed and that an Inter Departmental Working Group should be established to develop an implementation plan for consideration by Government.
Membership of the Interdepartmental Working Group comprises representatives from the Department of Justice; the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the Department of Social Protection; the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; the Department of the Taoiseach and an Garda Síochána.
The Inter-departmental Working Group is examining the operational, policy and legal considerations of simplifying the process for employment permits and immigration permissions to improve on timelines to secure critical skill workers. The first meeting of the Working Group took place in March 2023 with a view to reporting back to government with an implementations plan and associated timelines later this year. The Working Group’s report will also allow Government to consider opting-in to the recast EU Single Permit Directive at a future date.
243. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the amounts paid to legal practitioners, including firms and individuals, in descending amounts, under the provisions of free legal aid since 1 January 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26764/23]
View answerIt is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services.
The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of criminal legal aid on application by the defence in court. My Department has no role in the granting of criminal legal aid or in the appointment of legal practitioners to a case but is responsible for the payment of fees and expenses to the legal practitioners.
The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional right that legal aid must be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. The Criminal Legal Aid Schemes are demand-led and the fees and expenses due to legal practitioners are paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the schemes. Criminal legal aid services are provided by private legal practitioners who have notified the relevant authority of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work.
In relation to payments made under the criminal legal aid schemes, I have provided a list of payments made for the years requested in the attached.
Civil legal aid and advice is provided for qualifying individuals in civil matters which are those that concern non-criminal disputes between individuals or organisations. Civil legal aid and advice is granted through the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, which is administered by the Legal Aid Board.
The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2017.
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I made enquiries with the Legal Aid Board and have been provided with information detailing all payments to legal practitioners by the Legal Aid Board for the years in question. This information is also attached below.
Legal Aid Board payments to private practitioners 2020-2023
Criminal Legal Aid Earnings 2020
244. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of reported cases made to An Garda Síochána with respect to financial fraud; the number of cases investigated with respect to same; the number of cases closed with conviction with respect to same; the value of money recovered with respect to same in each of the years 2016 to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26800/23]
View answer245. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of reported cases made to An Garda Síochána with respect to authorised push payment fraud; the number of cases investigated with respect to same; the number of cases closed with conviction with respect to same; the value of money recovered with respect to same in each of the years 2016 to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26801/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.
Every person in Ireland deserves to feel safe and to be safe when they conduct their personal business online or over the phone, and so the practice of trying to trick people out of their personal information or hard-earned money is not tolerated.
Combatting and preventing various types of fraudulent crime falls under the remit of several Departments and agencies. I can assure the Deputy that these crimes are not taken lightly by this Government, or by Gardaí, who are committed to tackling this form of crime, which particularly targets vulnerable people and businesses.
As the Deputy will be aware, by law the investigation of crime is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in these matters.
I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. The 2023 budget for An Garda Síochána provides funding of over €2 billion. This level of funding will support the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda members and 400 new Garda staff this year.
I am informed that there has been a 21% increase in resourcing provided to Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) since the end of 2020, up from 95 to a total of 115 at the end of April 2023. I am also informed that GNECB is also providing training and support to all Garda Divisions in how to investigate fraud.
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I sought the requested information from An Garda Síochána and I am informed that the count of reported incidents annually for each of the requested incident types listed on PULSE under the Fraud/Economic crime category is as follows:
|
Incident Type |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Accommodation Fraud |
232 |
229 |
276 |
382 |
|
Account Take Over Fraud |
362 |
551 |
3565 |
2389 |
|
Card Not Present Fraud |
610 |
545 |
3778 |
1548 |
|
Deception/Other |
3123 |
2784 |
3973 |
3129 |
|
False Pretences |
- |
* |
- |
* |
|
Falsification of Accounts |
13 |
* |
* |
- |
|
Investment Fraud |
50 |
141 |
253 |
179 |
|
Phishing/Vishing/Smishing Frauds |
320 |
480 |
2300 |
1653 |
|
Romance Fraud |
36 |
44 |
86 |
66 |
|
Shopping/Online Auction Fraud |
414 |
704 |
815 |
694 |
The data is provided from 2019 onwards, as most of these fraud/economic crime incident types were introduced in PULSE during late 2018. Zero values are indicated with a (-) and counts less than 10 are indicated with an (*).
Information in relation to the number of convictions under these incident types is not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile.
246. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons convicted of breaching domestic violence orders; the number of cases which resulted in jail terms for the perpetrators in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [26816/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, 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 direct response.
247. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons convicted of coercive control in 2019, 2020 and 2021, 2022 and 2023. [26817/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, 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 direct response.
248. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the number of domestic violence refuge spaces in 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26818/23]
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.
249. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the number of domestic violence refuge spaces made available since Government formation to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26819/23]
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.
250. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice how many people took part in restorative justice delivered by the Probation Service in 2022; the outcomes of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26838/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that at present, restorative justice is delivered by the Probation Service both pre-sentence and post-sentence; by An Garda Síochána, within the Garda Youth Diversion Programme; and by Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) that receive referrals at specific points in the criminal justice process.
There are two projects in receipt of Probation Service funding that provide dedicated restorative justice interventions in response to requests from the Court. The Restorative Justice Service in the Greater Dublin Area and Restorative Justice in the Community in the Laois, Offaly and Tipperary region. A number of other projects also provide restorative justice interventions as part of a wider suite of services to offenders.
Restorative justice may be considered as a sanction in itself or it may complement other legislative sanctions. There are a number of restorative justice models including Family/Restorative Conferences, Offender Reparation Panel, Victim-Offender Mediation and Bespoke Restorative Justice Interventions.
In Budget 2023, the Probation Service was allocated additional funding to support the development of capacity in CBOs to facilitate restorative justice services.
I am advised by the Probation Service that the figures below outline the number of restorative justice referrals received by the Probation Service and Probation-funded CBOs in 2022.
|
Cornmarket Project |
10 |
|
Le Chéile Mentoring |
12 |
|
Probation Service – Young Persons Probation¹ |
* |
|
Probation Service – Adult² |
63 |
|
Restorative Justice in the Community |
88 |
|
Restorative Justice Services³ |
240 |
* Data not displayed in accordance with Statistical Disclosure control to ensure that individuals are protected against disclosure.
¹ Plus 1 pre-sentence report/restorative justice request
² Figures likely partial due to manual collation process
³ Figures gathered manually
I am further advised by the Probation Service, that the data given above relates to number of referrals, and does not necessarily correlate to the number of persons. Due to limitations with existing IT systems, the Probation Service does not currently capture the volume of restorative justice interventions used in adult and juvenile cases. The Service has recognised the need to advance data and ITC capability as a strategic priority for the organisation and is working with my Department to develop plans to meet these objectives over the coming year.
251. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice how many people availed of the drugs treatment court, per location in 2022; the outcomes of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26839/23]
View answerManagement 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: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Figures of this nature are recorded by the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.
252. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the average percentage of bed capacity used in Irish prisons, by male and female in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26840/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, prison governors are required to accept into custody everyone committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
In addition to the numbers committed by the courts, other factors can impact on the spaces available on any given day. This includes cells being unavailable for different reasons such as repairs and maintenance or where local management assess an individual as being unsuited to share a cell for reasons of vulnerability or propensity to violence and a cell designated as being operationally suitable for two people may, temporarily, house only one.
While increases in prisoner population result in challenges within certain committal prisons, the Irish Prison Service takes all possible steps to alleviate the situation through a combination of inter-prison transfers and other contingency measures.
Officials in the Irish Prison Service work closely with the Governors of affected prisons to alleviate capacity issues, by identifying prisoners who may be suitable for transfer to other prisons or prisoners who may be suitable for structured early release.
The Deputy will also be aware that new female wing of Limerick Prison which is expected to be in operation in July 2023 will provide 22 additional female cell spaces.
The attached table shows the average percentage of bed capacity used in Irish prisons in 2022.
|
Institution |
Average Bed Capacity at Year end |
Average In Custody |
% Bed Capacity |
|
Arbour Hill |
138 |
131 |
95% |
|
Castlerea |
340 |
320 |
94% |
|
Cloverhill |
431 |
424 |
98% |
|
Cork |
296 |
262 |
89% |
|
Limerick (f) |
28 |
34 |
121% |
|
Limerick (m) |
210 |
208 |
99% |
|
Loughan House |
140 |
106 |
76% |
|
Midlands |
875 |
861 |
98% |
|
Mountjoy (f) |
146 |
139 |
95% |
|
Mountjoy (m) |
755 |
718 |
95% |
|
Portlaoise |
280 |
217 |
78% |
|
Shelton Abbey |
115 |
94 |
82% |
|
Training Unit |
96 |
53 |
55% |
|
Wheatfield |
610 |
555 |
91% |
|
Total |
4,460 |
4,122 |
92% |
253. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice how many people are on waiting lists for mental health treatment in Irish prisons in 2022; the average waiting period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26841/23]
View answerThe Irish Prison Psychology Service provides an integrated service to people in custody. Specifically, this means the Psychology Service is responsible for both mental health and criminogenic (offence related) assessment and interventions. Irish Prison Service Psychologists are qualified mental health practitioners and the largest body of mental health professionals employed directly by the Irish Prison Service.
The Psychology Service works primarily through a layered care model, providing primary, secondary and tertiary level mental health care to people in custody. A layered care model provides clients with access to a variety of responses, from minimal interventions such as whole population approaches with the Red Cross and primary care mental health interventions, to more specialist mental health and personality disorder treatments. A layered care model is slightly different to a stepped care model in that it recognises that many people require a variety of interventions at different intensities to meet their needs and enables clinicians and clients to construct their own individual treatment package.
In 2022, 2,259 people were referred to the Irish Prison Service Psychology Service. At any one time approximately 60% of referrals to the Psychology Service are specifically in relation to the mental health of people in custody. These referrals include: mood and anxiety disorders, neurotic and stress related disorders, disorders of personality and behaviour, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including complex PTSD, self-harm and suicidal behaviour, substance use, eating disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia, addiction, dementias, cognitive decline traumatic brain injuries, impulse disorders, and disorders of sexual preference. In addition, the Service works with people presenting with intellectual disorders and difficulties, disorders of psychological development, for example, Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and behavioural and emotional disorders with onset in childhood e.g. attention deficit (e.g. ADHD, conduct disorders, attachment disorders).
The Prison Service also collaborate with the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) to ensure the appropriate provision of psychiatric services to those in custody with a psychiatric diagnosis such as schizophrenia, psychosis and major mood disorder in all closed prisons. The NFMHS has advised that its caseload is circa 250 patients who are ordinarily in the custody of the Prison Service approximately 5.5% of the total prison population.
A waiting list for the admission of prisoners to the CMH is operated by the NFMHS and is reviewed on a weekly basis. Over the last three years, the number of prisoners on the waiting list has varied between 15-25 patients. It should be noted that all prisoners placed by NFMHS consultants on the waiting list have been clinically assessed as warranting admission to the CMH, which is a tertiary care facility.
The information requested by the Deputy has been provided by the Prison Service and is set out in the table below.
Psychology Service Waitlist in 2022
|
Prison |
No. of Unique people on the Waitlist (as of 31/12/22) |
Average No. of Days on Waiting Lists in 2022 |
|
Arbour Hill |
115 |
559 |
|
Castlerea |
158 |
515 |
|
Cloverhill |
139 |
241 |
|
Cork |
249 |
229 |
|
Dochas |
85 |
153 |
|
Limerick |
170 |
226 |
|
Loughan House |
35 |
290 |
|
Midlands |
516 |
645 |
|
Mountjoy |
314 |
610 |
|
Portlaoise |
143 |
514 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
22 |
182 |
|
Training Unit |
53 |
893 |
|
Wheatfield |
260 |
432 |
|
Total |
2259 |
254. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice how many people are on waiting lists for addiction treatment in Irish prisons in 2022; the average waiting period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26842/23]
View answerThe Prison Service provides a health care service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Prison Service continues to be committed to, and predominantly involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations.
It is the policy of the Service that, where a person committed to prison gives a history of opiate use and tests positive for opioids, they are offered a medically assisted, symptomatic detoxification, if clinically indicated.
Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss other treatment options with healthcare staff; those treatment options may include stabilisation on methadone maintenance for persons who wish to continue on maintenance while in prison, and when they return to the community on release. I am further advised that while drug treatment services are provided in all closed prisons, the same type of programmes are not offered in open prisons as a condition of transfer to an open prison is that the prisoner is drug free. There is no waiting list to access the above supports.
In addition, the Irish Prison Service engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the Irish Prison Service estate. The addiction counselling service includes structured assessments and evidence-based counselling interventions, with clearly-defined treatment plans and goals.
The Irish Prison Service and MQI prioritise prisoners who are in greatest clinical need and will work closely together as part of a multidisciplinary team to manage the waiting list with team leaders, reviewing caseloads with each counsellor monthly to ensure that cases are closing appropriately.
In the larger prisons the average waiting period can be up to twelve weeks. If there are concerns raised following a medical assessment a prisoner will be prioritised. In addition, where waiting lists are high, MQI can offer group counselling as an alternative to one-to-one to give access to as many people as possible.
Those closer to release are prioritised and MQI try to identify available services in the community to ensure continuity of care and that a release plan and harm reduction information can be imparted before release.
The information requested by the Deputy on the number of prisoners who were on waiting lists to access addiction services in 2022 is set out by prison in the table below and is based on the number on the waiting list at the end of the year.
|
Prison |
Number on waiting list at end of the year |
|
Cork |
103 |
|
Limerick |
33 |
|
Midlands |
103 |
|
Portlaoise |
49 |
|
Mountjoy |
176 |
|
Dochas |
32 |
|
Loughan House |
20 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
3 |
|
Wheatfield |
181 |
|
Cloverhill |
47 |
|
Castlerea |
78 |
255. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice if consideration has been given to the introduction of domestic violence courts similar to the British model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26843/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, this Government takes a ‘Zero Tolerance’ approach to domestic, sexual and gender based violence in our society.
Last June, we launched the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, a five-year, whole of Government plan to address these heinous crimes and the attitudes that underpin them.
As part of delivering on the actions contained in this Strategy, there is an overarching goal under the prosecution pillar to “reform the operation of the family law courts to ensure victims/survivors are better protected”.
Work in this area includes research which explores the interface and interaction of civil family law, public criminal law and the child protection justice systems, with a final report launched at the start of last month.
While the introduction of domestic violence courts similar to the British model did not arise as a topic in this research, the Third National Strategy commits to explore the feasibility of appointing specialist judges for DSGBV cases. My Department will begin the scoping work on this action, in consultation with the judiciary, before the end of the year.
Work is also ongoing to establish the new family law court at Hammond Lane, and to implement as appropriate the recommendations contained in the Family Justice Strategy relating to victims/survivors of DSGBV.
The Family Justice Strategy sets out the vision for a coordinated, consistent and user-focused family justice system, which helps children and families obtain earlier, appropriate resolutions in a simpler, fairer, and more effective way. It aims to achieve this through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals.
The Strategy is foundational in nature, recognising the many issues that currently exist within the system but outlining the steps needed to move towards a family justice system that is streamlined and user-friendly, and which supports and protects children and their families.
A specific action within Goal 4 of the Family Justice Strategy focusing on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is to identify the tools and techniques that will assist people working within the family justice system to identify domestic violence and abuse, coercive control, high, conflict disputes and child protection risks ahead of engaging in ADR and disseminate widely.
Part of the Strategy, and an important element of the family justice reforms, is the Family Courts Bill 2022, which was published on the 1st of December and has completed Second Stage in the Seanad.
The Family Courts Bill will provide for the establishment of a Family Court as divisions within the existing court structures, each dealing with family law matters as appropriate to its jurisdiction.
Both the Bill and the Strategy recognise that children and families should be at the centre of the system. These initiatives mark the beginning of the reform of how our family justice system operates, to try to make it work better for everyone engaging with it, but particularly for those who need additional supports and protections, such as domestic violence victims or vulnerable parents and children.
256. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if a person whose spouse has died is eligible to apply for Irish citizenship through marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26860/23]
View answerThe Citizenship Division of my Department have advised that a person who was married to an Irish citizen but is now bereaved can apply for a Certificate of Naturalisation as a Standard Adult.
If granted naturalisation, they will pay the reduced fee of €200 for the Certificate of Naturalisation.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
257. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a full list of public bodies under the aegis of her Department; and Oireachtas contact details for each. [26916/23]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
|
Agency |
Email Address |
|
Agency |
Email Address |
|
An Garda Síochána |
Commissioner@garda.ie |
|
Criminal Assets Bureau |
info@cab.ie |
|
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (CICT) |
criminalinjuries@justice.ie |
|
Censorship of Publications Board |
info@ifco.ie |
|
Classification of Films Appeal Board |
info@ifco.ie |
|
Dublin Coroner’s Service |
dublincoroner@justice.ie |
|
Courts Service |
oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie |
|
Data Protection Commission |
oireachtasqueries@dataprotection.ie |
|
Forensic Science Ireland |
info@fsi.gov.ie |
|
Garda Síochána Inspectorate |
metoland@gsinsp.ie |
|
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission |
oireachtas@gsoc.ie |
|
Insolvency Service of Ireland |
Oireachtasmembers@isi.gov.ie |
|
International Protection Appeals Tribunal |
ipatoireachtasmail@protectionappeals.ieinfo@protectionappeals.ie |
|
Irish Film Classification Office |
info@ifco.ie |
|
Irish Prison Service |
info@irishprisons.ie |
|
Judicial Council |
info@judicialcouncil.ie |
|
Legal Aid Board |
oireachtas_enq@legalaidboard.ie |
|
Legal Services Regulatory Authority |
lsra-oir@lsra.ie |
|
Office of the Inspector of Prisons |
info@oip.ie |
|
Office of the State Pathologist |
osp@statepathology.gov.ie |
|
Parole Board |
oireachtasqueries@paroleboard.gov.ie |
|
Policing Authority |
oireachtas@policingauthority.ieinfo@policingauthority.ie |
|
Private Security Authority |
oireachtas@psa-gov.ie |
|
Probation Service |
oireachtas@probation.ie |
|
Property Services Regulatory Authority |
pq@psr.ie |
258. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 20 April 2023, the details of each time her Department, or public bodies under the aegis of her Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2022; and the purpose and value of each contract. [26932/23]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
259. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice in view of the published daily figures on the number of asylum seekers seeking international protection and temporary international protection, if she will consider publishing the figures on the number of applications processed and determine how each application came to the natural conclusion. [26934/23]
View answerThe International Protection Office publishes statistics in relation to applications received on a monthly basis. These can be viewed at:
www.ipo.gov.ie/en/ipo/pages/statistics.
In order to assist the Deputy I have included below a breakdown of final applicant decisions (2019 to date) regarding international protection applications made in the State.
A total of 5,950 decisions were made by my Department during 2022. Of this number, 2,021 decisions were a grant of international protection and 2,789 decisions were made to grant an applicant a humanitarian permission to remain.
The table below sets out the decisions made from 2019 to 2023.
Latest Decision Made per Applicant for International Protection from 2019 to April 2023*
|
Decision Year |
Refugee Status Grants |
Subsidiary Protection Grants |
Permission to Remain Grant (IPO 1st Instance/Final Decision)** |
Refusal All |
Total Decisions |
|
2019 |
951 |
163 |
421 |
1,065 |
2,600 |
|
2020 |
1,032 |
153 |
311 |
614 |
2,110 |
|
2021** |
1,105 |
95 |
1,140 |
16 |
2,356 |
|
2022*** |
1,926 |
95 |
2,789 |
1,140 |
5,950 |
|
2023 (to end of April) |
647 |
40 |
287 |
512 |
1,486 |
|
Total |
5,661 |
546 |
4,948 |
3,347 |
14,502 |
* The figures in the table above refer to the year in which the decision was made and not necessarily to the year in which the application was made.
** Due to the impact of the COVID pandemic a pause on issuing refusals was implemented and this impacted the volume of such decisions in late 2020 and all of 2021
*** The number of permission to remain grants in 2022 and 2023 includes permissions granted under the IP regularisation scheme.
Insofar as Temporary Protection for persons fleeing the conflict in Ukraine is concerned, my Department consider applications made under the Temporary Protection Directive and issues a temporary protection certificate to each eligible person. As of 21 May 2023, 82,956 people have been granted temporary protection since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
The Department is examining arrangements for further periodic publication of statistics relating to decisions made on International Protection and Temporary Protection.
260. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 440 of 9 May 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have the question answered. [26943/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of vehicles attached to Garda Dog Unit at 31 January 2021 and at 30 April 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Date |
Cars |
Vans |
4 x 4 |
Total |
|
31 January 2021 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
|
30 April 2023 |
0 |
13 |
3 |
16 |
I am assured that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.
