Tuesday, 13 Jun 2023

Written Answers Nos. 870-885

Prison Service

Questions (870)

Pa Daly

Question:

870. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the projected yearly cost to the Prison Service of housing a single prisoner. [27350/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2022 was €84,067, a 4.6% increase on the 2021 cost of €80,335

The figure includes all elements of net expenditure incurred to the Irish Prison Service vote within the year, (such as salaries, utilities/maintenance, ICT, services provided to prisoners including education, healthcare, work training etc.) and excludes capital expenditure on buildings and vehicle purchases.

The main reasons for the increase over the 2021 figure is due to increased variable costs due to increases in payroll costs due to National Wage Agreements, increased prisoner numbers and increased capacity.

International Protection

Questions (871)

Pa Daly

Question:

871. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the projected cost of doubling funding to the International Protection Office and International Protection Appeals Tribunal. [27352/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy may be aware, the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) was established in December 2016 in accordance with section 61 of the International Protection Act 2015.

The Tribunal is a statutorily independent body, and exercises a quasi-judicial function. Accordingly, and in keeping with statutorily independent body status, a separate budget is maintained within my Department's core accounting systems, from which the bulk of its costs are met.

In 2023 €6m was provided for IPAT, doubling funding would amount to €12m.

The International Protection Office (IPO) is an integral part of my Department and accordingly, many of its core running costs are embedded across the wider Department. As such a separate and distinct comprehensive budget figure is not readily available.

However, I can advise the Deputy that as part of Estimates 2023, I secured €16m in additional targeted funding to support the work undertaken by the IPO, doubling same would result in €32m in such funding.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (872)

Pa Daly

Question:

872. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 25 May 2023, the projected cost of doubling funding for Garda diversion programmes and extending the programmes' eligibility criteria to include those who are aged 25 years. [27354/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. Youth Diversion Projects are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

A top priority is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the Youth Diversion Projects, which are fully funded by my Department. These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protect local communities.

In Budget 2023, a further €2.5 million in funding was allocated to youth justice services, increasing the total budget allocation for the YDPs and other youth justice projects to €30.24 million per annum. This funding will be deployed with the assistance of the best available research and expert evidence to keep young people away from crime. The cost of doubling such funding would therefore amount to €30.24m per annum.

The consultation on diverting young adults, aged 18-24, away from entry into the wider criminal justice system closed in January and my Department is currently considering the results with a view to developing proposals. I can inform the Deputy that the likely costs involved in a young adult diversion scheme will have to be quantified as an integral part of the development process.

I can also inform the Deputy that there is scope for cost savings to the exchequer arising from such a scheme through a reduction in the requirement for DPP, court and prison resources over the longer term. Until further analysis has been done on both the cost estimates and the anticipated scope for cost savings, it is not possible to provide an estimate at this time of the cost to extend eligibility to this cohort.

Crime Prevention

Questions (873, 882)

Pa Daly

Question:

873. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the cost of establishing a homicide review board within her Department, including designated office space and administrative support. [27360/23]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

882. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the actions she will take following publication of the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews. [27502/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 873 and 882 together.

The Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews addresses a very difficult but very important subject.

Most of us cannot begin to understand the impact of something like this unless we have lived through it and I would like to express my gratitude to the families who engaged in the process leading up this report and for giving of themselves and their time.

We really needed to hear that lived experience to understand where the system is working and, more importantly, where it is not working.

Fundamentally, of course, we want to try to prevent such incidents from happening as much as possible. But, where they can’t be prevented, we want to ensure the whole system responds appropriately to ensure that individuals and communities are supported.

The report itself is comprehensive and far reaching, containing a large number of recommendations of varying degrees of complexity. A number are already being progressed through my Department’s work to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims. Others will require further examination by three new groups that will assist in taking this work forward.

A cross functional Interdepartmental Group (IDG) will now be established by my Department to examine how to bring forward, if suitable, other recommendations contained in the study, including through our implementation of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) Strategy.

In addition, and to assist in the examination of cross-cutting recommendations, a small advisory group of relevant NGOs will be established for consultation as part of the implementation process.

I have also committed to an advisory committee drawn from the families of victims who will work with my Department on the recommendations. There are recommendations that will require us to work with the families to see how we can deliver what the intention behind the recommendation was in a way that works for everyone and I look forward to continued engagement with the families as we progress this.

In relation to reviews, the most important issue relates to the timing and purpose of such a review and ensuring that the objective of the recommendation is achieved without impacting on other investigative processes that must happen. This will require careful examination and it would not be possible to provide any estimate of costs at this stage.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (874)

Pa Daly

Question:

874. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the cost of training an additional 3,000 gardaí in the Competency-Based Driver (CBD) Level 2 course in 2023. [27363/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister I play no role in such matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 90 CBD2 training courses envisaged under the Garda College Training Plan for 2023. I understand that there will be 10 participants for each course and that the estimated non-pay cost is €55,300 for the related 900 training places in 2023.

I am advised that there are also travel/subsistence, facilities maintenance, administrative and supervisory costs involved with the delivery of these courses, however the financial systems within the Garda College are not capable of providing this level of granularity.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (875)

Pa Daly

Question:

875. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing an additional three staff members to Garda DPSUs per annum. [27364/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed.

As the deputy will be aware, there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.

This is to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

I have been advised by the Commissioner that the estimated annual payroll cost for three additional detective Garda to Garda DPSUs is approximately €196,000.

This is inclusive of the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances and employer’s PRSI.

I have been further advised that this salary is estimated using the midpoint of the current Garda rank salary scale and that there may be additional costs for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard time are not included.

Future pension costs and non-pay related costs are also not included in the estimated figures.

Crime Prevention

Questions (876)

Pa Daly

Question:

876. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing a crime prevention officer, including administrative and technological support per annum. [27365/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Furthermore, under the provisions of the Act, the Commissioner is also the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote, and the distribution of funds to operational units from the Vote is a matter for the Commissioner. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the estimated cost of providing one crime prevention officer is approximately €82,000 per annum. This includes the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances, employer’s PRSI, technology equipment and licensing.

I am further advised that salary costs are estimated using the midpoint of the current Garda Sergeant salary scale. There may be additional costs for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard briefing time are not included. Future pension costs are also not included.

I am informed that there is no cost breakdown available for specific administrative support costs for crime prevention officers.

I am also informed that, generally, crime prevention officers may require support material when engaging with groups and members of the public such as leaflets/reading material and merchandise with regard to ongoing campaigns or community engagement, for example Bloom, the National Ploughing Championships and various days of action. The costs for such material is not included in the estimate provided above.

Crime prevention officers also receive data analysis support from the Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS), with the level of input varying on a case by case basis, and such costs are also not included above.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (877)

Pa Daly

Question:

877. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the cost of GDPR and data protection training for at least four members of An Garda Síochána per district headquarters. [27366/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is difficult to provide one estimate to the question given the variety of learning options, both internal and external that are available.

The duration and format are significant factors in the costing of any proposed training course. Some other factors that will impact costing include:

• number of days training,

• subsistence cost,

• extraction cost (replacement members on overtime),

• cost of external providers,

• cost of regional venues and

• Garda Instructors, etc.

The Garda College does not currently provide a GDPR and data protection training course for members by District.

External training provided in this area and incorporated into the training plan includes an Advanced Diploma in Data Protection, a bespoke Data Protection in Law Enforcement course and specialist courses in Data Protection Audits and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).

Internal training and awareness raising is also provided by the An Garda Síochána Data Protection Unit, including an overview of key elements of Data Protection legislation delivered through in person training sessions to internal networks and business areas, and incorporated as part of development courses available on the Garda College Learner Management System (LMS).

Asylum Applications

Questions (878, 879)

Carol Nolan

Question:

878. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of single male applicants who were granted asylum in each year from 2000 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27370/23]

Carol Nolan

Question:

879. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of single male applicants who were granted asylum and who were subsequently granted family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27371/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 878 and 879 together.

The International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all international protection applications received. The staff of the IPO (the Chief International Protection Officer and the International Protection Officers) are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions.

It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the information requested regarding the number of single male applicants who were granted an international protection status, and subsequently requested family reunification, as my Department does not maintain statistics in this manner.

Question No. 879 answered with Question No. 878.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (880)

Alan Dillon

Question:

880. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice to outline the current capital funding allocations from her Department to the Garda small capital works budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27430/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, funding for An Garda Síochána is provided through Vote 20, the Garda Vote and is not accounted under my Department's Vote. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and is accountable for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am advised that the 2023 allocation to the Garda Capital Building Programme is €50 million. This comprises of €39 million for the Capital Building Programme and €11 million for the Capital Refurbishment Programme. Separately, just under €5.6 million is allocated for maintenance of Garda premises.

The Deputy will also be aware that works on the Garda Estate are progressed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in close cooperation with Garda management.

International Protection

Questions (881)

John Lahart

Question:

881. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice since reform in January 2021, how many international protection applicants have sought work after six months of waiting for a decision on their international protection application; and the percentage of international protection applicants that are currently in employment. [27484/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 16,000 first labour market access permissions have been granted to date.

The waiting period for labour market access for international protection applicants was reduced to 6 months and the validity of a labour market access permission was extended to 12 months from the date of issue, with effect from 9 February 2021. The permission may be renewed until a final decision is made on the person's international protection application.

This permission gives eligible applicants the opportunity to work and helps them to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families outside of the State’s directly provided services and supports. It also helps people to plan and prepare for their future in Ireland if they receive a positive decision on their application for international protection.

From January 2021 to 31st May 2023, 11,894 first-time applications and 4,944 renewal applications have been received. In total, since 2018 6,222 separate individuals have returned at least one LMA5 form, which records that they had found employment at some point over that time. However, records are not maintained in a manner that would enable the Department to give a breakdown of persons currently in the international protection process who are in employment at this point in time.

Question No. 882 answered with Question No. 873.

International Protection

Questions (883)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

883. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection accommodated in County Donegal, broken down by townlands and from where they have come; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27504/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can inform the Deputy, as of 4 June 2023, 84,202 beneficiaries have been granted temporary protection in Ireland.

Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia:

1. Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;

2. Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example: Refugee status) or an equivalent national protection status in Ukraine and were residing there before 24 February 2022;

3. Family members of persons covered by a) and b), where their family already existed in Ukraine, prior to 24 February.

Family members include a spouse or partner, unmarried minor children of either of them, and their other close dependent family relatives who have been living with them as part of the family unit before 24 February 2022.

My Department does not hold the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of the regions of Ukraine that those arriving to claim Temporary Protection have travelled from.

I can also advise the Deputy that queries in relation to location of accommodation for temporary protection applicants are appropriate to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (884)

Emer Higgins

Question:

884. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice if a dedicated Garda liaison officer exists to investigate complaints of assault against taxi drivers and to liaise generally with the taxi industry on safety matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27530/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including Garda HR matters and the investigation of crime. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

An Garda Síochána is fully committed to investigating all incidents of crime and public disorder which occur on public transport networks, including taxis, and ensuring that all policing activity is victim centred.

I am informed that there is no unique reporting mechanism available to taxi drivers other than the standard reporting channels, information on which is available here: www.garda.ie/en/victim-services/reporting-a-crime-faqs/.

All reports regarding criminal offences should be reported to local Gardaí as soon as possible, whether by contacting 999/112 or by visiting the closest Garda station. A declaration of theft can also be made through the Garda website.

I am also informed that An Garda Síochána does engage with representatives of the taxi industry through the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, this forum does not provide a separate method through which all taxi drivers can report individual incidents for investigation. A Superintendent from the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau is the Garda Representative for this Committee.

Crime Prevention Officers are located in each Division and can provide Crime Prevention and Safety advice to all, including Taxi Drivers, as part of their role. Details of Divisional Crime Prevention Officers can be located on the Garda website here: Who is my local Crime Prevention Officer? - Garda (www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/who-is-my-local-crime-prevention-officer-/).

In addition to the advice that can be provided by local Crime Prevention Officers, there are a number of crime prevention leaflets which are available to the public and accessible on the Garda Website.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (885)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

885. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 23 May 2023, the overall value of overtime payments paid to members of An Garda Síochána in administrative posts in each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive and to date in 2023. [27567/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 23 May 2023 asked "the number of members of An Garda Síochána, by grade and by division, in administrative posts who are in receipt of overtime payments; and the value of those payments from 2018 to 2023 inclusive, in tabular form."

As advised to the Deputy in response to Question No. 533 of 23 May, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they do not hold specific records in the overtime reporting system on the role of the recipient. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the requested information as requested by the Deputy.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes the compilation and accuracy of all internal Garda Human Resources information. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions and am unable to seek to direct the Commissioner in any matter related to same.