Written Answers Nos. 442-456
442. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 512 of 30 May 2023, if the necessary information from the Garda authorities has been supplied in order to have this PQ answered. [29432/23]
View answerThe Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy asked the number of Garda command and control vehicles in use as of 23 May 2023; and the corresponding figures as of 1 January 2021. The information requested was not available at the time to answer the Deputy.
I am now informed by the Garda authorities that there were four vehicles in use by Command and Control on 1 January 2021, and that figure remains unchanged as of 30 April 2023.
The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.
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 the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am advised that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.
443. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of WTE staff, by grade, working in her Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay as of 13 June 2023, in tabular form. [29433/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department’s Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering and renewing immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Registrations outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network.
Details on the number of WTE staff, by grade, working in my Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay as of 13 June 2023 are provided in tabular form below.
|
Grade |
Number of Officers |
WTE |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
2 |
|
Executive Officer |
5 |
5 |
|
Clerical Officer |
34 |
32.2 |
|
Grand Total |
42 |
40.2 |
444. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice if she is satisfied with the level of compliance by persons (details supplied) who are subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; how many convicted sex offenders travelling to Ireland from another country, EU and non-EEA, that have been prosecuted for breaching these conditions for the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29440/23]
View answerI have asked An Garda Síochána to provide any information of relevance to the Deputy’s question. I will contact the Deputy once An Garda Síochána have responded to my request.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 444 of 20 June 2023 asking about satisfaction with the level compliance by persons (details supplied) who are subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; how many convicted sex offenders travelling to Ireland from another country, EU and non-EEA, that have been prosecuted for breaching these conditions for the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied: Persons entering the state from another jurisdiction, either EU or Non-EU country, that have failed to notify Garda of their details when entering Ireland) You will recall that at the time I contacted An Garda Síochána to request the information relevant to the question posed and I undertook to write to you as soon as the information is to hand.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has responsibility for monitoring persons convicted of sexual offences who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. This figure does not include offenders currently in prison and outside the jurisdiction.
The Garda National Protective Services Bureau have a dedicated unit, the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit (SOMIU) who have National Governance on the management of Registered Sex Offenders and liaise on a daily basis with Nominated Divisional Inspectors and their teams from around the country with regard to maintaining records and the monitoring at a local level of offenders.
Currently there are 1793 people recorded at the Sex Offenders Management and Intelligence Unit who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.
Any person who is subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 is required by the provisions of Section 10 (1) of the Act to notify a member of An Garda Síochána of their intention to reside at a specified location. Failing to notify a member of An Garda Síochána of their intention to reside at that specified location within seven days of entering the country or being released from prison or who moves address within or intend to leave this jurisdiction constitutes an offence under Section 12 (1)(a and (3) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 as amended by Section 13 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008.
Section 13 of The Sex Offenders Act 2001 places notification requirements on offenders from other jurisdictions who enter into the Republic of Ireland.
Where An Garda Síochána becomes aware that an offender subject to the notification requirements has breached those requirements, appropriate action is taken, including circulation through PULSE of their information, as well as inquiries to identify their current whereabouts and all breaches of the requirements which come to notice are pursued.
I am informed that as there were fewer than 10 charges or summons created where the associated offence was “Contravene a Sex Order Contrary to Section 22 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001” in any of the given years 2021, 2022 and in 2023 to date, there are, therefore, too few to report. This refers to all breaches, as there is no offence code specific to offenders originating from another country available in PULSE.
445. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the implementation of circular 25/2016 by each State body under the aegis of her Department; and if she will provide, in tabular form, by State agency, the compliance with each of the standards and timelines set out in responding to Oireachtas Members’ queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29479/23]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
446. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice if she has discussed with the Garda Commissioner the ongoing blight of anti-social behaviour and assaults on Dublin city centre’s streets. [29486/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and a number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government and Justice Plan 2023 to reduce instances of such behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities. Justice Plan 2023, published earlier this year, will continue my Department’s focused commitment to working with An Garda Síochána, local communities and wider society to eliminate such behaviour and support community safety into the future.
Some of these commitments include:
- Introducing the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill which recognises that community safety is a whole of Government responsibility.
- Progressing the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill to provide for body-worn cameras for Gardaí as well as reforming the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition and CCTV to help prevent crime and prosecute those involved in criminal activity.
- The ongoing work of the Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour. The Forum has established four sub-groups to date, which have examined issues such as the misuse of scramblers and knife crime.
- The pilot of the Dublin North Inner Local Community Safety Partnership, the aim of which is to ensure that local communities and service providers work together to identify the actions needed specific to their local community to ensure it is a safe place to live, work in and visit, through the development of a community safety plan.
- The establishment of the Community Safety Innovation Fund (CSIF), which had an initial allocation of €2 million under Budget 2022 that increased to €3 million in Budget 2023. The CSIF reinvests funds that are seized as the proceeds of crime back into communities.
- Funding of €150,000 from the CSIF for a Community Safety Warden scheme in the Wolfe Tone Park area of Dublin Inner City.
The Deputy will, however, appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for operational policing matters and that as Minister I cannot, rightly, direct the Commissioner in these independent functions. I am in regular contact with the Commissioner and am briefed on matters regarding An Garda Síochána's work.
In general terms, I can inform the Deputy that there are a number of Garda operations in place in Dublin city centre and the wider Dublin Metropolitan Region.
Since October 2021, Operation Citizen has sought to reassure the citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin city centre that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy its amenities. The aim of this operation is to deliver an enhanced high visibility policing presence in the city centre on a daily basis. This operation places a particular focus on anti-social behaviour, public order and quality of life issues, assaults and high-volume crimes, and involves increased visible policing, particularly at key locations.
The Garda authorities also launched Operation Saul to further support, enhance and strengthen the strategic and operational objectives of Operation Citizen. The aim of Operation Saul is to provide a safe environment for commuters utilising public transport services in the DMR.
In addition, Operation Irene aims to combat under-age alcohol consumption and the consumption of alcohol in public places in the DMR, in a targeted operation through the enforcement of legislation regulating the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol and other associated legislation.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that Operation Limmat is the DMR’s assault in public and public order reduction strategy. Operation Limmat promotes a pro-arrest and early-investigation approach to incidents of assault, together with driving high-visibility policing in public places to act as a deterrent to prevent and reduce assaults and public order offences in the DMR.
The Deputy will also be aware that a new Garda Station at 13A O'Connell Street was opened in March and that this facility supports and enhances the existing policing service in Dublin city centre. The station provides a range of Garda services to the public and also acts as a base for members on a number of key Garda Operations running in the city centre, notably Operation Citizen.
447. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 885 of 13 June 2023, the overall value of overtime payments paid to members of An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive and to date in 2023. [29609/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Act, and is responsible for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am advised that information relating to overtime expenditure by An Garda Síochána is publicly available, in the interests of transparency, at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/freedom-of-information/publication-scheme/budgets-and-spending/overtime-reports.html
To be of assistance to the Deputy I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the overtime paid to Garda members for the years 2018 - 2022 and to the end of May 2023 (the latest date for when information is available).
Figures are operational and subject to change.
|
Year |
Garda Member Overtime Expenditure |
|
2018 |
€117.05m |
|
2019 |
€105.90m |
|
2020 |
€97.86m* |
|
2021 |
€112.52m* |
|
2022 |
€127.72m |
|
2023 |
€78.76m** |
*Includes overtime for policing operations related to public health restrictions in place as part of State's response to COVID-19 emergency.
**Figure to 31 May, increased expenditure related to the visit of the President of the United States, Joe Biden.
448. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice when the review into the discontinued Immigrant Investor Programme will be completed and published. [29630/23]
View answer449. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice to list the countries from which non-EU citizens made applications for the discontinued Immigrant Investor Programme; and the number from each country who applied, were granted or refused residency rights along with their spouses and children since its inception in 2012. [29631/23]
View answer450. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice how many of the successful Immigrant Investor Programme applicants invested the minimum of over €1 million in a business in Ireland, or a minimum of €500,000 in a charity; and how much money was involved annually since the scheme began in 2012. [29632/23]
View answer451. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice to list the businesses and charities that benefitted from the Immigrant Investor Programme since its inception in 2012 to date. [29633/23]
View answer452. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number of the potential beneficiaries of the Immigrant Investor Programme scheme she met personally in advance of a decision being made on their applications to the scheme, or those who would benefit from same. [29634/23]
View answer453. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice what exact role she played in overseeing or signing-off on the granting of residency to Immigrant Investment Programme applicants, their spouses and children. [29635/23]
View answer454. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number/percentage of Immigrant Investment Programme applicants who were female. [29636/23]
View answer455. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice the counties, the businesses and charities which benefitted from investment of funds as a consequence of the Immigrant Investment Programme since its inception in 2012. [29637/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 to 455, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The IIP Unit has published a FAQ concerning the closure on my Department's website, which will be updated with any further arising questions from the closure, and is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/faqs-closure-of-the-immigrant-investor-programme-iip/
In 2017 the Irish Government Economics and Evaluation Service (IGEES) completed a systemic review of the IIP and an audit of the Programme completed in 2019 recommended an external review. Following a tender process, an external review was carried out by EY. My Department will shortly publish the reviews onto my Department's website; www.irishimmigration.ie.
I can confirm that I did not meet any applicant to the IIP regarding their IIP application.
All projects in which IIP applicants are investing are examined in detail by an Independent Evaluation Committee comprising officials from my Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland who have appropriate expertise in this area.
This examination process involves an assessment of the commercial viability of the project; employment outcomes associated with the proposed investment; and the overall benefit to the Irish State. The Committee makes a determination as to whether a project is suitable for IIP investment and if deemed suitable, the individual application will be submitted to the Minister for final approval.
1,788 applications have been successful under the IIP to mid-June 2023 with the value of investments approved almost €1.3bn. The table below provides a breakdown of IIP primary applicants approved by nationality since the inception of the programme to the middle of June 2023. Only very occasionally will the nationality of a dependent family member differ from that of the primary applicant. The vast majority of IIP beneficiaries require a visa to enter the State, with the exception of the USA and South Africa.
Statistics are not maintained in such a way as to provide the information on all IIP residence permissions, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Nationality |
Applications approved |
|
China |
1,677 |
|
USA |
36 |
|
Vietnam |
14 |
|
Rest of the World |
61 |
|
TOTAL |
1,788 |
The tables below provides a breakdown of IIP applications received, approved and the value of investments since the inception of the programme to 19 June 2023.
|
Year |
Applications received |
Approved applications |
Value of Approved Investment |
|
2012 |
5 |
2 |
1,500,000 |
|
2013 |
18 |
16 |
12,200,000 |
|
2014 |
30 |
5 |
2,950,000 |
|
2015 |
75 |
70 |
38,300,000 |
|
2016 |
334 |
33 |
18,750,000 |
|
2017 |
324 |
369 |
250,700,000 |
|
2018 |
423 |
155 |
138,750,000 |
|
2019 |
443 |
237 |
209,300,000 |
|
2020 |
339 |
270 |
188,000,000 |
|
2021 |
258 |
264 |
185,700,000 |
|
2022 |
1316 |
306 |
205,900,000 |
|
2023 YtD (19 June) |
1492 |
61 |
41,800,000 |
|
Total |
5057 |
1788 |
1,293,850,000 |
*Approvals issued in any year may relate to applications which were received in previous years due to the time taken to process applications.
|
Investment Type |
Total Applications Approved |
Total Value of Investment |
|
Enterprise |
901 |
765,200,000 |
|
Investment Fund |
247 |
229,000,000 |
|
REIT |
6 |
12,000,000 |
|
Endowment |
578 |
233,700,000 |
|
Bond & Mixed Investment |
56 |
53,950,000 |
|
TOTAL |
1788 |
1,293,850,000 |
456. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice is she aware of a charity (details supplied) in Kells, County Meath, which was a beneficiary of the Immigrant Investment Programme; if she is aware that a magazine has highlighted issues in relation to the appropriateness of her adjudicating on that application and more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29638/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The IIP Unit has published a FAQ concerning the closure on my Department's website, which will be updated with any further arising questions from the closure, and is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/faqs-closure-of-the-immigrant-investor-programme-iip/
As Minister, I do not comment on individual IIP applications.
My Department is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their own merits and will endeavour to conclude all decisions in a timely manner. However, given the exceptionally large number of applications on hand, it is not possible at this time to give an indication as to when individual applications will receive a decision.
