Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 1023-1042

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1023)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1023. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the details of Garda personnel, by rank, in the Clare-Tipperary Garda division (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56740/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. The Garda Budget is now at its highest ever level. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 will allow for sustained recruitment of between 800 to 1,000 new Garda recruits in 2024.

While I have no direct role in the assignment of Gardaí or any Garda resource, I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. This ensures that optimum use is made of resources and the best possible policing service is provided to the public.

I can inform the Deputy that as of the end of November 2023, there were 674 Garda members assigned to the Clare/Tipperary Division.

Garda members in the Clare/Tipperary Division are supported by 123 Garda staff. Garda staff provide vital administrative support and help free up Garda members to focus on front line duties.

In the interest of transparency, detailed Garda workforce figures are published on gov.ie and are  regularly updated by my Department, from information supplied by the Garda Authorities. These include a breakdown by rank of Gardaí in each station and division, as well as figures on the Garda Reserve and Probationer Gardaí.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/66833-garda-workforce/

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1024)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1024. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda personnel in the Clare-Tipperary Garda division who are suspended currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56741/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As you will appreciate, disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Clare/Tipperary division and have been advised by the Garda Authorities that figures under 10 cannot be released as it could identify the individuals involved.

For the Deputy's information, the Garda Commissioner provides monthly overall figures on persons suspended in An Garda Síochána to the independent Policing Authority. These reports are published and available at:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/commissioner-s-monthly-reports-to-policing-authority/

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1025)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1025. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda personnel in the Clare-Tipperary Garda division who are currently on restricted duties, that is station work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56742/23]

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 decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that there are currently 25 Garda personnel in the Clare/ Tipperary Division on restricted duties, which represents approximately 3.7% of the 674 assigned to the division as of 30 November 2023.

These Garda personnel are currently restricted to station work. I am also advised that such restricted duties are based on the medical advice of the Garda Chief Medical Officer.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1026)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1026. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda personnel in the Clare-Tipperary Garda division who are in specialised units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56743/23]

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 the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda Units. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review. I am advised that this is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that there are 146 Garda members assigned to specialist units in the Clare/Tipperary division.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1027)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1027. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the number of attested gardaí who work in office-based roles within the Clare-Tipperary Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56744/23]

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 decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the number of attested Gardaí who are working in office-based roles within the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division is 38.

I can also advise the Deputy that since 2015 the number of Garda staff for Clare/Tipperary has almost doubled from 63 to 123. Garda Staff perform a number of vital roles that are essential to a modern police service and increase the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on frontline policing duties.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1028)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1028. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the number of the 56 gardaí attached to Shannon Garda station who are attached to the immigration unit at Shannon Airport. [56745/23]

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 all operational policing matters. Under Section 33 of the Act, the Commissioner determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are a total of 12 members in the Immigration Unit at Shannon Airport, all of whom are of the ranks of Detective Garda or Detective Sergeant. All 12 members attached to the Airport are included among  the 56 members assigned to Shannon Garda Station.

Courts Service

Questions (1029)

Alan Farrell

Question:

1029. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on her Department's engagement with An Garda Síochána on the court presenter allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56769/23]

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 allowances paid to members, is in the first instance a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, and neither I nor my Department can direct the Commissioner regarding these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is a court presenter allowance, payable only to Sergeants who undertake this task. This allowance is not currently under review by the Garda authorities.

Work Permits

Questions (1030, 1031)

Gary Gannon

Question:

1030. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the current processing times for first-time labour market access permissions; the steps being taken to improve the processing times of first-time applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56778/23]

Gary Gannon

Question:

1031. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of first-time labour market access applications; the number granted; the number denied; the number being processed to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56779/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1030 and 1031 together.

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.

The data below details labour market access figures since 2018 to date*:

First-time labour market access applications	24,392
First time labour market access permissions granted to date	20,288
First time labour market access permissions refused to date	3,361

*Data correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.

There are approximately 3,000 applications (first time and renewals) awaiting processing by the labour market access unit of my Department and the processing time is approximately 145 days.

A significant increase in the number of applications was experienced during 2023, reflecting the increase of overall applications for international protection received since 2022. I can assure the Deputy that the unit in question is working hard to finalise applications as quickly as possible and appreciate customers’ patience as they deal with the very high levels of applications. My Department is also reviewing the processing arrangements generally to establish if they can be further streamlined.

Question No. 1031 answered with Question No. 1030.

Nuclear Plants

Questions (1032)

Matt Carthy

Question:

1032. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the visit by members of An Garda Síochána to the Sellafield nuclear facility in 2004; their findings; if the gardaí were invited or sought access in that instance; if there have been subsequent visits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56808/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary invited An Garda Síochána to visit the Sellafield Nuclear Facility in Cumbria, UK in 2004 to review aspects of the physical protection and policing arrangements in place at the site. A team from An Garda Síochána undertook the visit to the site on the 1st and 2nd of June 2004.

I am further advised that there were a number of subsequent visits by An Garda Síochána; the last of which was in 2017.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (1033)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1033. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) will be eligible for citizenship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56826/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

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.

Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals and people granted International Protection, where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.

It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation will be made.

Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.

Student Visas

Questions (1034)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

1034. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the current processing times for applications for the extension of student conditions applications. [56836/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Non-EEA national students in the State are registered on student conditions, on a Stamp 2 or Stamp 1G immigration permission, at their local registration office. It is only in cases where the student has encountered difficulties on the student pathway that they are referred to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department to apply for an extension.

Applications to ISD include students who want to continue studying in the State on a Stamp 2 immigration permission and those who are on a Stamp 1G immigration permission and wish to extend or change their graduate permission.

The Graduate Scheme Stamp 1G was developed for the purpose of enabling a beneficiary to seek graduate level employment and to apply for an employment permit through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The permission is granted to allow graduates time to find an employment permit based job.

When a graduate secures an employment permit based job, they obtain a Stamp 1 immigration permission. If the graduate does not secure an employment permit based job during the term of their Stamp 1G permission they are expected to leave the country. Those graduates who are seeking an extension of their immigration permission, or a change of their immigration status, should continue to seek an employment permit based job, which would allow them to change their immigration status and remain in the State.

Applications from students who have encountered some difficulty on the student pathway that have been referred to ISD have been increasing year on year. Over the past year, applications for an extension of student conditions have increased by 25%.

These applications are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible by the Domestic Residence and Permissions area of my Department, which is currently processing applications received in August 2023.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (1035)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1035. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí assigned to Gaeltacht regions; how many are assigned to each Garda station; how many are fluent in Irish; how many vacancies there are, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56856/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Crime Prevention

Questions (1036)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1036. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice what plans are in place to build a whole-of-Government approach to deliver community safety. [56858/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that community safety is a top priority for me as Minister and this Government as a whole. The Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own community. This whole of government Community Safety Strategy aims to address criminal behaviour, anti-social behaviour and other factors that affect people’s perceptions and experiences of safety.

This approach goes far beyond the traditional policing response and requires all relevant state bodies and voluntary organisations to work together in a joined-up way, in partnership with the local community, to prioritise and effectively address issues in their own area.

To help achieve this goal, three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) have been established; in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City. The Partnerships will build upon and replace the existing Joint Policing Committees, bringing together Gardaí, local representatives, community organisations, schools, local authorities and State bodies such as the HSE and Tusla, to draft a Community Safety Plan tailored to the community's needs. No one knows better than those who live in a community what its needs are.

The Community Safety Plans agreed by each LCSP set out the actions identified by the community that need to be taken to improve their feeling of safety, and all of the relevant actors who are involved in delivering those actions are members of the LCSP and accountable to it. This model is to address one of the most significant gaps in the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) model identified by the Commission on the Future of Policing, where many of the issues identified by the JPC were outside the remit of An Garda Síochána or the local authority to resolve.

Separately the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, chaired by Minister of State James Browne, aims to ensure people feel safe in their communities. The Forum is developing measures which will address the factors which give rise to such behaviour and its impact on community morale and quality of life.

Three subgroups of the Forum have been established to consider the specific issues of knife crime, the misuse of scramblers and quadbikes, and responses to Anti-Social Behaviour impacts on housing complexes managed by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).

Furthermore, the newly enacted Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act has reformed the existing Community CCTV scheme to allow community groups to request schemes in their area. My Department has administered grant-aid funding which supports groups wishing to establish CCTV schemes in their area since 2017. A further €1 million in funding is available for 2024.

The Deputy will also be aware that I have established a Community Safety and Innovation Fund (CSIF). This fund re-invests moneys seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Síochána as the proceeds of crime into innovative new projects to improve Community Safety. The CSIF was established in 2021 with initial funding of €2 million which has increased to €3 million in 2023 and under Budget 2024 has increased again to €3.75 million for this year.

Scéimeanna Rannacha

Questions (1037, 1038, 1039)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1037. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an dtabharfaidh sí sonraí faoi líon na dtionscadal a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge faoin gClár Infheistíochta Idirnáisiúnta (IIP) atá ceadaithe ag an Roinn le haghaidh infheistíochta agus méid an mhaoinithe a bhaineann leis. [56902/23]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1038. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an dtabharfaidh sí sonraí maidir le líon na dtionscadal a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge faoin gClár Infheistíochta Idirnáisiúnta (IIP) atá diúltaithe ag an Roinn le haghaidh infheistíochta agus méid an mhaoinithe ghaolmhar atá á lorg. [56903/23]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1039. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt san dtabharfaidh sí sonraí maidir le líon na dtionscadal a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge faoin gClár Infheistíochta Idirnáisiúnta (IIP) atá á meas ag an Roinn le haghaidh infheistíochta faoi láthair agus méid an mhaoinithe ghaolmhair atá á lorg. [56904/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1037 to 1039, inclusive, together.

Níorbh fhéidir an t-eolas a chur i dtoll a chéile san achar iarrtha ama. Rachaidh mé i dteagmháil leis an Teachta go díreach a luaithe a bheidh an t-eolas ar fáil.

Question No. 1038 answered with Question No. 1037.

Question No. 1039 answered with Question No. 1037.

Research and Development

Questions (1040)

Denis Naughten

Question:

1040. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice if she will list the ongoing research commissioned under the remit of her Department through the North-South Ministerial Council, Shared Island Initiative or through other all-island arrangements; if she will outline the research that has been completed; the date of publication of the research since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56918/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government’s Shared Island initiative supports the development of a more ambitious agenda for cooperation and connection on the island. The Government's Shared Island unit is delivering a comprehensive research programme, working with the ESRI, the National Economic and Social Council, the Irish Research Council and other partners. This research is published and focusses on opportunities to deepen cooperation across a range of economic, social and environmental domains. Further information is available at www.gov.ie/SharedIsland/Research.

A relevant project involving my Department is the Stable Lives Safer Streets Hub (SLSSHub), an all-island Research Hub in Youth Justice. This involves a partnership between the Research Evidence Into Policy Programmes And Practice Project (REPPP) in the University of Limerick, Queens University Belfast, and the Centre for Effective Services, which is supported by my Department and funded by the Shared Island initiative (Sept 2022 to Sept 2026).

The Hub is currently undertaking research linked to policy priorities identified by the North/South Youth Justice Project Advisory Group. These include all-island investigations to:

Build evidence to inform prevention programmes and complex intervention designs for young people in contact with the justice system;

Understand what works and for whom; and

Facilitate successfully translating evidence-informed policy into practice in complex multidisciplinary settings.

Research outputs (reports and articles) will be published from 2024 to 2026.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (1041)

Réada Cronin

Question:

1041. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice the progress being made with a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); if a decision is expected in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56967/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.

My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department intends to communicate regularly with all applicants on a quarterly basis into the future.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: [e-mail], which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Immigration Policy

Questions (1042)

Michael McNamara

Question:

1042. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice how many persons' fingerprints were checked against Eurodac to date in 2023. [56976/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Each person aged 14 years or older that enters the International Protection process is fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against Eurodac, an EU database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have crossed borders illegally.

In 2023, there were 13,277 applicants for international protection in Ireland, and of these 10,999 were aged 14 years or older.