Written Answers Nos. 454-473
454. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to extend the eligibility of the living-alone allowance to Irish citizens who have moved home from the UK, are in receipt of a UK pension but are not in receipt of any Irish social welfare payments. [10534/24]
View answerPrimary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature and cannot be made available to those who are not in receipt of a primary payment.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone.
For those aged 66 or over, these payments include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit.
It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
Accordingly, there are no circumstances where the Living Alone Increase can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment from my Department. Any change to the qualifying criteria for this payment would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
455. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 27 February 2024, the meaning of travel itinerary; what information must be included in this as evidence of travel; if a signed letter from the DA recipient outlining the dates they will be abroad is acceptable; and the legal basis for requesting and holding the travel data of DA recipients. [10612/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
Under section 249 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005, except in certain exceptional circumstances, DA is not payable for any period in respect of which the customer is absent from the state under Section 249 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. On an administrative basis, DA provides for two weeks holiday entitlement in any twelve-month period.
To enable this arrangement, a travel itinerary should detail the dates and destinations of travel, coinciding with the period of absence from the state. A signed letter specifying these arrangements can serve as evidence but may occasionally need to be accompanied by additional proof of travel arrangements.
Data is retained in line with the Department's data retention policy.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
456. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection how income (details supplied) is assessed when an individual is elected to a local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10631/24]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and, as a result of which, they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.
Recognising that all work is rehabilitative, the DA scheme is structured to encourage recipients to avail of opportunities to engage in either insurable employment or self-employment. When an individual engages in work, they can avail of an income disregard of 100% of the first €165 earned per week. 50% of earnings between €165 and €375 are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Any amounts over €375 are assessed in full. This disregard is available to all DA recipients who engage in employment and there are no restrictions on the hours worked each week.
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
The means test for CA has been significantly eased over the years and is now one of the most generous means tests in the Social Welfare system. The income disregard is €350 per week for a single person and €750 per week for a couple.
The carer's means is calculated as Gross weekly income less disregards & deductions. Deductions include PRSI, union dues, superannuation (pension contributions) and travel expenses. For a couple, their combined gross weekly income (less any disregards/deductions) is then halved to give the carer's weekly means.
From June 2024, in line with Budget measures the weekly income disregard will be further increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
457. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider launching an awareness campaign for women needing to check their updated PPSN numbers from the old ‘W’ format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10695/24]
View answerUnder previous taxation law, in the case of a married couple, the husband was considered the assessable spouse and the wife considered the dependant of the husband for income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) allocated the husband’s Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number to the wife of the person concerned, appending the letter W to the end of that number as a second check character. In this way, the parties could be separately identified yet remain linked for joint income tax assessment purposes.
The Finance Act 1993 provided that either spouse could be the assessable spouse and the practice of allocating “Level W” numbers ceased. From that point onwards, all persons were allocated unique, individual numbers. However, it was decided at that stage not to ask all individuals who held “W” numbers to change them until there was a business reason to do so.
The Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) was introduced in the Social Welfare Act 1998, replacing the RSI Number, and my Department was given legislative responsibility for allocating and managing these new numbers. In practice, previously allocated RSI numbers were retained and became PPSNs, including Level W numbers which were also treated as PPSNs.
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners request holders of Level W numbers to change them once the person needs to engage with them on taxation matters. The process of replacing a Level W number is relatively straightforward. My Department verifies the identity of the individual, secures their consent, purges the previously held W number and replaces it with either a new PPSN, or the PPSN the individual held before marriage. All related pre-existing records are transferred over to the new PPSN.
There are no current plans for an information campaign as my Department engages with individuals who need to change their level W number as such cases arise.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
458. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for schools (details supplied) to seek a higher allowance than that of the €1.70 currently available, should they opt for cold lunch options, through the hot school meals scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10700/24]
View answerThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.
Funding under the School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided. These meals must meet the nutritional standards for the school meals programme.
Last year, I published an independent evaluation of the School Meals Programme which sets out the positive impact the Programme is having in terms of children’s education and wellbeing.
The report recommended an increase in funding rates for all meal options in the School Meals Programme. In response, I secured government approval for the following rate increases for the various meal options provided on the School Meals Programme effective from 1st January 2023:
• Breakfast - increase from €0.60 to €0.75 (15c increase).
• Cold Lunch - increase from €1.40 to €1.70 (30c increase).
• Dinner - increase from €1.90 to €2.50 (60c increase).
• Hot School Meal - increase from €2.90 to €3.20 (30c increase).
These are the current maximum rates of payment per child, per day for the particular meal type.
I am committed to continuing to expand the Hot School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years.
The roll out of the Hot School Meals to all remaining DEIS primary and Special schools began in September 2023. However, I am committed to further expanding the Hot School Meals Programme. All remaining primary schools were contacted last year and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.
Expressions of interests were received from over 900 primary schools in respect of 150,000 children. Late last year, these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from April 2024. If all of these schools go on to participate, this would result in total participation in the Hot School Meals scheme of some 1,600 schools and 267,000 children. This would be a positive outcome considering that the scheme involved just 30 schools at pilot stage when I started expanding it.
There will also be an opportunity for all other primary schools who have subsequently expressed an interest, to do so formally later this year.
If the school referred to by the Deputy is a primary school, they would have been given the opportunity to avail of the €3.20 rate for the hot meals option.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
459. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the tax treatment of statutory sick leave payments made by employers in order that they are not subject to the deductions such as USC that the State avoids it when it pays illness benefit to employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10706/24]
View answerStatutory sick leave policy is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The matter of deductions from payments of statutory sick pay is proper to my colleague the Minister for Finance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
460. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a cost of living payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10796/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
Arising from a successful appeal, the person concerned has been awarded Disability Allowance with effect from 2 August 2023. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 31 January 2024. The first payment was made by her chosen payment method on 21 February 2024. .
I can confirm that arrears of payment due from 2 August 2023 to 21 February 2024 issued to the person concerned on 29 February 2024 . A letter notifying the person of this payment was sent on 29 February 2024.
I can confirm that all additional payments associated with their DA claim and due to the person concerned for the period 2 August 2023 to 21 February 2024 were included in the arrears calculation.
This includes the €400 Cost of Living Bonus of 22 November 2023, the €300 Fuel Allowance Bonus of 22 November 2023, the €100 Qualified Child Bonus of 29 November 2023, the Christmas Bonus extra week payment of 6 December 2023 and the additional week's payment of 31 January 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
461. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the relevant personnel from the local office in Kildare can make contact with a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10803/24]
View answerMy department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of supports to assist an eligible person who is parenting alone including the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.
One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) is a payment for parents under 66 years who are parenting without the support of a partner and whose youngest child is under 7 years of age.
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme which a person may qualify for if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system, helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs). The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
When the person concerned returns to Ireland they should contact their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office gov - Intreo centres and local branch offices (www.gov.ie) www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/?referrer=https://www.gov.ie/en/service/40cf48-find-your-local-intreo-office/ to make an application appropriate to their circumstances. It should be noted amongst other qualifying conditions for the schemes listed above the person must satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition.
Personal Public Service (PPS) Numbers for children living in, but not born in the Republic of Ireland, must be applied for by the parent or guardian. The person concerned should complete a REG1M application form, available at gov - Personal Public Service (PPS) Number (for a child aged under 18) Application Form (REGM1) (www.gov.ie) www.gov.ie/en/form/8f64b-personal-public-service-number-for-child-aged-under-18-application-form-regm1/ for a PPS Number for their child, and provide evidence of:
• their own identity
• the identity of the child
• evidence of address
• why a PPS Number is needed
• the relationship between the parent/guardian and the child
The person can submit the completed PPS Number application for the child to their nearest PPS Number centre, details at gov - Personal Public Service (PPS) Number Allocation Centres by County (www.gov.ie) . www.gov.ie/en/publication/f3690a-personal-public-service-pps-number-allocation-centres-by-county/. If the person returns to live in County Kildare, they can submit their child’s PPS Number application either by post to the Newbridge Intreo Centre, Moorefield Road, Newbridge, Co. Kildare or by email to newbridge@welfare.ie.
After they have submitted the application, and once everything is in order, my department will issue details of the PPS Number by post.
Eligibility criteria for all schemes and application forms can be found at www.gov.ie. If the person has any queries regarding the schemes available to them, they can also call the National Intreo Contact Centre, by freephone on 0818 405060 for further information.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
462. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if her Department's representative sitting on the interdepartmental group overseeing the opening up of the general employment permit scheme to non-EEA fishers can engage with the representations made by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10200/24]
View answerThe Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing fleet, previously administered by my Department, closed on 31 December 2022.
As the Deputy will be aware, one of the key recommendations of the Review Group was that the employment of non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet should be provided for under the Employment Permit system, instead of the existing Atypical Working Scheme. Matters relating to the employment permit system are for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
All fishers holding a valid permission under the Scheme on 1 January 2023, or with an outstanding application in process at that time, were granted Stamp 4 immigration permission on an exceptional basis. This was arranged to provide certainty and security to employers and employees in the Sector at the time.
If a person is resident in the State without an immigration permission I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local immigration office and to take all the appropriate steps to regularise their status.
Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and provide any documentation they feel will support their application.
In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally.
The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) examines each application to remain in the State on a case-by-case basis and has consistently urged anyone in this position to come forward if they wish to apply to regularise their immigration position in the State.
463. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to recently naturalised Irish citizens being prevented from registering to vote due to delays in receiving their certificates of naturalisation; if she is concerned about this barrier to participation in the democratic process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11224/24]
View answer476. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice when attendees of the citizenship ceremony in December 2023 will receive their certificate of naturalisation; if her attention has been drawn to the impact that this delay is having on people for work, passport applications and not being able to register to vote in the upcoming referendum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10113/24]
View answer494. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice whether her attention has been drawn to the fact that many people who attended citizenship ceremonies on December 18 and 19 have yet to receive their certificates (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10577/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 476 and 494 together.
I am advised that the vast majority of the 6,000 Certificates for people that attended the December ceremonies have now issued. Any applicants that are yet to receive their certificate can be assured that they will receive their Certificate of Naturalisation via registered post in the coming weeks.
In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.
Last year Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of Citizenship Ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of the year. These took place in the RDS, Dublin in March, in the INEC, Killarney in June, and in the Convention Centre in both October and December. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022.
I recognise that the delay in receiving a Naturalisation Certificate is frustrating for people and my Department is examining on how to speed up the delivery of Certificates for future Ceremonies to be held this year.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department will continue to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed on updates on processing times and arrangements.
464. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware that there is a 15-16 week waiting time for IRP appointments in Limerick city; if there is a plan in place to deal with this significant backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9951/24]
View answerMy Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only.
An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these appointments.
I have been advised by an Garda Síochána that every effort is being made to reduce the waiting time at the Garda National Immigration Bureau office in Limerick . An additional Garda member has been assigned on a full-time basis since mid-January 2024. This brings the number of Immigration officers to 5 as well as a registration officer. An additional desk has been set up to allow extra registrations, which is expected to further reduce waiting times.
The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that immigration administrative functions should transfer from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Department of Justice. My Department and An Garda Síochána have engaged intensively on the scope of immigration operations to transfer to the Department and a roadmap outlining the functions for transfer is being developed. This will set out the timeline for transfer of work relating to the nationwide registration and renewal (outside of Dublin) of residence permission and the renewal of such permission from An Garda Síochána to the Registration Office of my Department.
465. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice when joint policing committees should cease meetings given the proposed transition to community safety partnerships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9952/24]
View answer466. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice her plans to ensure a smooth transition from joint policing committees to community safety partnerships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9953/24]
View answer467. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice when the community safety partnerships will be formed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9954/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 465, 466 and 467 together.
My Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own communities. This whole-of-government Community Safety Strategy aims to address issues relating to community safety by bringing together the relevant social service providers and the Gardaí to work together with the community in a collaborative manner by focusing on tackling the concerns identified by the local community itself.
The Local Community Safety Partnerships are provided for in Part 3 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 which will be commenced during 2024. The Partnerships will operate at local authority level and they will replace Joint Policing Committees (JPCs). The Partnerships will have a wider membership than JPCs and will include residents, local councillors, community representatives (including representatives of young people, older people, new and minority communities), business and education representatives and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, AGS and the local authority.
Pilot partnerships have been running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City, and each has published a local community safety plan, which are available on the respective local authority websites. The plans set out a number of agreed actions to be undertaken by the members of the partnerships to enhance community safety in that area. The independent chairs of the pilot partnerships are overseeing the delivery of those agreed actions.
An independent evaluation has been running since the pilot partnerships commenced, and the report of the evaluation is now being finalised. Findings of the evaluation will be used to inform the national roll-out of Local Community Safety Partnerships.
To ensure there is continuity as Local Community Safety Partnerships are stood up around the country, transitional arrangements will be put in place for JPC meetings to take place where LCSPs have not yet been established in any area.
468. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the action her Department is taking in conjunction with An Garda Síochána to reduce waiting times for an appointment for the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA/UK nationals residing in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9957/24]
View answerAn Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for persons residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these appointments. The waiting time for appointments outside of Dublin is dependent on the demand for registrations in each office, and fluctuates based on seasonal demands and other variations.
My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for persons residing in the Dublin area only.
The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that immigration administrative functions should transfer from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Department of Justice. My Department and An Garda Síochána have engaged intensively on the scope of immigration operations to transfer to the Department and a roadmap outlining the functions for transfer is being developed. This will set out the timeline for transfer of work relating to the nationwide registration and renewal (outside of Dublin) of residence permission and the renewal of such permission from An Garda Síochána to the Registration Office of my Department.
469. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she will intervene to ensure that an application for naturalisation (details supplied) is processed as soon as possible. [9986/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person cited by the Deputy has been received and is awaiting registration by the Citizenship Division of my Department.
Once registered officials from the Citizenship Division will write to the person concerned issuing a Personal ID and Citizenship application reference number.
I recognise that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment or profession of the applicant, or any intended purpose of naturalisation such as sporting representation. Unfortunately, applications cannot be expedited on these grounds.
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.
In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.
At present the median processing times for naturalisation applications remains at 19 months. It is hoped that this will improve in 2024.
470. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if a certificate of citizenship formally approved by her Department on 19 December 2023 in the name of a person (details supplied) will be issued to her immediately. [9989/24]
View answerI recognise that the delay in receiving a Naturalisation Certificate is frustrating for people and my Department is examining on how to speed up the delivery of Certificates for future Ceremonies to be held this year.
I am advised that majority of the 6000 Certificates for people that attended ceremonies in December 2023 have been issued. I understand the certificate in respect of the person cited by the Deputy is among those issued. Any applicants that are yet to receive their certificate can be assured that they will receive their Certificate of Naturalisation via registered post in the coming weeks.
In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.
Last year Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of Citizenship Ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of the year. These took place in the RDS, Dublin in March, in the INEC, Killarney in June, and in the Convention Centre in both October and December. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department will continue to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed on updates on processing times and arrangements.
471. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice which visas are most suitable for Palestinians in Gaza to apply for in order to be permitted to enter Ireland; which visas are most suitable specifically for those with no family here, but who have previously resided in Ireland and for family members of such individuals; her Department's current policy on approving visa applications for Palestinians from Gaza; to provide a breakdown of available visas for Palestinians and guidance on which are most suitable for different categories of applicant, including guidance on making a successful application; if her Department will publish guidance in Arabic to potential applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9990/24]
View answerI am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance.
I understand from colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs that a small number of Irish citizens or immediate dependants of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. That Department continues to advocate with the authorities in relation to those who have not yet been able to leave, including the immediate dependants of Irish citizens.
Ireland supports the entry of migrants through many legal pathways. It is the case that citizens of the Palestinian National Authority are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State.
Details of these legal pathways and guidance on making a successful application for each category can be found on the Immigration Service website at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/.
I can also advise that this website is available in English and twelve other languages including Arabic.
472. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí based in Cavan and Monaghan, respectively, in January 2024; and the corresponding numbers in January 2023, January 2022, January 2021 and January 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10002/24]
View answer501. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice the headcount and whole-time equivalent number of gardaí in the eastern region, by county and for each division and district in the years 2019-2024, inclusive, in tabular form. [10738/24]
View answer502. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice the headcount and whole-time equivalent number of gardaí in Waterford city and county for each district in the years 2019-2024, inclusive, in tabular form. [10739/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472, 501 and 502 together.
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 different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I can, however, assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of more than €2.3 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.
This level of funding provides for the recruitment of between 800 and 1,000 Gardaí and 250 additional Garda staff this year.
In addition to new recruits, the rollout of the new Garda Operating Model will support the redeployment of Gardaí from non-core duties to frontline policing across the country. The new model will see larger Divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services, and a strong focus on community policing.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 31 January 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there was a total of 13,960 Garda members nationwide. This represents an increase of almost 9% since the end of December 2015. In addition, the civilianisation programme has freed up almost 900 Garda members from back office work for front line policing work since 2015.
Information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division and Station can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
473. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the visa application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10049/24]
View answerThe Employment Visa application referred to by the Deputy was created on the 12/01/2024.
Once the applicant is satisfied with their application they should click “submit” and print a copy of the “Summary Form”.
The summary form contains some of the information they have entered. It will also contain instructions on what they are required to do next in order to submit their documentation.
The instructions will differ depending on which country they are applying from.
They should lodge the summary form together with the relevant fee and supporting documentation with the Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office as soon as possible. They should make sure that the supporting documentation is as up to date as possible. Only upon receipt of the necessary documentation, can the visa application be processed further.
The summary sheet and supporting documentation has not been received by the relevant office to date.
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: IMOireachtasMail@justice.ie which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
