Wednesday, 26 Jun 2024

Written Answers Nos. 110-129

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (110)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

110. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on an appeal submitted by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27421/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.  

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30 May 2024.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection.  These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14 June 2024 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Questions (111)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

111. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a surviving partner (details supplied) of a long-term cohabitating couple is entitled to a widower’s pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27437/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Under current legislation, entitlement to a Widows, Widower or Surviving Civil Partnership's Contributory pension (WSCPCP) is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership.

My Department notes the judgement given by the Supreme Court on 22 January, with regard to entitlement to an unmarried cohabitant to WSCPCP. 

In simple terms, the Court found that section 124 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) is inconsistent with the Constitution insofar as it excluded the claimant from the category of persons entitled to benefit from it.  The Court reached that conclusion on the basis of the equality guarantee contained in Article 40.1 of the Constitution.  The Supreme Court recognises that legislative amendment is required.   

Officials in my Department in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General have been considering the measures necessary to respond to the Supreme Court judgment.  The judgment raised a number of complex issues, and my officials have been developing the draft legislative changes that are required to implement the decision.

Until such time as the legislation has been enacted, my Department will not be in a position to assess the entitlement of the persons impacted by the judgement, to the relevant payments.

The person concerned can make a claim for the WSCPCP to my Department, and their application will be held for consideration, until such time as the legislation has been enacted.  

I have arranged for an application for WSCPCP to issue to the person concerned. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (112)

John McGuinness

Question:

112. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance in the name of a person (details supplied) which is now under appeal, relative to the full time care they give their father will be expedited and approved. [27477/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.  

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that there is no record of any appeal by the person concerned having been received by that office. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

School Meals Programme

Questions (113, 114)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

113. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students at primary, post-primary and in other organisations that were provided with free hot school meals in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [27482/24]

Sorca Clarke

Question:

114. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost per child in post primary schools the cost per child in other organisations respectively, in the 2022-2023 and to date in 2023-2024, academic years in tabular form. [27483/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.

The 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.  The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.  Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding. 

The Hot School Meal option of the programme was introduced in 2019 and is currently solely available to primary schools.  Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection, I have increased the number of schools with access to the Hot School Meal option from an initial pilot of 30 schools to a position where over 2,000 primary schools now eligible to receive a hot meal.

A total of 316,046 children are eligible for hot school meals with 265,423 children now benefitting from the scheme to date.  Details of the number of pupils availing of the programme, in addition to the yearly average costs per pupil, are included in the tabular statements below.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pupils Benefitting from Hot School Meals - Primary Schools

Academic Year	Pupils Benefitting
2022-2023	92,059
2023-2024	265,423

Average Cost of Hot School Meals per Child - Primary Schools

Academic Year	Average Cost per Child
2022-2023	€555
2023-2024	€576

Question No. 114 answered with Question No. 113.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (115)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

115. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government plans to change the eligibility for carer’s allowance to include those who are on a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27521/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness.

A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care.  The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.

A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.

In order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce, and to support broader social inclusion, recipients of Carer's Allowance may engage in some limited employment, education or training, up to 18.5 hours a week. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.

The Community Employment (CE) programme is an active labour market programme, and its purpose is to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. 

The duration of a CE placement is for 12 months, with some exceptions. Participants must work a minimum of 19.5 hours per week. As such, the minimum hours required under the CE scheme exceeds that allowable under the Carer's Allowance scheme.

A person may progress from Carer's Allowance to CE. The time spent on Carer’s Allowance can count towards the eligibility period, but a person’s caring responsibilities must have ceased, and they must currently be getting either Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit or One Parent Family Payment.

Any changes to the eligibility criteria for either scheme would have to be considered within a wider budgetary and policy context. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (116)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case for a disability pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27602/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Disability Allowance 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.

As the person concerned  turned 66 in May 2024, they have no entitlement to this allowance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (117)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

117. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the fuel allowance scheme for each of the past four years; the associated cost of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27628/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024.  The purpose of this payment is to assist households with their heating costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The records of the Department indicate that the number of households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment and the cost of the scheme over the past four years is as follows: - 

Year	No. of Recipients	Yearly Cost
2020	375,269	€290 million
2021	374,861	€316 million
2022	393,769	€576 million
2023	411,395	€502 million

The number of recipients is based on the end of December figure for each year requested.  The increase in costs for 2022 and 2023 relate to additional lump sum payments made to customers in receipt of Fuel Allowance in those years.  The 2023 Fuel Allowance cost is a provisional figure and included a €300 per household cost of living measure paid in November 2023. 

Funding of €381.6m has been provided in respect of the Fuel Allowance for 2024.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

International Protection

Questions (118)

Paul Murphy

Question:

118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice to publish her Department’s feedback to the International Protection Office on the potential designation of Algeria as a safe country for the purposes of the International Protection Act 2015. [27478/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Under the International Protection Act the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where satisfied it can be shown that there:• is generally and consistently no persecution;

• no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and

• no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.

A country that has been designated under section 72 as a safe country of origin shall, for the purposes of the assessment of an application for international protection, be considered to be a safe country of origin in relation to a particular applicant only where— (a) the country is the country of origin of the applicant, and (b) the applicant has not submitted any serious grounds for considering the country not to be a safe country of origin in his or her particular circumstances and in terms of his or her eligibility for international protection.

There are now ten countries designated as safe countries of origin: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, South Africa, Botswana and Algeria. The latter two I added on 31st January 2024.

I can inform the Deputy that in making the assessment to designate a country as safe, it was taken into account, among other things, the extent to which protection is provided against persecution or mistreatment by:

• The relevant laws and regulations of the country and the manner in which they are applied.

• The observance of the rights and freedoms laid down in specified European and International Conventions.

• Respect for the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

• Provision for a system of effective remedies against violation of those rights and freedoms.The assessment was based on a range of sources of information, including from other EU Member States, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Council of Europe and other international organisations as appropriate. My Department also sought submissions from the Department of Foreign Affairs, UNHCR, the Irish Refugee Council and other NGOS in relation to the designation of Algeria as a safe country.

It should also be noted that, under the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, there will be a common EU Safe country list that will remove the need for Member States to individually designate countries as safe. However, it will still be open to Member States to designate additional countries outside the common list.

If an applicant for international protection is from a country designated as a safe country of origin, their application will still receive a full consideration on its merits by the International Protection Office.

Following the designation of Algeria and other countries as safe countries of origin in accordance with section 72 of the International Protection Act, the International Protection Office was advised that the Minister continues to accord priority to applications from such countries in accordance with section 73 of the International Protection Act.

Residency Permits

Questions (119)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

119. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she will reconsider the decision to require Limerick students to travel to Dublin to obtain their Irish residence permit cards for the first time (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27307/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that, from 8 July 2024, the registration of Irish residence permissions for non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationals in counties Limerick and Cork will now be carried out by my Department at the Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that immigration administrative functions should transfer from An Garda Síochána to the Department of Justice. It is anticipated that the nationwide transfer of registration functions to the Department of Justice will be substantively completed by early 2025.

With the transfer of registration functions for Cork and Limerick, approximately 80% of all national registrations and renewals have now transferred from An Garda Síochána to the Immigration Service Delivery of the Department of Justice. Nationwide, over 100 Gardaí undertake immigration duties, including registration. The transfer of the registration function is releasing valuable Garda resources to focus on operational and enforcement matters, such as deportations and investigations.

At this time, first time registrations for individuals residing in these counties will be registered in person at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin. I understand that this may cause inconvenience for some residents of Cork and Limerick. However, going forward residents of Cork and Limerick will be able to renew their immigration permission using my Departments online platform as opposed to the current requirement that all registrations, including renewals, be done in person. This change will significantly reduce waiting times for registration of Irish residence permissions and streamline the process overall.

Departmental Priorities

Questions (120)

Paul Murphy

Question:

120. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to follow England and Northern Ireland in introducing pet abduction legislation to make this a specific criminal offence carrying a minimum prison term upon conviction. [27356/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

Dog theft is a serious crime and that can come with prison sentences of up to ten years for theft and for handling of stolen property and up to five years for possession of stolen property. If a burglary is involved, the sentence may be up to 14 years imprisonment. When imposing sentences, judges are not limited to considering the monetary value of a pet. The sentimental value and the emotional distress to the victim caused by the offence can be and are taken into account.The Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 brought in new registration requirements which anyone trading in pet animals must adhere to. Both the person and the premises used must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Sellers must keep records of who they buy animals from and they may not sell animals younger than the ages specified.The Microchipping of Dogs Regulations also apply. All dogs must be microchipped by the age of 12 weeks. If a person is advertising a dog for sale, the advertisement must now have the microchip code.In 2021, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, launched Working Together for Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, which is Ireland's first stand-alone animal welfare strategy. Delivering on the strategy and in response to the Programme for Government commitment, Minister McConalogue established a new independently chaired Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare. Independent members with a range of expertise and experience were appointed, including members from Veterinary Ireland, UCD, the ISPCA, the DSPCA, Dogs Trust, and others. The Council is a critical stakeholder grouping that is assisting Minister McConalogue’s Department in prioritising and advancing policy initiatives relating to companion animals.The Government is examining pet welfare, control and ownership in the round and changes to criminal law, if required, can only be a part of the answer. If the work being undertaken by Government colleagues on this important issue includes any evidence-based recommendations for an amendment to criminal legislation, my officials will work collaboratively to establish the best way forward.

Prison Service

Questions (121, 122)

Paul Murphy

Question:

121. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 349 of 28 May 2024, if she has delegated her powers under the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners Act 2003) to the IPS (details supplied); and if so, if she will provide this Deputy with a copy of such delegation duly authorised. [27357/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

122. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 349 of 28 May 2024, if she has delegated her powers under the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners Act 2003), to the IPS (details supplied); and if so, if a copy of such delegation duly authorised will be provided to this Deputy. [27369/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.

The Irish Prison Service is currently a non-statutory executive office of my Department and officials exercise the authority of the Minister for Justice under the Carltona principle.

As the Deputy may be aware, a non-statutory interim Parole Board was put in place in 2001, the main function of which was to advise the Minister of the day on the administration of long term prison sentences. That board reviewed cases of prisoners sentenced to determinate sentences of eight years or more but less than 14 years when the prisoner has served half of the sentence, and the cases of prisoners sentenced to 14 years or more or life sentences after 7 years have been served of the sentence.

That non statutory procedure was replaced when the Parole Board was established as a statutory body under the Parole Act 2019 on 31 July 2021. Under this legislation, the Parole Board makes its decisions to grant or refuse parole independently from the Minister for Justice. Under the new law, a person must have served at least 12 years of their life sentence before the Board can grant or refuse a parole application and, importantly, victims have a formal right to make submissions to the Parole Board in relation to the offender’s application for parole. As part of the parole process, both victims and parole applicants may have access to legal representation where the relevant parties express a desire for this.

Operational procedures are also in place providing that decisions in respect of temporary release not covered by the Parole Board are made at different levels depending on the circumstances. Grants of temporary release to those serving life sentences and sentences in excess of 8 years, among other categories of prisoner, are currently submitted to the Minister. These processes are kept under ongoing review.

Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 121.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (123)

Thomas Gould

Question:

123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of young people processed through the Garda youth diversion programme for possession of a drug in each of the past five years, in tabular form [27395/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information has not been received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 26 June 2024 where you sought: “The number of young people processed through the Garda youth diversion programme for possession of a drug in each of the past five years.”

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the requested information was available.

As the you will be aware, Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The intention of the programme is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the criminal justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the Programme.

Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are a fundamental support to the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme and provide a vital ingredient in enhancing community policing partnerships. These projects are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which are funded directly by my Department. YDPs seek to divert young people who have become involved, or are at risk of becoming involved, in crime/anti-social behaviour away from future involvement with the Criminal Justice System.

In Budget 2024, the funding allocated to Youth Justice Services increased by 10% to €33 million. This will facilitate an increase in the availability of YDP services in the evenings and at weekends when many young people need them the most, as well as an increase in supports for families, interventions for typically hard-to-reach young people and early interventions for 8–11 year olds who may be at increased risk of becoming engaged in criminal activity. Programmes run by individual YDPs are outcomes-focused, taking account of the needs, issues and circumstances surrounding referred young people, including their offending behaviour as identified through the assessment process.

The current network of 99 YDPs is extensive but we will continue to develop it further, through both the expansion of the catchment areas of existing projects, where appropriate, and also through the creation of additional projects, to ensure every child who needs it is reached. Four new Youth Diversion Projects were launched last year to become operational later this year, with a further two additional projects planned for later this year.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of youths associated with valid youth referrals for “Simple Possession” or “Possession for Sale or Supply” incidents between 1 January 2019 and 25 June 2024. It is worth noting the count is based on the year the referral was created.

Referral Year	Youth Referrals
2019	1,366
2020	1,390
2021	1,340
2022	1,289
2023	1,094
2024*	479

*Up to 25 June 2024.

I am advised that each youth is only counted once per year, even if they were associated with incidents of both types. They may be counted in more than one year if they were associated with referrals in more than one year.

It is worth noting that all information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 26 June 2024 and is liable to change.

I hope the above is of assistance.

Coroners Service

Questions (124)

Steven Matthews

Question:

124. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 20 May 2024, the position regarding the ongoing review of the coroner’s service; the terms of reference for this review; if individual county services will be assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27418/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy may be aware, the coroners service comprises the network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, are the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department has any function in the conduct of coronial business.

On 20 October 2023, I launched a wide-ranging public consultation exercise to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland, which closed on 19 January 2024.

The consultation provided an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholder groups and members of the Oireachtas to express their views,observations and to provide proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.

I am pleased to say that there was a very high level of public engagement in the consultation process with approximately 250 submissions received across both surveys. Departmental officials are currently analysing the information gathered during the consultation process with a view to publishing a report on the main themes coming through from the Consultation in the third quarter of 2024 and putting forward proposals for the reform of the service thereafter.

Passport Services

Questions (125)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

125. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice if consideration has been given to setting up a portal for gardaí and the Passport Office to register their signing of passport applications and associated details to that ensure passport applications are not delayed, as is the case frequently whereby a garda or a Garda station not being contactable for the Passport Service when there is a need to verify the information on an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27431/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational and administrative matters, such as the use by Garda members of any such portal. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

Further, the administration of passport applications falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The establishment of any portal for use by Garda members as part of the passport application process is a matter for his Department.

The Deputy will be aware that there are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person submitting the passport application form.

I am informed that, for each application that requires a Garda witness, the Passport Service calls the relevant Garda station to confirm that the Garda witness recorded the witnessed form in the station logbook. Passport Service staff will call the relevant Garda station up to three times to verify the Garda's signature. Where the Passport Service cannot reach the Garda station, there is a system in place whereby the Passport Service contacts the relevant Superintendent’s Office to verify the details.

I am further advised that the Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants. In addition to this, the Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and regularly offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms.

Property Management Companies

Questions (126)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

126. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice when a register of owners’ management companies (OMCs) or an OMC regulator will be established to register OMCs and help these mainly voluntary committees in relation to their governance and responsibilities; and the steps she will take in the interim to address these matters, pending the establishment of an OMC regulator. [27432/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Multi-Unit Developments (MUDs) Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs).

As regards the establishment of a Regulator for OMCs, it should be noted that OMCs are already subject to company law provisions, including their own Memorandum of Association, and are subject to oversight by the Companies Registration Office and the Corporate Enforcement Authority. Furthermore, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission also plays a role in providing information and advice to intending purchasers of residential units in multi-unit developments.

The MUDs Act also acknowledges the risk of disputes arising in the enforcement of rights and the performance of obligations imposed by its provisions on OMCs. Section 24 of the MUDs Act makes provision for the resolution of such disputes.

Separately, it may interest the Deputy to know that I have agreed with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to establish an Interdepartmental Group to consider what further regulatory measures may be required for OMCs in the context of the Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes (‘Scheme’) and the proposed statutory remediation scheme.

The Minister announced the opening of the Scheme last December, which provides for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the full remedial works.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (127)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

127. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an application for citizenship (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27479/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved.

A request for final documentation and a Certificate fee will issue directly to the applicant. Once submitted and accepted, they will be added to the queue for an upcoming Citizenship Ceremony.

Candidates will be required to produce identity documents on the day for verification purposes, for example a valid Passport. In the event an applicant is unable to produce a valid passport, they may bring an alternative means of identification.

Further information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/

Please note it is important that any non-EEA national keeps their immigration permission up-to-date as they await a Ceremony.

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. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are significantly reducing processing times. I expect that going forward the majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year.

In just 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 in 2023. Already in 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made in the first half of the year. Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. It is envisioned that this number will be significantly surpassed this year, with 15 ceremonies already taking place by the end of June.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department continues to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed as to updates on processing times and arrangements.

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.

Prison Service

Questions (128)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

128. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline her plans to provide additional prison places throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27486/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Government is committed to ensuring that the prison system is safe, humane and has sufficient space to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts, while also focusing on rehabilitation.

The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with my Department to progress plans to bring on stream accommodation for over 1,100 prisoners between 2024 and 2030. The investment required is included in the Irish Prison Service capital plan for 2024-2030 which requires funding of €548 million over the period, and includes investment in security measures, fleet, ICT and other infrastructure.

As part of these plans I have secured capital funding of €159m for the years 2024 to 2026 for the above capital commitments, including securing an increase of €49.5m through the most recent NDP allocations.

Subject to the availability of the necessary resources, short term projects are being progressed which are expected to deliver accommodation for over 150 prisoners this year. The Prison Service are also currently engaged with the Defence Forces to assess the feasibility of bringing the Curragh Military Prison into use.

Medium/long term projects are also being developed that have the potential to deliver additional spaces across the prison estate.

This is inclusive of the programme to deliver accommodation for up to 670 people across Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy with spaces coming on stream from 2026 to 2030. Preparatory work for this programme is already under way.

Other projects are being pursued right across the prison estate, including in the Dochas centre and Wheatfield. Overall, there is potential to bring a significant number of new spaces on stream between 2024 and 2030.

Road Safety

Questions (129)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

129. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice the number of hours that speed camera vans are assigned to the K district in the Cabra and Blanchardstown areas compared to other districts in the DMR; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27556/24]

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 enforcement of road traffic legislation. The Commissioner is also responsible for procurement and related contract management. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

I have been informed that An Garda Síochána constantly reviews safety camera van deployments based on operational needs and the needs of communities nationally and that to date in 2024, safety camera vans were deployed for approximately 2,581 hours across the D.M.R.

The Deputy may be aware that speed vans are currently operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána. The designation of specific sections of road as speed enforcement zones is based on an analysis of collision data. Following the selection of a speed enforcement zone the outsourced safety camera operator, GoSafe, liaises with local members of An Garda Síochána in order to identify suitable sites to operate from. Road safety cameras operate in areas where there is a history of speed-related collisions, known as speed enforcement zones. Ongoing surveys are conducted to ascertain whether existing zones continue to represent locations where speeding is happening.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of hours that speed camera vans were assigned to Blanchardstown and Cabra districts in 2024 to date, and the total number of hours that speed vans were assigned to the D.M.R. in the same period.

Garda Sub District	Deployments	Monitoring Hours
Blanchardstown	51	149:39:21
Cabra	3	4:00:35
DMR Total	835	2580:52:58

Please note that this information is operational and may be subject to change.