Written Answers Nos. 938-957
938. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice the number of new Garda cars and vans that were added to the Wexford Division in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024; and the number of Garda cars and vans withdrawn from the fleet during same period, in tabular form. [46442/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.
The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2024 there were 3,589 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet, the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána. This represents an increase of over 15% since the end of December 2020.
As the Deputy is aware, Wexford Division has merged with Wicklow Division as part of the new Operating Model. I am advised that, as of 31 December 2024, there were 137 vehicles attached to the Wicklow/Wexford Division which includes 100 cars, 22 vans, 6 motorcycles, 8 4x4 and 1 other. The category 'other' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles.
The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of cars and vans allocated to and removed from the Wexford Division in 2023.
|
Wexford Division in 2023 |
Cars |
Vans |
Total |
|
Allocated |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|
Removed |
9 |
1 |
10 |
The table below sets out the number of cars and vans allocated to and removed from the Wexford/Wicklow Division in 2024.
|
Wexford/Wicklow Division in 2024 |
Cars |
Vans |
Total |
|
Allocated |
12 |
4 |
16 |
|
Removed |
12 |
0 |
12 |
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.
939. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice in each of the previous eight years from 2024, the number of charges of alleged rape that have been prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if this will be calculated as a percentage of the number of alleged sexual assaults or rapes reported to Gardaí, in each of the previous eight years, in tabular form. [46454/24]
View answer940. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice in each of the previous eight years from 2024, the number of charges of alleged rape that have been prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if this will be calculated as a percentage of the number of alleged sexual assaults or rape reported to Gardaí and where a crime was subsequently detected, in each of the previous eight years, in tabular form. [46455/24]
View answer941. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice in each of the previous eight years from 2024, the number of complaints of alleged sexual assault that have not been prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions in court as a percentage of the total number of alleged sexual assaults reported to Gardaí where a crime was detected, in tabular form. [46456/24]
View answer942. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice in each of the previous eight years from 2024, the number of complaints of alleged sexual assault that have been prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions as a percentage of the total number of alleged sexual assaults reported to Gardaí where a crime was detected, in tabular form. [46457/24]
View answer943. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice in each of the previous eight years from 2024, the number of cases of alleged rape which were prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions that did not progress to trial after a suspect was charged, in tabular form. [46458/24]
View answer944. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice in each of the previous eight years from 2024, the number of occasions where a crime was detected by the Gardaí in cases of alleged sexual assault or rape, but the DPP did not proceed with prosecution; and, the percentage of those that were due to insufficient evidence, in tabular form. [46459/24]
View answer945. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice based off the previous 10 years from 2024, the average time that elapses between the reporting of an alleged sexual assault to Gardaí and the beginning of a trial where the Director of Public Prosecutions proceeds with prosecution. [46460/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 939 to 945, inclusive.
As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in the operations, governance or oversight of the Office, which is funded through the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach.
As a result, I am unable to provide any statistical information related to the work of the DPP.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 26 September 2024, providing stats for Recorded Crime for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2024. Crime statistics for Q3 of 2024 are not yet available but will be published by the CSO in due course.
Figures in respect of criminal offences reported to Gardaí can be found on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06.
946. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of women’s refuges, per county; the capacity of these refuges; if there are enough spaces in them for women fleeing domestic violence; and the number of new refuges she plans to open in the next five years, in tabular form. [46468/24]
View answer947. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to ensure that the services provided for women seeking refuge are culturally sensitive and accessible to women from different backgrounds, LGBTQ+, disability, migrant, and so on. [46469/24]
View answer948. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to ensure that women who leave refuges are supported in rebuilding their lives, such as finding stable housing, employment and legal support. [46470/24]
View answer949. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice how she measures the long-term success and effectiveness of women’s refuges and their support services. [46471/24]
View answer950. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice if women’s refuges are working with other agencies, such as healthcare and social services, to provide a more holistic approach to survivors of domestic violence. [46472/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 946 to 950, inclusive.
One of the overarching goals of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, which I published in June 2022, is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and under the Strategy we have committed to doubling the number of refuge units across the country.
This represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country.
To accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year, I formally established Cuan - the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency – at the start of last year.
Cuan is working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Housing Agency, to put in place the necessary structures and supports for organisations to further develop refuge accommodation.
In 2025, Cuan expects 22 new units to be delivered in Dublin and Louth, with a further 49 units due to be under construction or due for refurbishment in 2025. This is in addition to the 12 new units delivered in 2024, including the state-of-the-art new refuge in Wexford.
This will bring the total amount of new units delivered and under construction to 230 by the end of 2025. This is from a starting point of 140 at the outset of the Strategy.
Cuan is now responsible for coordinating all Government actions set out in the Strategy and has a dedicated team in place to support the development of domestic violence refuges.
As this question relates to work being carried out by Cuan and data held by Cuan, I have referred it to the agency for direct response.
951. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently incarcerated due to drug-related offences or addiction-related issues, per prison, in tabular form. [46483/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may already know, it is estimated that up to 70% of the prisoner population have addiction issues.
The Irish Prison Service aims to provide a health care service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional way in line with international best practice. The IPS continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with its community colleagues and organisations. In 2023, the Irish Prison Service published its own Drugs Strategy with three pillars which aim to Inform & Educate, Detect & Reduce and Support & Treat. In addition, the Irish Prison Service recruited a National Clinical Lead for Mental Health and Addiction in Q2 of 2024.
The Irish Prison Service spends in excess of €1m per annum on the provision of an addiction-counselling service in Irish prisons. This service is supplied by Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), who provide a prison-based addiction-counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison and the Training Unit, where there is currently no clinical need for such a service. However, this is being reviewed.
I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service have provided figures in Table 1 of the 443 individuals under sentence for Controlled Drug Offences on 31 December 2024.
While addiction-related issues are a significant factor that contribute to criminal activity, the Irish Prison Service does not hold centralised data in respect of the contributory factors that led to an individual’s offence or imprisonment.
Table 1
|
Establishment Name |
Total |
|
Castlerea Prison |
15 |
|
Cloverhill Remand Prison |
19 |
|
Cork Prison |
22 |
|
Limerick Prison |
30 |
|
Loughan House |
63 |
|
Midlands Prison |
58 |
|
Mountjoy Prison |
103 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
27 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
36 |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
68 |
|
Training Unit |
2 |
|
Total |
443 |
952. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice if she has any plans to review or update prison policies in line with international best practices, particularly regarding rehabilitation and reducing reliance on incarceration. [46484/24]
View answer953. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the Government’s short- and long-term plans to reduce recidivism. [46485/24]
View answer956. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice what strategies are being employed to reduce recidivism rates and ensure successful reintegration of prisoners into society; and to provide a list of organisations that work in same. [46492/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 952 to 956, inclusive.
I can assure the Deputy I am committed to building stronger, safer communities, by progressing policies aimed at reducing offending and diverting people away from the criminal justice system through the provision of effective rehabilitation.
As the Deputy will appreciate, reducing reoffending, including by ensuring the underlying causes of offending behaviour are addressed, is not something that can be done with just a criminal justice response. It requires action on the part of other Departments and agencies.
While there are no quick fixes to reducing reoffending, evidence shows that different targeted interventions are needed. A range of policies have been developed to achieve this, including the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform, which includes increasing the use of alternatives to custodial sanctions where appropriate, and the recommendations of the High-Level Taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector. My Department is working to continue to implement both of these important strategies.
The provision of education and training is available in all prisons and is key to reducing recidivism. Programmes of education follow an adult-education approach and the Prison Service provides supports and services from basic literacy and numeracy education, up to third level qualifications.
Work Training in prisons provides a range of purposeful activities in areas such as catering, laundry, industrial cleaning and industrial skills, and the Irish Prison Service has also expanded the number of accredited courses and opportunities available in this area.
Further, the Prison Education Taskforce comprising key agencies such as the Irish Prison Service, Solas, the Probation Service, and the Education and Training Boards, has the aim of ensuring greater alignment between prison education and work training and the tertiary education system to support prisoners in benefitting from education and training opportunities while in custody to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release.
The Deputy may also be aware that in Budget 2025, the Probation Service received an additional €4 million, bringing the total budget to over €60m to expand crime-diversion programmes, support step-down facilities, restorative justice, and community-based alternatives to imprisonment.
Some of the Probation Service strategies which are being employed to reduce recidivism rates and ensure successful reintegration of prisoners into society include the JARC (Joint Agency Response to Crime) and Y-JARC (Youth-Joint Agency Response to Crime), which has been highly effective in steering people away from criminality and reducing re-offending.
The Probation Service has also expanded the Social Inclusion and Reintegration Unit for Probation Service clients to support the Service’s work related to offending, which is underpinned by social and health factors, including low educational attainment, substance misuse, homelessness, poor mental health, trauma, unemployment, and poverty.
The Probation Service also funds and works collaboratively with a number of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to provide supported temporary accommodation and the development of independent living skills to persons subject to Probation supervision who are at risk of, or are experiencing homelessness. These services support the Probation Service to ensure court-ordered supervision is implemented, reduce the likelihood of reoffending and risk of harm to the public and support the client’s transition to stable long-term accommodation while addressing any existent support needs such as substance misuse.
In November 2024, the Department of Justice launched ‘Building Pathways Together: Criminal Justice Reintegration Through Employment Strategy 2025-2027’, building on the strong foundations laid by the 2017 Social Enterprise strategy ‘A New Way Forward’, and the 2020 ‘Working to Change’ strategy.
This new strategy seeks to provide effective interventions to ensure that those who have ceased offending, and those who are looking for stability to move away from a life which involves offending, have the appropriate supports and opportunities open to them.
The Building Pathways Together strategy underscores a renewed cross-sectoral commitment to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with criminal convictions, and work will commence on the implementation phase of the strategy in 2025.
Taken together, these important and comprehensive pieces of work represent a coherent and all-of-system approach to addressing offender behaviour, providing rehabilitative and mental health supports, and managing the people who offend in a considered and planned way to minimise reoffending.
As requested by the Deputy, I have provided below a list of organisations working to reduce recidivism rates and ensure successful reintegration of prisoners into society.
The Irish Prison Service works with the following organisations to support a reduction in recidivism rates and ensure successful reintegration of prisoners into society:
• Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities (IASIO)
• Focus Ireland
• Bedford Row Family Project
• Alternative to Violence Programme
• Prevention Accommodation Community Enterprise (PACE)
• Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI)
• Speire Nua
• South Leinster Citizen Information Service
• Visitors’ Centres
• Society of St Vincent de Paul
• Roscommon Leader Partnership
The Probation Service works similarly with the following Community-Based Organisations:
• Adventure Sports/RYS
• Ana Liffey
• Aftercare Recovery Group
• Aiséirí Cahir, Aiséirí Wexford & Aislinn
• Athy Alternative Project
• Ballinasloe Training Workshop
• Ballymun Youth Action Project
• Ballyrunners (Ballymun JC)
• Bridge
• Bushypark
• Candle Community Trust
• Care After Prison
• Céim ar Chéim
• Céim Eile
• Churchfield
• Coolmine Therapeutic Community
• Cork Alliance Centre
• Cornmarket
• Cox's Demesne
• Crinan
• Cuan Mhuire Athy
• Cuan Mhuire Bruree
• Cuan Mhuire Coolarne
• Cuan Mhuire Farnanes
• Daughters of Charity
• Dóchas don Óige
• Donegal Women’s Centre
• Fusion CPL
• GROW
• Guild of St. Philip Neri
• IASIO
• Kerry Adolescent Counselling
• Kilkenny Employment for Youth
• Le Chéile
• Matt Talbot Community Trust
• Merchants Quay
• PACE
• PALLS
• Pro-Social Ireland
• Restorative Justice in the Community
• Restorative Justice Service
• SAOL
• Sailing Into Wellness
• SOLAS
• Southill Outreach
• Stepping Out
• Tabor Fellowship
• Tallaght / Deonach
• Tivoli
• Tower
• TRAIL
• Traveller Justice Initiative
• TREO
• Tuam Community Training Centre
• Tus Nua
• Westview / Foroige
• Wexford Centre
• WHAD
954. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice what mental health and addiction treatment services are available in prisons; and the measures necessary to ensure they are effective. [46486/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service aims to provide safe and secure custody, dignity of care, and rehabilitation to prisoners for safer communities and to provide healthcare and psychological services on an equivalent basis to what is available to those eligible for General Medical Scheme services in the community.
The Irish prison population is currently in excess of 5,000 people, many of whom experience a broad range of primary, secondary and tertiary care mental health/psychological needs.
The Irish Prison Service multidisciplinary team working directly with the mental health needs of people in custody is made up of the Irish Prison Services Primary Healthcare team and Psychological Service as well as in-reach mental health services, provided by the HSE’s National Forensic Mental Health Service. The latter involves the provision of weekly forensic mental health sessions led by consultant forensic psychiatrists, supported by non-consultant hospital doctors, community psychiatric nurses, and social workers.
The Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and Drugs Strategy 2023-2026 both represent a collective commitment to the well-being, rehabilitation and safety of both prisoners and staff.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Health Needs Assessment for the Irish Prison Service was published in May 2023. This was the first comprehensive health assessment undertaken for the prison service. On foot of the recommendations, the Irish Prison Service has recruited a Clinical Lead for Mental Health and Addiction.
This appointment is especially important as the clinical lead is dedicated to developing the care and services available within prisons and liaising with community services to ensure continuity of care.
The High Level Task Force (HLTF) on Mental Health and Addiction published their final report in September 2022. The report identified where further improvements can be implemented in order to enhance the treatment available to those with mental health and addiction difficulties within the criminal justice system.
It outlined 61 recommendations to be implemented over a five-year period from the time of publication of the final report. The First Annual Progress Report of the HLTF was published in February 2024 covering September 2022–September 2023.
The most recent key developments include the launch of the Community Access Support Team (CAST) pilot project in Limerick and the roll-out of Mental Health First Aid training for An Garda Síochána members on a national level. CAST is a partnership pilot between An Garda Síochána and the Mental Health Services (MHS), the HSE and Mid-West Community Healthcare.
The pilot endeavours to establish an appropriate co-response approach to calls relating to mental health and situational trauma. Work remains ongoing to monitor and further progress the recommendations of the HLTF.
All people committed to prison are subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team, which includes a mental health assessment. The information provided as part of this process is recorded on the person’s individual medical record on the Prison Healthcare Management System (PHMS). This information allows for the development of an individual healthcare plan for the prisoner while in custody.
Where necessary, the person is referred to a forensic clinician or IPS psychologist or both. Medical and/or psychological treatment is provided as clinically indicated.
The Irish Prison Service Psychology Service take a lead role in relation to mental health assessment for the purposes of group or individual talking therapy interventions. They also provide offence related (criminogenic) assessment and intervention (which frequently includes mental health, addiction and trauma related factors).
The Irish Prison Service via its contracted delivery partner Merchants Quay Ireland delivers addiction counselling and support. There are 20 authorised addiction counsellor posts, supporting individual and group work across the prison estate. As of July 2024, over 600 prisoners were engaged in addiction counselling, with more than 800 awaiting access to these services.
As of 3 January 2025, the number of people on the waiting list to be seen by a psychologist is approximately 2,078 people, and there are 524 people on the Psychology Service caseload.
Typically, approximately 1,400 people are referred to the service annually. By the end of 2024, 546 people had been seen by a psychologist specifically for a mental health referral, 149 people were seen within 12 weeks and 397 people were seen within over 24 weeks.
955. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice the reason funding was refused for the child development centre in Kildare; whether this can be funded in another way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46489/24]
View answer971. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice if funding already approved under the immigrant investor programme will be released to enable the completion of the national child development centre in Kildare; if there is a reason why this funding has not been released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46756/24]
View answer1065. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position with funding for a project in Kildare South (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2124/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 955, 971 and 1065, inclusive, together.
At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications.
I can, however, inform the Deputy that my Department does not receive or hold funds at any stage in the IIP process; this is a private matter between a potential investor(s) and a potential project concerned.
The IIP Unit of my Department communicates with projects seeking to benefit from investments made in connection with an IIP application in relation to how the terms of the programme apply to their particular project. The Unit also engages with projects and monitors them for their compliance with the IIP requirements.
If the project owner has any queries they can contact the IIP Unit who will engage directly with them.
The question of alternative sources of funding for this project is not a matter for my Department.
957. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of emergency calls to An Garda Síochána reporting domestic abuse during 2024. [46534/24]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence remains a priority for this Government, for my Department and for the Garda Commissioner.
'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), sets out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.
The Strategy, which was co-designed with the sector, also has a significant focus on improving the system for victims of these terrible crimes and on ensuring there is a full range of supports and services available nationwide to support and empower victims and survivors.
An Garda Síochána and my Department are continuing to work hard to strengthen trust and confidence in the system, so that victims will feel confident in coming forward to report what has happened to them and get justice.
An Garda Síochána prioritise and proactively respond to incidents of domestic abuse and the nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) ensures that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.
As part of delivering on the commitments under the Third National Strategy, I strengthened the law to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, including by introducing new stand-alone offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation and by doubling to 10 years the maximum sentence for assault causing harm, this being one of the most common offences in domestic violence cases and also commenced parts 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 which, among other things, improve supports for victims.
I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that the following table provides a full year count of Domestic Abuse calls received during 2024.
|
|
2024 |
|
Domestic Incidents |
65,114 |
The annual total includes PULSE incidents where the incident type is one of:
• Breach of Barring Order
• Breach of Emergency Barring Order
• Breach of Safety Order
• Breach of Protection Order
• Breach of Interim Barring Order
• Domestic - No Offence Identified
• Coercive Control
Or is of any PULSE incident type and has a recorded ‘Domestic Abuse’ motive. Or is of any PULSE incident type and has a CAD or GardaSAFE originating call type of ‘DVSA’ or ‘DOMESTIC’.
The data was extracted from the PULSE database on 8 January 2025, is operational and subject to change.
