Parliamentary questions

An Garda Síochána

Catherine Murphy

250. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the number of ethnicities, by type and by rank, represented in An Garda Síochána [18627/24]

An Garda Síochána

Catherine Murphy

251. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of ethnicities represented, by type, that applied to the 2024 garda trainee recruitment drive; the date on which it is expected the first batch from the 2024 recruitment pool will proceed to phase one; and the number of successful applicants from 2022/2023 recruitment drives that have yet to be processed forward to phase 1 of Garda training. [18628/24]

An Garda Síochána

Catherine Murphy

252. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that were successful at stages 1 and 2 of the Garda trainee application process that were deemed to be generally unsuitable to be offered a place in phase 1 of Garda training in the past 20 years. [18629/24]

An Garda Síochána

Catherine Murphy

253. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that have failed on their first attempt at the Garda trainee fitness test in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the number that subsequently passed the fitness test over that same period on their second attempt. [18660/24]

Citizenship Applications

Bernard Durkan

254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current position in relation to the application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18685/24]

Citizenship Applications

Bernard Durkan

255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the process to be followed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18689/24]

Family Law Cases

Bernard Durkan

256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if she will introduce the necessary changes to Irish family law to prevent the use of parental alienation pursuant to the appropriate provisions of family and child law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18692/24]

Family Law Cases

Bernard Durkan

257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice her proposed timescale for the introduction of legislation to discontinue the use of parental alienation in Irish family law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18693/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which it might be possible to update a stamp 3 status to stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18694/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which it might be possible to upgrade a stamp 3 residency status to stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18695/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to indicate in the case of a person (details supplied) whether she can update and upgrade their residency status to stamp 4 given that they are both legally employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18696/24]

Residency Permits

Bernard Durkan

261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when residency status can be updated and rectified in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18697/24]

Residency Permits

Bernard Durkan

262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if and when appropriate residency status might be granted in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18698/24]

Departmental Schemes

David Stanton

115. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications received under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme in each respective year since its inception; the number of applications accepted, and the number refused each year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18140/24]

Prison Service

Pa Daly

116. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 824 of 7 November 2023, for an update on the establishment of the Penal Policy Consultative Council. [18188/24]

Prison Service

Pa Daly

117. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the current number of persons on remand, by prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18190/24]

Prison Service

Pa Daly

118. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the reports that have been submitted to her office by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons that are awaiting publication; the date of submission of each of these reports; when these reports will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18191/24]

Restorative Justice

Pa Daly

119. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice when she will bring forward reform of community sanctions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18192/24]

Legislative Measures

Pa Daly

120. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her views on the Inspection of the Places of Detention Bill 2022. [18193/24]

Legislative Measures

Pa Daly

121. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her current plans to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. [18194/24]

Prison Service

Pa Daly

122. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently engaged with the bail supervision scheme in the youth justice system; her plans to extend this scheme to the adult population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18195/24]

Prison Service

Pa Daly

123. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of former prisoners who have been referred to the housing first scheme since its establishment in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18196/24]

Programme for Government

Pa Daly

124. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her views on the Programme for Government commitment to introduce legislation to address the issue of spent convictions; and her plans for reform in the area. [18197/24]

An Garda Síochána

Pádraig O'Sullivan

125. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 20 March 2024, the number of Garda vetting appeals heard by appeals officers for the years 2019 to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18206/24]

An Garda Síochána

Paul Donnelly

126. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of marked Garda vans attached to each Garda district within DMR as of 18 April 2024, in tabular form. [18231/24]

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Brendan Smith

127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when a health impact assessment will be carried out in respect of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18239/24]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Carol Nolan

128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department can provide data on the number of unaccompanied minors who have arrived at Dublin Airport for each of the years 2019 to date; the procedures followed by her Department or the border management unit and the Garda National Immigration Bureau when an unaccompanied minor child enters the state without correct identification or no identification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18251/24]

Constitutional Amendments

Carol Nolan

129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if the concerns expressed by officials within the legal and immigration units of her Department and obtained an FOI request from an organisation (details supplied) were brought to her attention prior to the recent family and care referenda; when this took place; her response to these concerns, particularly with respect to the clear views of staff within her Department's immigration units that if the constitutional amendments were passed this would likely result in massively increased legal costs and the destabilisation of the State's capacity to maintain an effective immigration system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18284/24]

Departmental Funding

Mark Ward

130. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice when applications for the community safety innovation fund will be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18382/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

131. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in her Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18396/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

132. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if she or her officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18448/24]

Court Accommodation

Pa Daly

1. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the upgrading of Tralee courthouse. [17367/24]

EU Agreements

Gino Kenny

2. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware that over 160 civil society organisations from across the European Union have issued a statement against the EU migration pact stating it will have devastating implications for the right to international protection in the EU and greenlight abuses across Europe, including racial profiling, default de facto detention and pushbacks and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17849/24]

An Garda Síochána

Pa Daly

3. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the projected number of trainees who will begin training and will attest through Garda training for this calendar year and if any changes to the training are proposed. [17368/24]

EU Agreements

Mattie McGrath

4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice if the Government intends to hold a referendum on whether the people agree to opt in or opt out of the EU pact on migration and asylum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17720/24]

Crime Prevention

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

5. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered the establishment of a knife amnesty to help address the problem of knife crime. [17752/24]

Legislative Measures

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

6. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice to restate her intention to pursue the passing of hate crime legislation this year. [17753/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

7. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice what measures have been put in place to address the unprecedented number of members resigning from An Garda Síochána. [17751/24]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Alan Farrell

8. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice for an update on engagement with local authorities with regard to community CCTV schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17839/24]

Northern Ireland

Éamon Ó Cuív

9. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the progress made in discussions with the British government in relation to implementing the recommendation of the Independent Reporting Commission regarding appointing an independent person to explore what a process of engagement and group transition might look like; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17766/24]

Family Law Cases

Aindrias Moynihan

10. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider providing dedicated family courts within the existing court structures to ensure families are placed at the centre of the family justice system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17787/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

11. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of community gardaí in the Dublin region compared with in 2019. [17754/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

12. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the latest departmental activities in the management of international protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17721/24]

EU Directives

John Brady

13. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice what plans are in place to deal with the ending of the Temporary Protection Directive in March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9687/24]

Legislative Reviews

Catherine Connolly

14. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 22 February 2024, the status of the independent review of part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017; her plans to revisit the decision for the review to be completed by the data and research unit of her Department; if she will recruit another independent reviewer to complete the work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17851/24]

An Garda Síochána

Pádraig O'Sullivan

15. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí working in road policing in Cork city and county at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17791/24]

Sentencing Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

16. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice if she has received from the Judicial Council the sentencing guidelines committee's three-year work plan for sentencing guidelines, as committed to in the Judicial Council's 2022 annual report. [15783/24]

Crime Prevention

Robert Troy

17. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if she will implement the recommendation of the Hamilton report to introduce a standard of recklessness into fraud offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17792/24]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

18. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are adequate legislative measures to deal with the scourge of drugs, with particular need to counteract effectively the activities of large-scale drug dealers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17828/24]

Inspector of Prisons

Patrick Costello

19. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when existing unpublished centre reports (details supplied) will be published. [17832/24]

Crime Prevention

Pádraig O'Sullivan

20. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the measures her Department has taken to date to tackle cybercrime; her views on whether enough resources have been allocated to the Garda to deal with cybercrime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17790/24]

An Garda Síochána

Alan Farrell

21. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to report on the number of gardaí being recruited, and attesting, in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17838/24]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

22. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the additional measures, if any, she will introduce to deal with the scourge of illegal drugs throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17829/24]

An Garda Síochána

Claire Kerrane

23. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice the number of new Garda recruits allocated to counties Roscommon and Galway following the latest passing-out ceremony in Templemore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17599/24]

An Garda Síochána

Bernard Durkan

24. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which she continues to provide adequate resources to enable An Garda Síochána to adequately police organised crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17776/24]

An Garda Síochána

Patrick Costello

25. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the introduction of an online portal for uploading and reporting of digital evidence, such as video of road traffic offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17844/24]

Antisocial Behaviour

Paul Donnelly

26. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice what resources are available to the roads policing unit at present to deal specifically with the illegal use of scrambler-type motorcycles in public places. [12274/24]

Sentencing Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

27. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice if she has received from the Judicial Council, the sentencing guidelines committee's procedure for developing sentencing guidelines, as committed to in the Judicial Council's 2022 annual report. [15782/24]

Visa Agreements

Robert Troy

28. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if she will reconsider joining the EU's Visa Information System in a bid to tackle migration and security challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17793/24]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Éamon Ó Cuív

29. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the discussions she has had with the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland since the reappointment of the Executive there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17767/24]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

30. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown of the number of Garda officers, by rank, attached to all Meath East Garda stations in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of Garda officers who retired from Meath East Garda stations in the same period; and if this is commensurate with population increases in Meath from 2020 to 2024 to date, in tabular form. [17701/24]

An Garda Síochána

Peadar Tóibín

31. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have left the force in each year since 2020. [17652/24]

Departmental Priorities

Brendan Griffin

32. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice her priorities for the year ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17719/24]

Departmental Strategies

David Stanton

33. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the operation of the youth justice strategy; her plans for further developments in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17765/24]

An Garda Síochána

Bernard Durkan

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which provision is being made whereby the throughput of gardaí from Templemore is being increased to meet current and expanding needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17775/24]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

35. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to establish a dedicated transport police; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17702/24]

Family Law Cases

Pauline Tully

36. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider reviewing the penalties that can be issued by a judge for non-compliance with a court order (details supplied) in family law cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17814/24]

An Garda Síochána

Ruairí Ó Murchú

37. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí currently detailed for community policing in Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee stations, respectively, following the implementation of the new policing model in Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17703/24]

Crime Prevention

Brendan Griffin

38. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider a weapons amnesty to help take more guns and knives off the streets and generate greater awareness about knife crime in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17718/24]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 22 February 2024, the number of people currently in Gaza who have permission to remain in Ireland, or who have a visa to live, study or work in Ireland; the steps being taken by her Department to assist them in exiting Gaza; the details of any engagement between her Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs in this regard since October 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17852/24]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

40. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the provision of refuge spaces to underserved areas under the zero tolerance strategy. [17546/24]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

41. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the provision of a women’s refuge in County Carlow. [17545/24]

An Garda Síochána

Peadar Tóibín

42. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of times she has met with the Garda Commissioner since she took office. [17651/24]

Immigration Policy

David Stanton

43. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 11 and 26 of 22 February 2024, her Department's progress with regard to granting spouses or partners of those working in Ireland under intra-company transfer employment permits the necessary permission to gain access to the labour market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17711/24]

An Garda Síochána

Richard Boyd Barrett

424. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice , further to Parliamentary Question No. 921 of 9 April, if further clarification will be provided on what specifically the figures for offences and convictions are in respect of the second table; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17318/24]

Immigration Status

Brendan Griffin

425. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice for advice and-or clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17319/24]

Legislative Reviews

Patrick Costello

426. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she would be willing to carry out a review of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 and issues relating to the operation of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17322/24]

Legislative Measures

Patrick Costello

427. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice in instances where residents feel aggrieved by decisions taken or feel owners’ management companies are acting outside the scope of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, the mechanisms under which residents can submit these actions for review or enforcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17324/24]

Immigration Status

Kathleen Funchion

428. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if a person can apply for citizenship (details supplied). [17372/24]

International Students

Mairéad Farrell

429. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of English language schools that were inspected for compliance of the ILEP in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17393/24]

International Students

Mairéad Farrell

430. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of English language schools that were removed from the ILEP in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form; the number of these schools that were later readmitted on to the ILEP; and the number of schools that were not readmitted. [17394/24]

Legislative Measures

Carol Nolan

431. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if it is her view that existing legislation is sufficient to deal with the issue of rising knife crime, including the carrying of illegally held knives; if her Department is considering updating the law in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17396/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

432. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent on the replacement of ballistic shields for use by An Garda Síochána in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [17423/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

433. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of a visa application in the case of a person (details supplied); if this application can be expedited, given the circumstances of the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17444/24]

Court Procedures

Pa Daly

434. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 375 of 17 October 2023, the breakdown for the current wait times for an initial hearing in the District, Circuit, Central, High and Supreme Courts, in tabular form. [17539/24]

Departmental Data

Pa Daly

435. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown of the number of convictions secured for knife-related crimes for 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [17550/24]

Departmental Consultations

Michael Lowry

436. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 27 February 2024, to confirm if officials in her Department have reviewed correspondence (details supplied); to confirm whether contact was made with representatives from a named association; if she will ensure that every effort will be made to rectify any possible irregularities at the earliest convenience, in order that this application can be processed and finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17565/24]

Prison Service

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

437. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full-year cost if an extra 185 prison officers were recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17615/24]

Alcohol Sales

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

438. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the number of inspections Gardaí within the Carlow-Kilkenny division carried out on pubs, clubs and so on, to ensure full compliance with liquor licensing regulation in 2023 and to date in 2024; the percentage of premises that were found in breach of legislation in each of the years in question, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17617/24]

Asylum Seekers

Peadar Tóibín

439. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of new refuge accommodation units delivered and opened for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17642/24]

Asylum Seekers

Peadar Tóibín

440. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the total funding allocation for Tusla and Cuan Saor in each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive for staffed refuges, domestic violence support services, rape crisis centres and associated helpline services, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17643/24]

Asylum Seekers

Peadar Tóibín

441. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of new refuge accommodation units delivered and opened for each of the years 2020 to 2023 inclusive, in tabular form. [17644/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

442. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the progression unit in Mountjoy Prison, which was previously used only for model generic prisoners but which has now had sex offenders placed there; if this allocation of sex offenders to the unit will continue to take place; if so, why is the facility not being used for it's designed purposes; and what other building will act as a new progression unit to take its place. [17686/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

443. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners being put forward for early or temporary release in the past 12 months, but who were not released due to the fact early probation supervision is not available for them in the community. [17688/24]

Probation and Welfare Service

Patrick Costello

444. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to provide in tabular form a Statewide list of community probation teams, by area, the number of staff employed in each and the number of vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17689/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

445. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure other addiction counsellors are sourced as a matter of urgency for the prison service; her views on the situation whereby in Mountjoy Prison there is currently only two addiction/MQI counsellors for the entire prison, given by her own admission (details supplied) 70% of the population have addiction issues in a prison of approximately 800 prisons; and her views on whether two addiction councillors for 550+ prisoners with addiction issues is an adequate number for provision of services. [17690/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

446. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 10 October 2023, if seven out of every ten prisoners have addiction issues, the reason millions are being spent on hundreds of new places in prison, when the money could be better spent addressing the root cause of incarceration for many of the existing populations, i.e. addiction, which would entail hiring more addiction counsellors. [17697/24]

Departmental Data

Pa Daly

447. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice for a tabular breakdown of the number of cases involving knives and prosecuted under section 9(1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 Act, which have been referred to the DPP and prosecuted for the years 2009-2024 inclusive. [17738/24]

An Garda Síochána

Paul Donnelly

448. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice if funding is available this year for the issuing of mobile fingerprint devices to be issued to frontline gardaí. [17802/24]

An Garda Síochána

Paul Donnelly

449. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the age of the boats currently in the Garda water unit; and the average lifespan of those types of boats. [17803/24]