Written Answers Nos. 169-177
169. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the expected total legal costs to be incurred in his Department in 2012; his proposals to reduce these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44065/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegal costs incurred by my Department arise primarily as a result of the process and outcome of litigation; there are, therefore, significant uncertainties involved in estimating such costs. Within this context, every effort is made by my Department to keep costs to a minimum through, inter alia, proper management of legal cases, use of dedicated expertise in other public bodies (Attorney General’s Office (Advisory Counsel), Chief State Solicitor’s Office, State Claims Agency) and competitive tendering for external legal services where these are required. It is estimated that legal costs in 2012 may be of the order of €1.7m, excluding costs associated with the Planning Tribunal.
170. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that 220 Gardai will be sent forward for training to operate the 22 additional evidential station based machines and if therefore 10 Gardai will be trained for each machine; the number of Gardai that will be attending the two day training course in MBRS on 16 October 2012; the date on which all others will be trained; his views on the statement that although in accordance with international standards it is recommended that there be no fewer than fifteen trained Gardai for each machine to allow for different roistering shifts that approximately 10 Gardai per machine are being forward for training to operate the additional 22 new machines in stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43811/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sniffer dogs that the Gardaí have at their disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43498/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently twenty-four dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit which undertakes a wide range of tasks, including drugs and explosives detection, victim location and search duties.
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an Irish passport in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43539/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in June, 2012.
The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
If the applicant is granted a certificate of naturalisation then he can make an application for an Irish passport to the Passport Office.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
173. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the Gardaí are under resourced to deal with the problem of gun violence on our streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43571/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of serious crime and the Gardaí will continue to bear down heavily on the activities of those involved in armed and gangland crime. That is clear from the extent of the Garda operations launched against gangs as well as the many drug seizures that have taken place in recent months and weeks.
I should also mention the more recently released recorded crime statistics, which show that most categories of crime are in fact falling, which also reflects well on the work of An Garda Síochána. These figures showed that in the 12 month period to end June, murder had decreased by 8% and assault offences were down by 9.7%.
We should not underestimate the difficulties the Gardaí face in trying to prevent gangland killings and related crimes and in bringing the perpetrators to justice. These crimes are carefully planned and are carried out by people who are very familiar with criminal and forensic investigation techniques. Moreover, even where members of gangs are clearly at risk not only will they generally not cooperate with Gardaí but, in fact, they will do everything they can to avoid Garda attention.
Despite the difficulties which they encounter, we should remember that week in week out the Gardaí are successfully bringing people involved in gangland activities before the Courts, disrupting their activities, making seizures and securing convictions. Thanks to these operations a substantial number are presently serving sentences in prison.
It is misleading to characterise this as a question of resources. There has been gang and gun violence for some time in Ireland, and the number of murders was in fact higher when Garda numbers were higher than they are now. Despite the constraints on public finances, substantial Garda resources remain in place and these must be seen in the context of the programme of real reform which is being delivered in An Garda Síochána under the Croke Park Agreement. The Garda Commissioner and the members of the Force have my full support in continuing to confront gangland violence and criminality and in bringing those involved to justice.
174. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Gardaí in a town (details supplied) in County Meath are taking to reduce the levels of burglaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43584/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is within the Dunboyne Garda Sub-District, which forms part of the Ashbourne Garda District.
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has put Operation Fiacla in place in order to address incidents of burglary, aggravated burglaries and related offences throughout the country. Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda Region to target suspect offenders. I am informed that over 1,700 persons have been arrested and that almost 1,000 persons have been charged in the first six months of the Operation, reflecting the substantial efforts being made by the Gardaí to tackle those involved in burglary and property crimes in all parts of the country.
I am further informed that the area referred to by the Deputy is subject to patrols by local and district uniform and plain clothes personnel, supplemented as necessary by Divisional plain clothes personnel, the Divisional Traffic Corps and Regional Support Units. Local Garda management closely monitors such patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the communities in the area to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
An Garda Síochána also places great emphasis on the importance of the partnership between An Garda Síochána and the community in preventing and detecting crime, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner recently launched the second national public awareness week this year under the 'Garda Supporting Safer Communities Campaign’. This important campaign highlights a range of key issues, in particular burglary prevention information and advice, to operate alongside targeted policing responses to burglary.
I am further advised that, while the situation is being kept under review, Garda management is satisfied that a comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the residents of the area referred to.
175. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action the State is taking in response to the action of a person (details supplied) who placed himself beyond the reach of Gardaí by getting residential status in Brazil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43602/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will seek a bilateral extradition treaty with Brazil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43603/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a comprehensive investigation file in relation to this matter was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
I am further informed that investigating Gardaí continue to liaise with the DPP and this investigation remains ongoing.
It will be appreciated that it is not the practice to comment publicly on actions being taken or which are contemplated to secure the return of persons in relation to criminal proceedings as to do so could be counterproductive.
177. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers that have died while living in direct provision centres over the past 12 years; the year in which each died; their respective ages at the time of their deaths and the respective cause of their deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43669/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers under the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal.
The collation of statistics on deaths of all asylum seekers living in direct provision commenced only in 2002. During the period 2002 to date, there have been 53 deaths of asylum seekers who were residing in direct provision accommodation prior to their deaths.
While RIA may have general knowledge of the cause of death - perhaps by way of information arising from the specified medical needs of the resident concerned prior to his or her death - it does not, indeed cannot, hold or have access to death certificates. In most cases, the deaths would have occurred outside the asylum centres themselves e.g. in hospitals. If the HSE or a Coroner were to raise an issue relating to the accommodation in which a deceased person lived prior to their death - and this has never happened - then RIA would respond accordingly. Where information is provided to centre managers by relatives or friends of the deceased, this is recorded by RIA and indicates that the causes of death ranged from cancers, heart conditions to traffic accidents and, in the case of deaths of children under the age of five, it is believed that a number were suspected cot deaths and still births. Given previous misinterpretations of statistics provided in this respect, it is important to say that only one of these deaths can with certainty be said to be a suicide and that involved a newly arrived asylum seeker taking his own life in 2008 while in hospital.
The number of asylum seekers who died while being provided with accommodation by RIA in direct provision centres and an age breakdown for those persons are set out as follows.
|
Year |
Number of deaths |
Age Range |
Number |
|
|
2002 |
6 |
0 - 5 yrs |
13 |
|
|
2003 |
8 |
6 - 10 yrs |
0 |
|
|
2004 |
3 |
11 - 15 yrs |
0 |
|
|
2005 |
6 |
16 - 20 yrs |
4 |
|
|
2006 |
4 |
21 - 25 yrs |
3 |
|
|
2007 |
8 |
26 - 30 yrs |
6 |
|
|
2008 |
7 |
31 - 35 yrs |
9 |
|
|
2009 |
1 |
36 - 40 yrs |
5 |
|
|
2010 |
6 |
41 - 45 yrs |
3 |
|
|
2011 |
1 |
46 - 50 yrs |
5 |
|
|
2012 * |
3 |
51 - 55 yrs |
3 |
|
|
Total |
53 |
56 - 60 yrs |
2 |
|
|
* To date in 2012 |
Total |
53 |
While all of these deaths are, of course, tragic, RIA has provided accommodation for over 50,000 persons over the course of the twelve years the direct provision policy has been in place, and the numbers of deaths need to be viewed proportionately and against this background.
It needs to be recorded that the above relates only to asylum seekers living in the Direct Provision system. Some asylum seekers choose not to avail of the Direct Provision system and stay with friends or relatives. It is possible that, during the period in question, there could have been deaths among this cohort but such data is not available to RIA.
