Written Answers Nos. 495-516
495. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the numbers of Gardaí in each Garda district in the Tipperary Division as of the 1 March 2011 and the 1 of March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49937/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of each Garda District together with the Divisional resources in the Tipperary Garda Division on 28 February 2011 and on 29 February 2012 was as set out in the following table:
|
District |
28/02/11 |
29/02/12 |
|
Cahir |
62 |
66 |
|
Clonmel |
72 |
69 |
|
Nenagh |
61 |
59 |
|
Templemore |
64 |
65 |
|
Thurles |
89 |
83 |
|
Tipperary Town |
37 |
34 |
|
Divisional resources |
||
|
Garda Reserves |
26 |
32 |
|
Civilian staff |
35 |
35 |
497. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified accountants employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50014/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra498. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified solicitors employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50015/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra499. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified barristers employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50016/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 497 to 499, inclusive, together.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are no Solicitors or Barristers employed at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation on a full time basis. There are two full time qualified Accountants employed by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.
500. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of officials by grade in his Department that will be working solely on the Presidency for the remainder of 2012; if redeployment or promotion has occurred; if they will be paid any additional allowances or pay; the way these officials were selected; if the selection procedure gave rise to any complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50023/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that my Department has assigned 10 additional staff to Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU based in Brussels until the end of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of Ministers in mid 2013. The staff assigned to the Permanent Representation in Brussels are paid the appropriate foreign service allowances which attach to such posts. My Department sought expression of interests from staff across the Department in being assigned to Brussels, with the responses resulting in short-listing of staff in some grades and informal selection interviews at all grades. As regards complaints in respect of the selection procedures involved, I am advised that one former officer of my Department has raised some potential concerns which he has but to date no formal complaint has been received.
In Dublin, the International Policy Division of my Department has had 7 additional staff assigned to it to work solely on the Presidency. Those staff whilst additional to that Division's previously assigned staff have been drawn from the reducing number of staff available to my Department as a whole by way of internal transfers taking into account competing priorities and demands across the Department. One of the staff assigned to the International Policy Division specifically for Presidency related work has been promoted on a temporary basis until the end of the Presidency. This promotion was made from a panel established following a competition conducted in 2010 and which was compliant with the Commission of Public Service Appointment Code of Practice.
The following table sets out by grade the number of officials working solely on the Presidency:
|
Principal Officer |
Assistant Principal Officer |
Higher Executive Officer\ Administrative Officer |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
Total |
|
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
17 |
501. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 610 and 611 of 17 July 2012, if he will detail by grade any further promotions that have taken place; if sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has been sought and obtained for those promotions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50033/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 17 July this year, I am advised that the following promotions have occurred:
|
Promotion to PO |
Promotion to APO |
Promotion to HEO |
Promotion to EO |
|
1 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
I understand the above promotions are temporary in nature with specific expiry dates applying to each of them. In addition, the position of Director of Operations in the Prisons Service was filled on a substantive basis by a serving Principal Officer. I can confirm for the Deputy that I am also advised that in all cases the relevant sanctions were obtained by my Department prior to effecting the promotions.
502. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form, for each grade, details of the salary, allowances and purpose of allowances paid to employees of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the National Disability Authority in 2011. [50068/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find information requested detailed as follows.
|
Body |
Grade |
Salary Scale min - max |
Allowances paid in 2011 |
Reason for allowance |
|
Human Rights Commission |
CEO |
€134,523 - €153,885 |
Nil |
|
|
Director, Enquiry, Legal Services and Administration |
€84,132 - €103,472(*) |
Nil |
||
|
Senior Enquiry & Legal Services Officer |
€71,359 - €88,598 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
Senior Research & Policy Officer |
€65,185 - €80,678 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer |
€65,185 - €80,678 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
Enquiry & Legal Services Officer |
€46,081 - €58,294 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
Administration, Finance & HR Officer |
€30,516 - €47,975 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
Clerical Officer |
€23,177 - €37,341 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
Clerical Officer (Desk Officer) |
€23,177 - €37,341 (*) |
Nil |
||
|
* After six years at maximum. |
||||
|
National Disability Authority |
Principal (h) |
€85,597 - €105,429 |
0 |
|
|
Principal (s) |
€84,132 - €103,472 |
0 |
||
|
Assistant Principal (h) |
€71,359 - €88,598 |
0 |
||
|
Assistant Principal (s) |
€65,185 - €80,678 |
€799.61 |
local bargaining agreement arising from Programme for Competitiveness and Work (PCW) |
|
|
Higher Executive Officer |
€46,081 - €58,294 |
0 |
||
|
FAS Grade 8 |
€34,049 - €55,315 |
0 |
||
|
Admin & Clerical Grade VI |
€44,849 - €55,032 |
0 |
||
|
Admin & Clerical Grade V |
€40,209 - €48,496 |
0 |
||
|
Admin & Clerical Grade IV |
€28,330 - €42,891 |
0 |
||
|
Admin & Clerical Grade III |
€23,187 - €37,341 |
0 |
||
|
Porter |
€27,504 - €30,525 |
0 |
||
|
Service Attendant |
€21,732 - €27,808 |
€1,860.29 |
24/7 keyholder service provided to NDA |
|
|
Security |
€21,732 - €27,808* |
|||
* Salary amount includes an availability allowance and "call rate" which form part of the overall salary structure and are build into the figure of €21, 732 (The relevant amount paid in 2011 is €4,772.94).
Availability Allowance: staff member makes themselves available for contact should there be a issue with the building - e.g. attempted break in.
Call rate: paid for services rendered for alarm testing and early opening.
503. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that Gardaí are taking in an area (details supplied) to reduce crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50116/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra504. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of arrests that have been made in an area (details supplied) in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50117/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra506. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Gardaí are taking in an area (details supplied) to reduce crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50149/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra507. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of arrests that have been made in an area (details supplied) in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50150/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 503, 504, 506 and 507 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the areas referred to are in the Ashbourne and Trim Garda Districts.
I am further informed that the areas are subject to regular patrols by local uniformed personnel, augmented by uniformed and plain clothes units from the District Headquarters, together with the Divisional Traffic Unit and the Regional Support Unit as required.
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 these areas to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources to provide the best possible Garda service to the public. While the situation is being kept under review, Garda management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the communities in the areas concerned and that the current structures in place deliver an effective and efficient policing service.
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 as of 19 October, 2493 persons have been arrested and 1404 persons have been charged with burglary offences under Operation Fiacla.
An Garda Síochána also places great emphasis on the importance of community partnerships in preventing and detecting crime, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone. An Garda Síochána continues to invest time and energy in these partnerships and relationships to the benefit of all.
In this regard, during September the Garda Commissioner 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. The primary objective of this Garda Community Safety Campaign is to engage with, and raise awareness within communities of initiatives aimed at preventing crime, reducing the fear of crime and promoting community safety.
Insofar as the number of arrests made in the specific areas referred to are concerned, I am informed that this would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to compile.
505. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for payment to the Criminal Injury's Board will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50131/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted provides that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in relation to individual applications under the Scheme. However, in order to be of assistance in the matter I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal on your behalf.
I understand that your Office was in contact with the Tribunal on 24 October, 2012 and that the Tribunal indicated that a decision had been formally notified to the person concerned on 1 October, 2012. I understand that the person concerned has not as yet responded to the Tribunal's letter with notification of his intention to either accept the award or lodge an appeal.
508. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 2 October 2012, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50151/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the legal advice to the Garda authorities is that there is no legal mechanism available to them which would allow them to furnish the requested information to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. However, I can assure the Deputy my Department and the Garda authorities are in consultation about this matter in an effort to find a resolution to this issue.
509. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for subsidiary protection in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay in processing this case; and when a decision will issue. [50159/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is a failed asylum applicant. Arising from the refusal of her asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 9 August, 2010, that the then Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of her. She was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made against her. In addition, she was notified of her entitlement to apply for Subsidiary Protection in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.
The person concerned submitted an application for Subsidiary Protection. When consideration of this application has been completed, the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.
In the event that the application for Subsidiary Protection is refused, the position in the State of the person concerned will then be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be considered before a final decision is made. Once a decision has been made, this decision and the consequences of the decision will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.
Due to the volume of cases on hands, it is not possible to say when the case of the person concerned will be finalised. However, the Deputy can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in having the case processed to completion.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
510. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the Public Service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the Public Service Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50646/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaff at Clerical Officer and Executive Officer level in my Department and offices under its aegis are often at the front line of service delivery. These staff are encouraged by their managers in Divisional team meetings to give their views on how work is organised, both in their own area and at a broader level. Where appropriate, this has included business process improvement initiatives and training aimed at simplifying processes and improving service delivery. In addition, these staff are involved in business planning and reform initiatives, led by their Head of Division.
In relation to public service reform generally, my Department's Reform and Development Unit ensures that staff are kept up to date in relation to reform issues by publication of a newsletter and by making available, often online, progress reports and other reform documentation. Staff are encouraged to give their views or ideas on any reform opportunities to the line manager or to this Unit.
In addition, my Department is considering a number of options for a staff suggestion scheme as the views of all staff are considered to be critical to the progressing of reforms.
511. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces will be included in any redundancy package announcements for public service workers in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49618/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently considering the introduction of a targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in parts of the Public Service, primarily to address the issue of staff surpluses where staff cannot be redeployed within the system. Given the fact that the Defence Forces are currently below strength and that recruitment is ongoing, there are no plans to introduce a voluntary redundancy scheme for the Defence Forces at this time.
512. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure that Kickham Barracks, Clonmel which was closed earlier this year does not become derelict and to this end that he will arrange for regular maintenance work including, frequent maintenance of open areas, grass-cutting, die-back of weeds and general maintenance to building, railings and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49941/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the announcement of the Government decision on barrack closures in November 2011, the Department of Defence has written to each Government Department and various agencies and local authorities seeking expressions of interest in acquiring any of the properties, including the former Kickham Barracks, to benefit the local community. In this regard there have been discussions between officials from the Department and a number of other State agencies and these discussions are ongoing.
In the meantime my Department will take appropriate measures to ensure that the site is maintained in a satisfactory manner.
513. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that the training centre for the Reserve Defence Forces will remain in Cavan town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49590/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Value for Money review of the Reserve Defence Force was recently completed and submitted to myself and the Secretary General of my Department for consideration. In advance of the publication of its accompanying Report and in line with the guidelines and normal procedure for Value for Money Reviews, the responses to the recommendations are currently being developed. Until such time as these deliberations are finalised, I cannot comment on any aspect of future plans for the Reserve.
514. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49649/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board and the Army Pensions Board. The areas listed by the Deputy where expenditure has been incurred by these bodies in 2012 is set out as follows:
|
Estimated Expenditure 2012 Civil Defence Board |
Estimated Expenditure 2012 Army Pensions Board |
|
|
Public Relations/Advertising |
€1,800 |
Nil |
|
Human Resources (Staff Salary Costs) |
€1,233,630 |
€52,300 |
515. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure there will be houses available in Athlone, County Westmeath, for the families that will be moved there from Dublin; if there will be school places for their children; if financial support will be made readily available for the move including allowances and compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50028/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra516. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the cost benefits the moving of 56 families from Dublin McKee Barracks to Athlone, County Westmeath, will have for the Army and Government; the amount the relocation of the 56 families will cost the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.
The implementation of the major reorganisation of the Defence Forces in order to maintain their operational capability is progressing in full consultation with serving personnel and their Representative Associations. All options to avoid the need for personnel to relocate are being explored as part of this process. Personnel are being offered the opportunity for reassignment within their current locations where this is feasible, together with opportunities for re-training and re-skilling. In addition, a review system has been put in place whereby personnel who are unhappy with a proposed relocation can seek a review of a decision. Inevitably, given the scale of the reorganisation, it will be necessary for some staff to move to new locations.
The creation of a new two Brigade structure for the Army under the reorganisation has resulted in Combat Support Units being reduced from nine units to six. The Field Engineer companies based in McKee Barracks fall into this category, and the Headquarters element and Field Engineer Company are being relocated to Custume Barracks, Athlone. Forty-five personnel from within the 2 Field Engineer Company will therefore have to move with their unit to Athlone, or be reassigned to alternative appointments available in other Units in the Dublin Area. Pending the full rollout of the reorganisation plan it is not possible to say how many personnel can be facilitated though reassignment process. However, there is no question of families being moved or being required to move arising from the reorganisation and this is a matter for each individual to decide. The reality is that many Defence Forces personnel currently assigned to McKee barracks are not resident in Dublin and commute on a daily basis, which is a common feature across both the public and private sector of a modern, flexible and mobile working population in Ireland today.
All members of the Defence Forces reassigned under the Defence Forces Reorganisation Plan 2012 are entitled to Change of Station Allowance in circumstances where they meet the qualifying criteria. It is not possible at this point to estimate the total figure that will require to be paid in Change of Station allowance as this will be contingent on a number of factors including whether individuals will actually opt to physically relocate home or not.
The Government is very much aware that the major re-organisation currently underway is a difficult process for many serving members of the Defence Forces and their families, who are being required to make decisions under the current reorganisation that they would not otherwise have to make, or in different times have had to consider. Unfortunately, this is the consequence and reality of the reforms necessarily taking place across the public service today. It must be reiterated that there is no painless way to fundamentally reorganise the Defence Forces whilst maintaining essential military capabilities and it has become necessary to mandatorily move some personnel whose units are being disestablished or relocated and who cannot be accommodated in their current location.
