Written Answers Nos. 81 - 92
81. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the number of temporary contracts in place for the public sector as a whole, including State agencies and other public bodies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38826/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel, and civilian employees attached to military installations. My Department has engaged two persons to act as civilian drivers to the Minister of State, and these appointments are to temporary unestablished positions in the Civil Service on a fixed term contract basis.
A total of 13 civilian employees of this Department attached to military installations are currently employed on temporary fixed-term contracts.
In addition, in line with the provisions of the section 2 (5) of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Government in 2012 to serve as Ombudsman for a fixed period of time.
82. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the number of contracts of indefinite duration that have been sought and the number that have been granted in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 in the public sector under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38837/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the question relates to employees who received contracts of indefinite duration subsequent to holding one or more fixed-term contracts of employment. The Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel and civilian employees attached to military installations.
In relation to the civilian employee workforce of this Department, a relatively small number of employees were engaged on fixed-term contracts of employment during the years in question in circumstances where there was a temporary requirement for their services. During this period, the number of civilian employees on fixed-term contracts of employment who received contracts of indefinite duration is as follows:
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (to date) |
|
Nil |
Nil |
1 |
Nil |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
Nil |
Contracts of indefinite duration were granted where it was determined that there was an operational requirement to retain the employees in question in the Department’s employment on a permanent basis.
No contracts of indefinite duration were sought or granted in relation to the civil service or military elements of the Defence Organisation.
83. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recent discussions she has had recently with An Garda Síochána regarding the problem of anti-social behaviour on Dublin city streets (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38579/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra84. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that urgent action is needed to address the problem of anti-social behaviour, including drug-taking and aggressive begging on Dublin city streets (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38580/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra88. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that more gardaí are needed to patrol Dublin city centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38659/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84 and 88 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda personnel and Garda operations in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Dublin city centre. From my discussions with the Garda authorities I am assured that Garda management in the Dublin Metropolitan Region keep this deployment under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, including with respect to concerns about public order and anti-social behaviour, so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of policing resources.
I do of course appreciate the issues of concern which the Deputy has raised and would draw his attention to the Dublin City Centre Policing Plan which has been operational since June 2013. Garda actions under the Plan include dedicated high visibility patrols in key commercial and public thoroughfares. These patrols are informed by crime trends, demand studies and footfall in the areas in question. I am also aware that An Garda Síochána engages extensively with business and community interests in the city centre area with respect to crime prevention, enforcement and policing concerns.
The Garda approach includes focusing resources on specific areas of the city according to need. As part of this, a number of targeted city centre policing operations are in place.
These operations include Operation Pier, which concentrates on the South Quays and Temple Bar area. This operation includes the designation of certain areas as "hotspots" for anti-social behaviour and regular uniformed and plain clothes patrols. Other Garda Operations in the city centre include Operation Spire which is focussed on the O’Connell Street and North Inner City areas, and Operation Stilts which is an ongoing overt policing operation targeting anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime in Dublin city centre locations.
I am conscious of the perspectives of business and community interests about the effects of certain types of crime and anti-social behaviour on the environment for business and leisure and on the overall quality of life for residents. Some of the problems faced are linked to disorder associated with abuse of alcohol and An Garda Síochána work closely with a wide range of businesses involved in the entertainment and nighttime economy to address these issues so that people can enjoy themselves without concern for their welfare.
Other challenges have their origin in even more complex social phenomena which go well beyond the capacity of criminal justice agencies to address on their own. Dealing with these matters requires a co-ordinated approach from state agencies involved in social, housing, health and drug treatment services, as well as through partnership with business, community and voluntary groups. An Garda Síochána is already a long term partner in a range of local consultative and representative structures in Dublin and elsewhere. I am considering how we can step up this cooperation with a view to developing collaborative solutions to the range of issues which affect policing and the overall quality of the environment in our urban centres, and I intend to engage further with the Garda authorities in that regard.
85. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there is a delay in setting the date for the marriage equality referendum due some time in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38607/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no delay in setting the date for the marriage equality referendum. As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided, in November 2013, that a referendum should be held in the first half of 2015 on the issue of marriage equality. Preparatory work is under way in this regard. The Government will decide and announce a date for the referendum in due course.
86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when more Garda recruits will begin training; if there is a schedule in place for recruiting and the training of new recruits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38642/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore on Monday 15th September 2014. This marked a positive step forward for policing in Ireland. It is my intention that there will be ongoing seamless recruitment and I am discussing the details of this with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
In relation to training, in February 2008 the Garda Commissioner established a group to review training and development for Garda and civilian staff in the Garda Síochána. The report of the review group was published in May 2009 and the contents were noted by the Government of the time.
The objective of the Review Group was to make recommendations to improve and reinvigorate Garda training in line with best practice in order to meet the new challenges of a changing society. One of the Key Recommendations identified by the group was that the student/probationer training programme should be radically restructured
The course for Garda trainees is a high level BA course, which necessitates a certain academic capability. The revised training programme stemming from the recommendations of the Review Group was devised in order to better prepare recruits for the modern policing environment.
The main differences between the new and the previous programme is that the new programme carries a greater emphasis on operational policing and focuses on real life scenarios which in turn prepare students for the policing challenges they will face. The new programme will also instil a lifelong learning philosophy for members of the Garda Síochána, with a suite of mandatory and elective courses made available.
The restructured student/probationer training will be carried out in three phases. Phase I is for 32 weeks at the Garda College, at the end of which successful students will be attested (i.e. become members of the Garda Síochána with full police powers). Phase II is for 65 weeks based in Garda stations, and Phase III consists of seven weeks of exam preparation, exams and assessments (total 104 weeks).
87. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of the planned works to be carried out at Newcastle West Garda station in County Limerick following the amalgamation of the Newcastle West and Askeaton districts; when it is likely that these works will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38649/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda stations is based on accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.
In that context, I am advised that proposals for refurbishment works at Newcastle West Garda Station are currently being examined. These proposals will be progressed in the context of An Garda Síochána's identified accommodation priorities and the availability of funding within the vote of the Office of Public Works.
89. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an area (details supplied) in Dublin 3 is a social housing complex where drugs are sold freely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38668/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter raised and will be in further contact with the Deputy when that report is to hand.
90. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review the confidential recipient process under which gardaí make internal complaints; her views on bringing it within the remit of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38696/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI presume the Deputy is referring to the system whereby members of An Garda Síochána can report instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Garda Síochána.
The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provided for the appointment of an independent Confidential Recipient to whom members of the Force, and civilian support staff, could report, in full confidence, instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Force.
The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July 2014. This Act revoked the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Malpractice and Corruption) Regulations 2007 and provided for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to be prescribed as a body to which disclosures may be made by members of the Garda Síochána. On 23 July 2014 GSOC was prescribed under section 7 of the Act as a body to receive protected disclosures.
Members of An Garda Síochána may now communicate their concerns in full confidence to the Garda Commissioner or to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission as a prescribed body under the Act.
91. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the amounts invoiced, allocated or assigned by her Department to other public bodies and agencies, including the National Museum, National Disability Authority, Equality Authority and Office of the Director of Equality Investigations, for information communication and technology services for each year from 2010 to date in 2014; the factors which determine those costs, such as the number of users or storage capacity used or similar; the amounts paid by public bodies and agencies either to her Department or to ICT providers each year for these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38701/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have included the data relative to the Deputy's request in the table. These data are for agencies which have been part of my Department's ICT Shared Service during the period in question. The amounts shown represent total costs incurred by those agencies for all information and communications technology services in the years specified. These services are provided across a number of contracts and the factors which determine the cost for any agency are based on usage, level and type of ICT environment used and the level of project activity in any reporting period.
In relation to the specific agencies referenced, the Deputy should note that the National Museum is not, nor has it been, under the aegis of my Department while the Office of the Director of Equality Investigations is a former name of the Equality Tribunal (which is included in the Table).
|
Agency |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Charities Regulation Unit |
€0.00 |
€374.33 |
€917.10 |
€957.79 |
€88,967.18 |
|
Coroners Service |
€3,920.86 |
€7,478.40 |
€443.50 |
€397.41 |
€212.00 |
|
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal |
€290.38 |
€936.89 |
€761.68 |
€1,133.48 |
€709.07 |
|
Data Protection Commissioner |
€14,561.64 |
€5,429.85 |
€8,834.48 |
€11,251.28 |
€8,458.11 |
|
Equality Tribunal |
€13,040.61 |
€106,185.59 |
€76,338.11 |
€67,718.16 |
€0.00 |
|
Garda Complaints Board |
€404.75 |
€898.23 |
€493.22 |
€56.61 |
€0.00 |
|
Garda Inspectorate |
€37,034.08 |
€24,913.73 |
€9,464.87 |
€6,664.61 |
€4,027.13 |
|
Independent Review Mechanism Garda Allegations |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€2,634.78 |
|
Insolvency Service Ireland |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€301.97 |
€1,024,510.04 |
€269,349.67 |
|
Inspectorate of Prisons and Places of Detention |
€6,217.72 |
€4,290.82 |
€2,333.82 |
€2,723.90 |
€1,708.88 |
|
Irish Film Classification Office |
€2,208.99 |
€638.63 |
€1,037.84 |
€1,275.57 |
€419.75 |
|
Equality Authority |
€253.52 |
€105,712.76 |
€68,544.48 |
€63,189.15 |
€38,654.28 |
|
National Disability Authority |
€14,002.62 |
€119,567.03 |
€109,241.67 |
€99,706.70 |
€63,663.95 |
|
Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) |
€18,107.16 |
€17,670.03 |
€2,360.68 |
€40,023.84 |
€1,924.72 |
|
Office for Internet Safety |
€903.73 |
€740.85 |
€817.98 |
€366.89 |
€244.20 |
|
Parole Board |
€249.00 |
€549.80 |
€422.39 |
€332.01 |
€209.98 |
|
Private Security Authority |
€37,283.93 |
€27,182.46 |
€16,225.03 |
€16,616.60 |
€6,056.56 |
|
State Pathology |
€41,089.88 |
€8,218.63 |
€2,569.13 |
€2,151.69 |
€1,065.87 |
92. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide detailed breakdown of break-ins, burglaries and crime in the Ballycragh, Ballycullen and Firhouse areas of County Dublin; and if the results indicate a need for a more overt Garda presence in these communities. [38708/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have requested the CSO to provide relevant statistics and information directly to the Deputy.
In relation to the deployment of Garda resources in the areas referred to, the Deputy will appreciate that this is an operational matter for the Garda authorities. In this regard I am assured that local Garda management keeps the deployment of resources under continuing review in the context of crime trends and the policing needs of the community, so as to ensure that optimum use is made of policing resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
