Written Answers Nos. 152-60
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the degree to which she expects the Garda recruitment programme to benefit all divisions throughout the country by way of increased strength; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2102/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014, the first intake of Garda recruits since 2009. This was followed by an intake of a further 100 new recruits in December. A further intake of 100 is due to enter training at the end of this month. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College since last September and is a measure of this Government's commitment to the Garda Síochána. The first intake of recruits will attest as members of the Garda Síochána in May of this year and will be assigned to Garda Stations by the Garda Commissioner.
It is of course a key objective of the Garda Commissioner to allocate all of the resources at her disposal in a manner which maximises their impact on the protection of the public and on the prevention and detection of crime. In that context, Garda management keep under continuing review developments in relation to security assessments, crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources.
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which adequate resources remain available to the Garda for the pursuit of cold cases; the number of such cases still unsolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2106/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that the function of the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) is to assist Senior Investigating Officers assigned to the case in question in bringing investigations to a successful conclusion by identifying further investigative opportunities and ensuring that investigations conform to approved best practice guidelines.
At the conclusion of each review a substantive report is provided to the Senior Investigating Officer who considers the opportunities for further investigation for dissemination back into the investigative and operational units. Any recommendation of organisational effect is disseminated within the Garda organisation to improve the overall investigative capability of An Garda Síochána.
As the Deputy will be aware, the provision and allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational demands. In this regard I am informed that the SCRT continues to review serious cases that remain unsolved and continues to identify evidence and witnesses to assist in the development of these cases.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of posts at all ranks awaiting to be filled in An Garda Síochána; when such appointments are likely to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2107/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. This necessary ongoing flexibility in the distribution of personnel means that it is not feasible to identify specific vacancies within specific areas of the force.
At a national level, sanction has been given by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for a maximum strength in each rank. The agreed strength for ranks above Garda rank are given in the table overleaf, together with actual strength as of the end of November 2014. Where current actual strength is below the approved maximum strength, it is the Garda Commissioner who will make the necessary arrangements to have the balance of posts filled through promotion competitions.
Promotion competitions to fill vacancies at the ranks of Chief Superintendent and Superintendent have been completed and panels for appointment to these ranks have been put in place. Competitions for promotion to the ranks of Inspector and Sergeant will commence as early as possible this year.
|
Rank |
Actual strength |
Approved max. strength |
|
COMMISSIONER |
1 |
1 |
|
D/COMMISSIONER |
0 |
2 |
|
A/COMMISSIONER |
8 |
8 |
|
C/SUPERINTENDENT |
39 |
45 |
|
SUPERINTENDENT |
140 |
166 |
|
INSPECTOR |
297 |
300 |
|
SERGEANT |
1,927 |
2,000 |
|
Garda |
10,404 |
155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she expects overcrowding in prisons to cease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2108/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the average number of prisoners in custody in Ireland has risen in recent years, from 3,321 during 2007 to 4,318 during 2012, an increase of over 30%. Likewise the total number of committals to prison has also risen sharply during the same period, from 11,934 in 2007 to 17,026 in 2012 – an increase of over 43%.
2013 saw the first significant decrease in prison numbers since 2007. There were 15,735 committals to prison in 2013 which was a decrease of 7.6% on the 2012 figure.
In addition, a 40 month capital programme is being implemented to eliminate slopping out and to improve prison conditions in the older part of the prison estate. I am advised by my officials that work is continuing on the modernisation project at Mountjoy prison. "D" Wing is the last wing in Mountjoy requiring refurbishment and on the completion of this, all cells in Mountjoy prison will have in cell sanitation facilities. Works commenced in early June, 2014 with a completion date of the second quarter in 2015.
As outlined in the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan, it is intended to align the capacity of our prisons with the guidelines laid down by the Inspector of Prisons in 2014, in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system. An examination of yesterday's figures when there was 3,612 prisoners in custody shows that only Cork, Limerick and Arbour Hill are outside the parameters set by the Inspector of Prisons. This figure was 91% of his recommended total of 3, 982.
In relation to Cork Prison, a contract for the construction of a new prison to replace the existing facility was awarded late last year and construction began in January, 2014 with a completion date on the third quarter of 2015.
I can advise the Deputy that plans in respect of the Limerick Prison Redevelopment Project are advancing well.
Finally, the average number in custody for 2014 was 3,916 a reduction of 10.8% on the 2011 average of 4,390. The Deputy may wish to note that the number in custody reached a peak of 4,621 on 23rd February 2011. Today there are 973 less prisoners in custody which represents a decrease of 21%.
156. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána in County Longford, the number that is allocated to Longford town, Granard, Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon and Lanesboro; her plans to increase the number of gardaí in County Longford to deal with issues that have been highlighted by the Longford Joint Policing Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2117/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and as soon as it is to hand I will pass it on to the Deputy.
157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to the terms of reference for the new investigation into the mother and baby homes, the reason for an exclusion of the Magdalen laundries and adoptions involving State hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2002/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced the proposed Terms of Reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters last week. In developing the Terms of Reference due regard has been given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in the motion approved by Dáil Eireann on the 11th June 2014 and the investigation will examine a wide agenda of matters in relation to these homes. I believe the Terms of Reference reflect the range of matters that we were asked to consider by this House, and by those most centrally affected by the issues, and are a fair and balanced response to the many requests for related issues to be included. In particular, the investigation will thoroughly examine the experience of the many mothers and children who were resident in a Mother and Baby Home over the period 1922-1998.
Clear criteria have been used to define and identify Mother and Baby Homes for the purposes of this investigation. These include having the main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante- and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children, including both board and lodgings; and an ethos which those running the institutions considered to promote a regime of work, training or education as part of an overall approach to either rehabilitating single mothers, or to give them training for living independently. On the basis of the available information it would not be appropriate to consider the types institutions raised by the Deputy as Mother and Baby Homes, as they did not provide this specific range of services. However, the Terms of Reference ask the Commission to examine the extent to which institutions which had a clear relationship with Mother and Baby Homes were part of the entry or exit pathways for single mothers and children into or leaving these Homes. It is certainly open to the Commission to give consideration to the types of institutions raised by the Deputy in this context. The issues to be examined by the social history module also explicitly cite the Magdalen Laundries in this regard.
The proposed arrangements also ensure that the Commission has sufficient opportunity to bring any additional matter which it considers may warrant investigation to my attention.
158. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a definition regarding a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1897/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn responding to the details supplied by the Deputy, it is important to clarify that the central focus of the Commission is on mothers and children accommodated in the specified Mother and Baby Homes for the purposes of extended ante- and post-natal maternity and infant care services. While due regard has been given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in the motion approved by Dáil Eireann, the terms of reference also reflect a much wider agenda of directly related matters than was evident at the initiation of this process. The investigation will thoroughly examine the experiences of the many mothers and children who were resident in Mother and Baby Homes.
In accordance with Article 1(VI) of the Terms of Reference, the Commission is directed to investigate the entry of children into the institutions listed in Appendix 1 of the Order in circumstances when their mother was not also resident at the time of their entry. Clear criteria have been used to define and identify Mother & Baby Homes for the purposes of this investigation. These include having the main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante- and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children, including both board and lodgings; and an ethos which those running the institutions considered to promote a regime of work, training or education as part of an overall approach to either rehabilitating single mothers, or to give them training for living independently.
On the basis of the available information it would not be appropriate to consider the types institutions raised by the Deputy as Mother and Baby Homes, as they did not provide this specific range of services. However, the Terms of Reference ask the Commission to examine the extent to which institutions which had a clear relationship with Mother and Baby Homes were part of the entry or exit pathways for single mothers and children into or leaving these Homes. It is certainly open to the Commission to give consideration to the types of institutions raised by the Deputy in this context. The issues to be examined by the social history module also explicitly cite laundries in this regard.
The Confidential Committee is intended to facilitate individuals who may wish to describe their experiences of living or working in the relevant homes with the Commission to assist in its investigations.
159. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a bilateral agreement with Russia on adoption will be concluded in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1911/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress in relation to negotiations between the Irish and Russian Governments to agree a bilateral agreement on adoption between the two countries; when such an agreement will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1922/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.
Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. Following a meeting with a delegation of Russian officials in October 2013 my Department prepared revised draft wording on a number of specific points, which was forwarded to the Russian Authorities in February 2014. In transmitting these revisions it was suggested that should these revisions be acceptable to the Russian Federation, it would be useful for both sides to meet again for further discussions. In April 2014 the Ministry of Education and Science advised the Irish Embassy in Moscow that all proposed adoption agreements were on hold while the Russian Government considered proposals in relation to how they deal with adoption agreements in general.
A reply from the Russian authorities was received in my Department in October 2014 with further correspondence from the Russian authorities received in the Department on 24 December 2014. Consideration of these communications is currently taking place in my Department.
I met the Russian Irish Adoption Group in September of last year to update them on the background to and the current situation with regard to discussions on a possible bilateral adoption agreement with Russia.
