Written Answers Nos. 98-105
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determining the current residency status permission to remain in the country, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7441/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that following a comprehensive and thorough examination of the asylum claim and application for subsidiary protection, and a detailed examination of the representations she submitted for consideration under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), a Deportation Order was signed on 18 December 2012 in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy.
The person concerned initiated judicial review proceedings challenging the Deportation Order made in respect of her. Those proceedings were struck out in favour of the Department on 01 December 2014 and accordingly, the Deportation Order stands.
Representations were received from the person concerned pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. The Deputy might wish to note that any such decision will be to 'affirm' or to 'revoke' the existing Deportation Order. In the mean-time, the Deportation Order remains valid and in place.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by Email 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.
99. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in regard to introducing the gambling control Bill 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7447/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Government approved the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill in July 2013, at which point it was published on my Department's website.
The Scheme was subsequently referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. As per the Government's current Legislative Programme it is not possible to indicate when the Bill is likely to be published.
100. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average daily cost of holding a prisoner in jail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7456/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Prison Service calculates the average annual cost of an available staffed prison space for inclusion in the Annual Report. For 2013, the latest year for which a figure is available, the cost was €65,542. This equates to an average daily cost of €179.57 per available staffed prison space.
Once finalised, the 2014 figures will be published on the Irish Prison Service web site and in the 2014 Annual Report.
101. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons, by gender, who were committed to prison for non-payment of fines for each year since 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7458/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the category of offences committed by persons who were committed to prison for non-payment of fines in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7459/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that a breakdown of the number of persons by gender who were committed to prison solely for non-payment of fines for each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 is set out in the following table.
In the case of 2014, these figures are provisional pending the publication of the Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2014 which is subject to change.
|
Year |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
2007 |
1,075 |
159 |
1,234 |
|
2008 |
2,036 |
307 |
2,343 |
|
2009 |
3,721 |
629 |
4,350 |
|
2010 |
5,053 |
942 |
5,995 |
|
2011 |
5,536 |
1,191 |
6,727 |
|
2012 |
5,940 |
1,536 |
7,476 |
|
2013 |
5,625 |
1,740 |
7,365 |
|
2014 |
5,984 |
2,156 |
8,140 |
I can advise the Deputy that the number of such persons held in custody at any one time is a tiny fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point, on 18 February, 2015, 3 people, 0.1 percent, out of a prison population of 3,755 in custody that day fell into this category.
The information in relation to the category of offences committed by the 8,140 persons who were committed to prison for non payment of fines in 2014 is not readily available. I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.
103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has researched the methods to reduce bicycle theft that are employed in other jurisdictions, including the random parking of bait bikes fitted with a global positioning systems, and that these have proven successful in some instances. [7524/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the examination of crime prevention measures such as the one mentioned by the Deputy is a matter in the first instance for the Garda authorities, including with respect to any legal issues arising in relation to such schemes.
An Garda Síochána is proactive in encouraging the public to protect their property, including bicycles, and a range of measures are in place to prevent and tackle the theft of bicycles.
In this regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that a range of operational measures are pursued to combat bicycle theft and to target those who engage in it, and there is ongoing provision by An Garda Síochána of crime prevention information, and awareness raising among the general public and bicycle retailers in relation to bicycle theft.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that analysis is conducted to determine areas of high volume theft and to identify the main offenders for these crimes so that a targeted operational approach is taken to prevention and detection.
The range of measures being pursued by An Garda Síochána include working with bicycle retailers and communities to encourage and promote bicycle registration. In addition, information leaflets on bicycle theft have been circulated and a bicycle sticker campaign has also been operated in areas where bicycles are locked by their owners. Gardaí also provide presentations to Neighbourhood Watch schemes, policing forums, schools, places of employment, and consult with apartment and building management companies on bicycle security and safety generally.
104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details with regard to burglaries in Galway city; and if she will provide statistics regarding the number of burglaries reported from June 2010 to May 2012, June 2012 to May 2013, June 2013 to May 2014 and June 2014 to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7551/15]
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 available statistics directly to the Deputy.
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or potential residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7555/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is currently registered in the State under Stamp 4 conditions granted to them on the basis of their marriage to an Irish national. This permission is valid until 11 August 2015 and is renewable by attending at their local immigration office accompanied by their Irish spouse.
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.
