Written Answers Nos. 113-121
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress, to date, in determining a visa application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13606/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a 'visit' visa, from the person referred to by the Deputy, was received by officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department. The application was refused on 11 February, 2015 and the applicant was notified of the decision. An appeal of the decision was submitted on 24 March, 2015 and is currently under consideration. I am advised by my officials that they have requested further clarification from the applicant on matters relating to the application and that a decision should issue upon receipt of the response.
Queries in relation to general immigration matters 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.
114. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm reports that additional modern vehicles are to be provided at Tallaght Garda Station, Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13624/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence the number of vehicles deployed to Garda stations within each Garda District and Division is subject to ongoing change in response to An Garda Síochána's operational requirements.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million was made available in 2014. This funding brings the total investment in the Garda fleet in 2014 to €11 million. The remaining €3 million is being made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles in 2015.
In October, 2014, an order was placed for 370 new vehicles. These vehicles were delivered towards the end of 2014, and following fit out, are being allocated in accordance with the Garda Commissioner's operational requirements.
In that context, I am advised that, to date, six new vehicles have been allocated to the DMR South Division which includes Tallaght Garda station, with a further six due to be allocated in due course following fit out.
115. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way the statutory guarantee in terms of the property rights of a folio number (details supplied) will be protected by the Property Registration Authority. [13638/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy will be aware of the service to T.D.s and Senators which provides information on the current status of applications, such as the subject of this question, which was introduced in May 2006. The service provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. It is operated by the PRA and is available all year round. I can further inform the Deputy that her query has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.
116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the order of refusal of a Property Registration Authority number (details supplied) did not reflect the powerful legal reasoning communicated to the claimant. [13639/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy will be aware of the service to T.D.s and Senators which provides information on the current status of applications, such as the subject of this question, which was introduced in May 2006. The service provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. It is operated by the PRA and is available all year round. I can further inform the Deputy that her query has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.
117. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding direct provision (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13691/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraProcurement of accommodation of the type concerned is a matter for the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. RIA is responsible for the provision of full board accommodation and certain ancillary services to asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. There are currently approximately 4,400 asylum seekers in 34 centres around the State.
I am informed that, in fulfilling its remit, RIA examines all offers of accommodation as to their suitability. Decisions on the possible use of individual premises are taken on the basis of RIA's current needs at any particular time. The person referred to in the details supplied should therefore write to RIA directly in the matter. Details are on its website - www.ria.gov.ie
118. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the GoSafe camera vans can detect speeding offences of persons travelling on public roads when they are parked on private property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13700/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that I have no direct role in the operation of the outsourced safety camera network which is principally a matter for An Garda Síochána. I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that following the identification of a speed enforcement zone, the outsourced safety camera provider liaises with local Garda management in order to identify suitable and safe sites to operate from within the zone. Each site is assessed to ensure it is visible, safe to operate in, and that speed monitoring equipment can be set up to accurately detect offences. Insofar as the question of parking in private property is concerned, I am further informed that, other than the general rules regulating parking, such as those prohibiting dangerous parking and parking on clearways, there is no specific legislation restricting the location of safety camera vans.
119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Roscommon and Longford Division which do not have a Garda car allocated to them; the number that do not have full access to a car; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13734/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence the number of vehicles deployed to Garda stations within each Garda District and Division is subject to ongoing change in response to An Garda Síochána's operational requirements. Accordingly it is not fully practicable to provide a breakdown of Garda vehicles by each individual Garda station.
However, the number of Garda vehicles assigned to each District in the Roscommon/Longford is outlined in the table.
|
District |
Total |
|
Castlerea District |
10 |
|
Granard District |
5 |
|
Longford District |
14 |
|
Roscommon District |
17 |
The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million was made available towards the end of last year, bringing total investment in the Garda fleet to €11 million in 2014. The remaining €3 million is being made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles during 2015.
In October, 2014, an order was placed for 370 new vehicles. These vehicles were delivered towards the end of 2014, and following fit out, are being allocated in accordance with the Garda Commissioner's operational requirements.
To date 4 cars have been issued to the Roscommon - Longford Division. An additional 6 vehicles are due to issue to this Division in due course.
120. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Galway Division which do not have a Garda car allocated to them; the number that do not have full access to a car; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13735/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence the number of vehicles deployed to Garda stations within each Garda District and Division is subject to ongoing change in response to An Garda Síochána's operational requirements. Accordingly it is not fully practicable to provide a breakdown of Garda vehicles by each individual Garda station.
However, the number of Garda vehicles assigned to each District in the Galway Division as at 31/03/15 is outlined in the table below:
|
DISTRICT |
NUMBER OF CARS |
|
Ballinasloe District |
6 |
|
Clifden District |
3 |
|
Galway District |
42 |
|
Loughrea District |
8 |
|
Salthill District |
11 |
|
Tuam District |
11 |
The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million was made available towards the end of last year, bringing total investment in the Garda fleet to €11 million in 2014. The remaining €3 million is being made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles during 2015.
In October, 2014, an order was placed for 370 new vehicles. These vehicles were delivered towards the end of 2014, and following fit out, are being allocated in accordance with the Garda Commissioner's operational requirements.
In that context, I am advised that, to date, 6 new vehicles have been allocated to the Galway Division with a further 11 due to be allocated in due course, following fit out.
121. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the two dependent children of a person who is studying to PhD level in Ireland for a scholarship in Ecuador, that person’s home country, may be permitted to enter third level education when they complete their secondary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13794/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach case is looked at on its merits in accordance with the policy in place at the time and the circumstances of the applicant and I would not wish to prejudge a potential future application. Any non-EEA national would be entitled to apply for immigration permission to attend a degree course at an Irish university. If they are accepted as suitable by the college and satisfy the financial requirements for student permission they should qualify. If they wish to derive their immigration status from that of their parents while seeking to pursue a college course that would depend on the immigration status of the parents at the time. Any questions as to eligibility for exemption from course fees would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
