Tuesday, 15 Dec 2015

Prisoner Data

Ceisteanna (297, 298, 299)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

297. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners on remand in custody, on remand, by prison and place of detention, on 23 November 2015, in tabular form. [45108/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

298. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners from 18 to 20 years of age on remand in custody, on remand, by prison and place on detention, on 23 November 2015, in tabular form. [45109/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

299. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners from 21 to 25 years of age on remand in custody, on remand, by prison and place of detention, on 23 November 2015, in tabular form. [45110/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it conducts an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population on the last day of each month. Accordingly, an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population was conducted on the 30 November, 2015 and this analysis has been used to provide the information requested by the Deputy. The information is set out in the table.

Establishment Name	Total Number on remand	18 to 20 year olds on remand	21 to 25 year olds on remand
Castlerea Prison	65	7	16
Cloverhill Remand Prison	305	33	59
Cork Prison	33	2	11
Limerick Prison (F)	10	1	1
Limerick Prison (M)	82	7	24
Midlands Prison	54	5	5
Mountjoy Prison (F)	23	1	5
Mountjoy Prison (M)	7	0	0
Portlaoise Prison	13	0	1
St. Patrick's Institution	1	0	0
Wheatfield Place of Detention	1	0	0
Total	594	56	122

Prisoner Data

Ceisteanna (300, 301)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

300. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the county of origin prior to detention and the prison in which persons are kept for each person from 18 to 20 years of age, including those in Wheatfield Place of Detention, on 23 November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45111/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

301. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the county of origin prior to their detention and the prison in which they are kept for each person from 21 to 25 years of age, including those in Wheatfield Place of Detention, on 23 November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45112/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it conducts an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population on the last day of each month. Accordingly, an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population was conducted on the 30 November, 2015 and this analysis has been used to provide the information requested by the Deputy. The information is set out in the tables.

Table 1: 18 to 20 years old

COUNTY	Cast	C'hill	Cork	Lim(F)	Lim(M)	Mid	Mjoy (F)	Mjoy (M)	PL	W'fld
Carlow						1
Cavan	1
Clare				1	4	1			1
Cork			14			4				2
Derry	1
Donegal	1							1
Dublin	2	21				8	1	10	1	34
Galway	13				1	2
Kerry			2			3			1
Kildare		1				4		1
Laois		1				2				1
Limerick				1	8	4				1
Louth		2						1		4
Mayo	2
Meath	2	3				3	1			1
Monaghan										1
NFA*	1	3				1				3
Not Stated	1
Offaly										2
Tipperary		1			3	2			1	1
Waterford			1			1				2
Westmeath	1					2				4
Wexford		3								2
Wicklow		2				1		1		2
Total	25	37	17	2	16	39	2	14	4	60

NFA* no fixed abode

Table 2: 21 to 25 years old

COUNTY	Ahill	Cast	C'hill	Ck	Lim(F)	Lim(M)	Lou	Mid	Mjoy (F)	Mjoy (M)	Port	Shel	TU	Wfld
Carlow			1					3
Cavan	1	1	1				1	2		1	1
Clare		2		2	2	6		3	1		1			1
Cork	3	1	4	30	2	1	1	11			7	2		5
Donegal		8					2				1
Dublin	3	7	39				2	24	4	93	13	8	9	52
Galway		20					2			1				1
Kerry				5		1	1	2		1	1
Kildare			4			1	1	10	1	1	4	3		3
Kilkenny			1					3	1
Laois								2			2	1		1
Leitrim		1
Limerick		1	2		1	40	1	14	1	1	3
Longford		5							1
Louth			5							5	1		1	5
Mayo		4				1	2	1		1				1
Meath		1	5				1	7			2		2	1
Monaghan			1					2	1					1
NFA*			1	1		2		4	1	1	1			3
Not Stated			3							1
Offaly			3					7		1
Abroad		2	1	1		1				1
Roscommon		2					1	1		2
Sligo		5						1	1
Tipperary	1	1	1	2		11	2	6			6
Waterford	1			4		1		3			2
Westmeath								5	1	1	2			1
Wexford	1	1	2					6			2	1
Wicklow		1	4					10	1	5			1	5
Total	10	63	78	45	5	65	17	127	14	116	49	15	13	80

NFA* no fixed abode

Prisoner Data

Ceisteanna (302, 303)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

302. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the offences for which they are being detained of those from 18 to 20 years of age in prison and in Wheatfield Place of Detention as of 23 November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45113/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

303. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the offences for which they are being detained of those from 21 to 25 years of age in prison on 23 November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45114/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it conducts an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population on the last day of each month. Accordingly, an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population was conducted on the 30 November, 2015 and this analysis has been used to provide the information requested by the Deputy. The information in relation to persons under sentence is set out in the tables.

Offence Group Description	18 to < 21 years old	21 to < 26 years old	Total
Homicide Offences	2	33	35
Sexual Offences	2	31	33
Attempts/Threat to Murder, Assaults, Harassments and Related Offences	36	132	168
Dangerous or Negligent Acts	9	29	38
Kidnapping and Related Offences	2	8	10
Robbery, Extortion and Hijacking Offences	9	18	27
Burglary and Related Offences	22	68	90
Theft and Related Offences	47	136	183
Fraud, Deception and Related Offences	3	10	13
Controlled Drug Offences	5	25	30
Weapons and Explosives Offences	2	23	25
Damage to Property and the Environment	11	30	41
Public Order and Social Code Offences	5	9	14
Road and Traffic Offences	1	7	8
Offences against Government, Justice Procedures and Organisation of Crime	1	8	9
Offences Not Elsewhere Classified	3	5	8
Total	160	572	732

Garda Retirements

Ceisteanna (304)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

304. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have left An Garda Síochána in the districts of Dundalk, Ardee and Drogheda in County Louth since 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45121/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, 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.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that in the period from 2010 to 14 December 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the total number of Gardaí who have departed from the An Garda Síochána in the Garda districts of Ardee, Drogheda and Dundalk, owing to voluntary retirement, compulsory retirement, cost neutral early retirement, medical discharge, resignation, dismissal or death is as set out in the following table.

Garda District	Number of Garda left 2010 – 2015*
Ardee	9
Drogheda	17
Dundalk	21
Total	47

* up to 14 December 2015

Proposed Legislation

Ceisteanna (305, 353)

Peter Mathews

Ceist:

305. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in respect of the Intoxicating Liquor (General) Act 1924, her plans to repeal the provision banning the sale of alcohol on Good Friday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45156/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

353. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to licensing laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45358/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 353 together.

I had intended that the statutory provisions restricting the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, which have historical origins, would be examined in the context of the forthcoming Sale of Alcohol Bill which will update the law relating to the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises by repealing the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011, and the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008, and replacing them with streamlined and updated provisions. However drafting of that complex Bill has been delayed and I am, therefore, at present considering whether it may be possible to proceed with a number of pressing reforms to the Licensing Acts in a separate Bill in the New Year. Provisions relating to alcohol sales on Good Friday would fall to be considered in that context.

Legal Aid Service Data

Ceisteanna (306)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

306. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been granted free legal aid in County Galway, by category of offence; the number of times these persons have availed of free legal aid previously; the number of previous convictions; the cost for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45220/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, which is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings.

Under the Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. Under the Constitution, the State is obliged to provide an accused person with the means to obtain appropriate legal representation. Moreover, the European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to defend themselves in person or through legal assistance of their own choosing, or if they have insufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require. The Deputy will appreciate that the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme must operate with due regard to these rights and that any unreasonable block on legal aid could give a convicted defendant an avenue for appeal or prohibition of the prosecution. The overriding concern is to ensure that no risk arises in relation to the prosecution of persons charged with criminal offences before the courts.

The assignment of lawyers or the granting of aid are matters for the Court and, as such are handled by the judiciary on the applicant's appearance in court. Criminal prosecutions originate in the District Court and if so satisfied, the Judge will grant a criminal legal aid certificate. Figures are not kept in such a way as to be able to provide a breakdown of the number of certificates granted for criminal legal aid in County Galway, broken down by category of offence and the cost of same. There is no limit to the number of times that a person can be granted legal aid under the Scheme. Whether or not an applicant has received legal aid previously is not a consideration in determining eligibility for legal aid and such information is not recorded by the Courts Service. An applicant's previous convictions are also not a criterion for the granting of criminal legal aid under the Act.

Garda Transport Data

Ceisteanna (307)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

307. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality how many Garda Síochána vehicles, by type, were in operation at the end of each year since 2010 to date; how many are to be decommissioned in 2015 and how many new vehicles will be provided in 2016 in the Galway west division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45221/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate decisions 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. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to vehicles in the Division concerned is as shown in the tables.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly-mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities. Since 2012, almost €34 million has been invested in renewing the Garda fleet to support front line Garda responses. Over 640 new vehicles are coming on stream since the start of 2015 including new specialised vehicles. This investment will provide the Gardaí with additional high powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, cars for surveillance and covert operations, motor cycles for high visibility road policing and vehicles for public order policing. This investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021 which provides an additional €46 million for new Garda vehicles over the lifetime of the Plan. The increased budget allocation for 2016 will also facilitate additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. Following delivery and fit out, these vehicles will be allocated on a regional basis as determined by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána consistent with operational requirements.

Galway Division Vehicles 2010 - 2015 (as at 11 December 2015)

Year	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
2010	77	10	11	2	3	103
2011	72	7	9	4	3	95
2012	51	11	9	4	3	78
2013	50	15	7	3	3	78
2014	56	13	7	2	2	80
11/12/2015	59	13	6	2	1	81

Galway Division 2015 - Scrapped Vehicles

Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
15	0	0	1	1	17

Prisoner Data

Ceisteanna (308)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

308. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons from County Galway who were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment and the number who were processed at the prison where they were sent and released on the same day or the following day, by prison; by category of crime, by length of sentence given, in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45222/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons sentenced during 2014, who gave Galway as their county of residence was 592.

A breakdown of the figures requested by prison and by category of offence/release reason is included in the tables. It should be noted that 437 or 99.1% of those released were serving a Fines sentence. Each committal on a fine is considered for temporary release by the Irish Prison Service on a case by case basis. In the majority of cases temporary release is granted within a number of hours however, for serial offenders or for certain offences, ie Income tax, those prisoners may remain in custody to serve all or a portion of the sentence.

The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 provides that the Court in imposing a fine shall take into account a person's financial circumstances. It further provides, inter alia, that where a person fails to pay a fine by the due date, the Court may make an attachment order to earnings as a means of recovering the unpaid fine. As a result of this legislation, it is expected that we will see a reduction in the number of committals to prisons on short sentences.

Alternatives to custody continue to be pursued and legislation has already been passed. This includes the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011 which requires the sentencing judge to consider the imposition of community service where a custodial sentence of 12 months or less is being considered.

The following tables show the number of persons released. Figures for 2015 are currently unavailable.

Table 1

Prison	Total
Castlerea	328
Cork	5
Limerick Female	3
Limerick Male	12
Midlands	5
Mountjoy Female	82
Mountjoy Male	4
Wheatfield	2
Total	441

Table 2

Sentence/release reason	Number of persons
Fine	437
Time previously served	1
Released from Court	1
No licence	1
No Insurance	1
Total	441

Garda Equipment

Ceisteanna (309)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

309. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will investigate the potential for drones to be used for An Garda Síochána surveillance in combating crime, particularly rural crime where many persons are located long distances from local Garda Síochána stations and using drones as a vital equipment resource would make a huge contribution to the policing of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45224/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of available Garda resources. This includes personnel, Garda vehicles and the various technologies utilised to support front-line Gardaí and intelligence-led operations against organised crime. This process takes account of annual policing priorities determined by me as Minister for Justice in consultation with the Garda Commissioner as provided for under section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

I can assure the Deputy that the Garda authorities are continually looking to ensure that the latest information, communications and forensic technologies are sourced and deployed to achieve their strategic objectives as set out in the context of their annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the 2005 Act. This policy is designed to ensure that the Garda Síochána will be properly resourced to meet the evolving needs of a modern effective police force and take advantage of proven up to date technological developments in crime detection and prevention as they occur.

Any proposals in relation to the use of drone technology loaded with recording equipment would need to consider potential legal issues including in relation to privacy, data protection and the permitted use of surveillance equipment and also their potential effectiveness having regard to their limitations as to distance and battery life. This Government is committed to delivering a visible and responsive policing service through highly-mobile and responsive Garda patrols in urban and rural areas. The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which will allow the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí next year on top of the 550 Gardaí recruited since this Government reopened the Garda College in September 2014. It will also provide additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. This additional recruitment and budget allocation builds on the current high level of investment in Garda vehicles. We have invested over €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 640 new vehicles coming on stream in 2015, ranging from more Garda patrol cars to high-powered vehicles for armed units. The Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 also provides for a further €46 million of investment in vehicles, as well as investment in airborne surveillance. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community.

The Government's continued investment in resources will ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective policing services in our communities to respond to the evolving challenges of modern day criminal activity.

Garda Operations

Ceisteanna (310)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

310. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality given concerns expressed regarding the proper roll-out of Operation Thor in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda division; the plans in place in the division to enable it to draw down the extra Garda Síochána resources that were made available under the new operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45229/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Operation Thor is a multi-stranded national operation which builds on previous and current Garda operations to tackle crime, particularly burglaries the number of which, as we know, increase with the advent of the long winter nights, in both urban and rural communities nationwide. In excess of €5 million is being committed to support Operation Thor. This allocation, which includes funding for Garda overtime will support a combination of additional patrols, checkpoints, rapid armed response and public awareness measures.

This intensive, targeted operation has to be seen in the context of the major investment that this Government is making in An Garda Síochána. The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which will allow the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí next year on top of the 550 Gardaí recruited since this Government reopened the Garda College in September 2014. It will also provide additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. This additional recruitment and budget allocation builds on the current high level of investment in Garda vehicles. We have invested over €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 640 new vehicles coming on stream in 2015, ranging from more Garda patrol cars to high-powered vehicles for armed units. The Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides for a further €46 million of investment in vehicles as well as an additional €200 million for Information and Communications Technology which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. We are also investing in airborne surveillance. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community.

Operation Thor entails a broad range of activities to tackle burglars, organised crime gangs and prolific offenders as well as working with communities to prevent crime. These activities include: additional high-visibility patrols in identified burglary hot-spots; increased use of checkpoints to tackle the criminal gangs using the national road network; the use of new high powered vehicles by the armed Regional Response Units; efforts to disrupt the stolen goods market; programmes to help reduce re-offending by prolific offenders; a high-profile national crime prevention awareness campaign, and targeted crime prevention advice for local communities and enhanced supports for victims.

The Commissioner, in consultation with her senior management team, is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including the additional allocation of the €5 million to support Operation Thor. The Commissioner has assured me that she will aim to maximise the use of these additional resources. A large proportion of domestic burglaries are committed by serial offenders. Figures from the Garda Síochána Analysis Service indicate that 75% of burglaries are committed by 25% of burglars. Targeting these prolific offenders is a priority, consequently the allocation of resources under Operation Thor will be intelligence led and based on analysis of crime patterns by An Garda Síochána. The aim is to deploy resources in advance of where An Garda Síochána anticipates crime might take place in order to prevent the crime occurring.

In this context the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to detail the additional resources that will be made available to any one County under Operation Thor. However the Commissioner will continually review the allocation of resources under the Operation, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities across the Garda Regions so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I am confident that this comprehensive operation by An Garda Síochána, supported by Government investment, will help disrupt the activities of burglars, organised crime gangs and prolific offenders and will improve the safety of all our communities across the country.

Refugee Numbers

Ceisteanna (311, 312, 313, 314)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

311. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Syrian origin or claiming to be of Syrian origin refused leave to land at various points of entry and the reason in each case, by age, by gender, by country to which they were returned, in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45235/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

312. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Eritrean origin or claiming to be of Eritrean origin refused leave to land at various points of entry and the reason in each case, by age, by gender of the persons refused, by country to which they were returned, in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45236/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

313. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Afghan origin or claiming to be of Afghan origin refused leave to land at various points of entry and the reasons in each case, by age, by gender of the persons refused, by the country to which they were returned, in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45237/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

314. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Iranian origin or claiming to be of Iranian origin refused leave to land at various points of entry and the reason in each case, by age, by gender of the persons refused, by country to which they were returned; in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45238/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 to 314, inclusive, together.

I can inform the Deputy that in the period concerned the number of persons refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State from the nationalities referred to by the Deputy was as follows: Afghan 139, Eritrean 11, Iranian 44 and Syrian 59. Information on numbers refused permission to enter the State may be subject to revision over time where individual cases are examined further and the status of some cases may change.

The further breakdown of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require the search and retrieval of individual records that could only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of time and resources relative to the information sought.

In general a person may be refused leave to land on one, or more, of the eleven grounds set out in Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act, 2004.

Every person refused leave to land in the State is served with a notice in which the reason, or reasons, for refusing an application for permission to enter the State is set out.

I would advise the Deputy that persons refused leave to land and who are subsequently removed from the State are returned to their point of embarkation, which in most cases is within the EU. I would point out in relation to the countries concerned that no commercial direct flights to Ireland are available from these countries.

Immigration Status

Ceisteanna (315)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected residency status of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who has recently sent in the requested information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45255/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has been granted Leave to Remain in the State for the period to 4th December, 2018. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 4 December, 2015.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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.

Stardust Fire

Ceisteanna (316)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

316. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of her investigations into the Stardust tragedy in 1981; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45269/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, following my meeting with the Stardust Victims Committee last year I appointed an official in my Department to liaise with them in relation to matters about which they have expressed concern.

A researcher associated with the Stardust Victims' Committee submitted material relating to these events to my Department and a meeting was held with them and another researcher associated with the Committee, on 23 April this year. The official in my Department who liaises with the Committee undertook to examine these material and, following such an examination, a draft preliminary analysis was prepared in my Department and this draft was issued to the Committee in July of this year. The Committee were invited to examine this draft analysis and provide any commentary they wished to make on it. The Committee's response to this draft analysis was provided by way of a presentation made by researchers associated with the Committee; this presentation was made on 30 September 2015. The views and materials presented at that meeting have now been examined in my Department and on 30 November further documentation was issued by my Department to the Committee in this connection.

It is understood that there may be further material that the Committee wishes to be considered by my Department in this connection and further communication from the Committee is currently awaited in that regard.

Prisoner Data

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 to 340, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it conducts an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population on the last day of each month. Accordingly, an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population was conducted on the 30 November, 2015 and this analysis has been used to provide the information requested by the Deputy.

The information is set out in the following table.

Number of persons serving a sentence by age and sentence length

Length Group	17 Year Olds	18 to <21	21 to <26	26 to <30	30 to <40	40 to <50	50 years+	Total
< 3 Months	0	0	2	3	5	4	1	15
3 to <6 Months	4	17	16	27	27	11	7	109
6 to <12 Months	4	31	72	47	76	29	4	263
1 to <2 Years	1	42	107	64	130	58	26	428
2 to <3 Years	1	34	89	64	157	46	38	429
3 to <5 Years	2	23	154	114	201	75	58	627
5 to <10 Years	1	12	104	110	233	135	86	681
10+ Years	0	0	14	21	85	66	68	254
Lifers	0	1	14	28	129	101	71	344
Total	13	160	572	478	1,043	525	359	3,150