Written Answers Nos. 229 - 237
229. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will grant permission to remain here to persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7461/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that INIS has been in touch with the persons mentioned and a letter issued to one of these persons on 18 April 2016 granting an immigration permission.
I understand that INIS is still considering the application made by the other party and will be in touch with them shortly.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been 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 Question 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.
230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the regional breakdown of all members appointed by the Government or her to State boards, agencies and bodies in 2015 and to date in 2016 broken down by agency and by regions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7482/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.
231. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the new information technology system in Garda capital headquarters is up-to-date to allow tax clearance certificates to be issued in the case of public service vehicles licence renewals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7515/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.
232. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons on the sex offenders list at a Garda Síochána station (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and when each person on the list was last seen by a member of An Garda Síochána. [7536/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Garda authorities that, for operational reasons, An Garda Síochána does not release specific details of the number of persons subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 residing in any particular District or Division, and does not divulge details of the management and assessment of such persons.
I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 1,471 persons nationwide subject to the provisions of the Sex Offender Act 2001. All offenders who are subject to the notification requirements are monitored by the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit (SOMIU) at the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Unit is supported by Garda Inspectors nominated in each Garda Division throughout the State. I am further informed that the nominated Inspector in each Division has access to all necessary resources within his/her Division to assist him/her in carrying out his/her duties.
Where An Garda Síochána becomes aware that an offender subject to the notification requirements has breached those requirements, appropriate action is taken, including circulation through PULSE of their information, as well as inquiries to identify their current whereabouts. I am advised that the appropriate level of monitoring is carried out by An Garda Síochána and that all breaches of the requirements which come to notice are pursued.
I am also informed that when the Garda authorities become aware that a convicted sex offender has left or is intending to leave the State, the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit ensures that the relevant law enforcement agency in the country of destination is advised via Interpol.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has been made aware of ongoing threats to members of An Garda Síochána, on and off duty; if she expects to be in a position to address this issue and the matter of ballistic protection, as has been set out in recent times; if steps are anticipated in the short term to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7555/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am, of course, concerned about any instances of threats being made against members of the Garda Síochána, on or off duty, and I utterly condemn such cowardly behaviour.
The Deputy will appreciate that the allocation of resources for An Garda Síochána, including in relation to specialist clothing and equipment is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. In this regard the Deputy is aware of the extensive provisions for investments in policing resources which have been put in place since Budget Day 2015.
The Deputy will also appreciate that it would also not be appropriate for me to detail the operational measures that the Garda authorities may take, or would take generally in relation to threats against members of An Garda Síochána. However, I can assure the Deputy that whatever protective and detection measures are deemed appropriate by the Garda authorities are of course taken. More generally, tackling serious and organised crime and addressing the harms it gives rise to at all levels in our community is a central policing priority, and An Garda Síochána has my full support for the strategies it has in place to give effect to this commitment.
In conclusion I should also say that while the criminal law in this area is kept under ongoing review, there is a range of robust legislative provisions available to the Garda authorities in circumstances where threats or assaults are made against Gardaí.
235. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais cad é an líon comhaltaí nua a bhfuil Gaeilge acu agus a tugadh isteach i ngach babhta earcaíochta go dáta sa Gharda Síochána faoin socrú go mbeadh sruth ar leith earcaíochta ann do dhaoine le líofacht i nGaeilge agus a bheadh le cur ar dualgas i stáisiúin Ghaeltachta; cad é an líon comhaltaí acusan atá curtha ar dualgas faoin tráth seo sa Ghaeltacht agus cé na stáisiúin ina bhfuil siad lonnaithe; céard iad na céimeanna atá á nglacadh le gach duine de na hearcaigh sin a chur ar dualgas sa Ghaeltacht; cén uair a bheidh sé sin curtha i gcrích; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [7558/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuigfidh an Teachta gur ábhar do Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána é pearsanra an Gharda Síochána, lena n-áirítear Gardaí nua-fhianaithe, a leithroinnt go ceantair ar leith, agus nach bhfuil aon ról díreach agamsa, mar Aire, sa scéal. Tá dearbhaithe dom go gcoinníonn lucht bainistíochta an Gharda Síochána an dáileadh acmhainní seo faoi shíor-athbhreithniú, i gcomhthéacs treochtaí coireachta agus tosaíochtaí póilínithe, chun a chinntiú go mbaintear an leas is fearr is féidir as na hacmhainní sin.
Tá an Garda Síochána lántiomnaithe dá dhualgais faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a chomhlíonadh. I dtaca leis sin de, is féidir le hiarrthóirí ar phost Garda faoi oiliúint, ar cainteoirí líofa Gaeilge iad agus a chomhlíonann na critéir incháilitheachta eile go léir freisin, iarratas a dhéanamh go ndéanfaí measúnú orthu faoi shainsruth Gaeilge. Is féidir iarrthóirí ón sruth sin a n-éiríonn leo a leithroinnt go ceantair Ghaeltachta ar feadh tréimhse ama arna cinneadh ag Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána.
I dtaca leis an bhfaisnéis shonrach faoin líon daoine a earcaíodh faoin sainsruth Gaeilge agus na háiteanna ina bhfuil siad imscartha, táim tar éis an fhaisnéis sin a lorg ón gCoimisinéir agus scríobhfaidh mé go díreach chuig an Teachta nuair a gheobhaidh mé í.
236. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount invested in personal protective equipment for An Garda Síochána for each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7659/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision and allocation of resources for An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that expenditure on individual items of personal protective equipment is not recorded under separate cost-headings. To identify these amounts would involve a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. However, the following table shows the expenditure for the period 2012 to 2016 (up to 18 April) on clothing, accessories and specialist and other equipment which include the items of personal protective equipment to which the Deputy refers.
|
Subhead |
Description |
2016(to 18/4/16) |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
|
A3 |
Clothing and Accessories |
€537,095 |
€4,356,577 |
€4,013,984 |
€3,888,783 |
€2,499,303 |
|
A6 |
Specialist + Other Equipment |
€445,312 |
€2,890,005 |
€2,150,800 |
€2,031,859 |
€3,163,225 |
|
Total |
€982,407 |
€7,246,582 |
€6,164,784 |
€5,920,642 |
€5,662,528 |
237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her strategy for enhancing the technological tools available to An Garda Síochána; how she will implement and upgrade the utilities available in assisting front-line staff in their day-to-day duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7660/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the day to day management of An Garda Síochána and the distribution of available resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which, in addition to the recruitment of new trainee Gardaí, also provides 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 since the start of 2015. The Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides for a further €46 million of investment in vehicles as well as an additional €205 million for Information and Communications Technology which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing demonstrates this Government's commitment to investing in 21st Century policing and will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are continually looking to ensure that the latest information, communications and forensic technologies are sourced and deployed to ensure that An Garda Síochána will be properly resourced to meet the evolving needs of a modern effective police force and to take advantage of proven up to date technological developments in crime detection and prevention as they occur.
In terms of existing technology, the Deputy will be aware that a considerable amount of new Garda ICT solutions has been delivered over the past number of years. These include the deployment of a secure national digital radio system (NDRS), the deployment and support of Garda and Community CCTV systems, an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system and the addition of many new functions to the PULSE system, which itself is further supported by a dedicated Garda data entry service in Castlebar. The substantial additional investment of €205 million in new technology and systems for An Garda Síochána provided under the Capital Plan 2016-2021 will facilitate progress on further important reforms arising from the Garda Inspectorate's report on Crime Investigation. Examples of the new systems to be developed through this investment include:
- new computer-aided dispatch to ensure responsive and coordinated deployment of Gardaí in the community;
- mobile technology to give the Gardaí secure mobile access to critical information when and where they need it;
- investigations management systems to ensure enhanced management of crime investigations; and
- upgrading the ANPR to enhance policing of road safety and compliance.
In the area of forensics, the Garda authorities currently employ highly sophisticated ICT- based fingerprint and ballistics identification systems which I am informed measure up to those used by police forces in other EU jurisdictions. An Garda Síochána are also supported by Forensic Science Ireland who provide state of the art services in the area of drug analysis and trace evidence. In addition, the recent launch of the national DNA database will greatly enhance the investigation of crime in Ireland.
These and other new technological solutions, as well as the investment in resources, will ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective policing services in responding to the evolving challenges of modern day criminal activity.
