Written Answers Nos. 35-43
35. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current strength of An Garda Síochána, with particular reference to the need to compare with the highest previously recorded strength of the force in the past 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27316/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the strength of An Garda Síochána was 12,871 members compared to a peak of 14,547 members in December 2009. The table sets out the strength of the An Garda Síochána over the past fifteen years.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the "Programme for a Partnership Government" to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014.
In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. Applications must be made through www.publicjobs.ie before the closing date for applications on 29 September 2016. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.
|
An Garda Síochána |
|
|
Year |
Total Strength |
|
*2016 |
12,871 |
|
2015 |
12,816 |
|
2014 |
12,799 |
|
2013 |
13,093 |
|
2012 |
13,424 |
|
2011 |
13,894 |
|
2010 |
14,377 |
|
2009 |
14,547 |
|
2008 |
14,412 |
|
2007 |
13,755 |
|
2006 |
12,954 |
|
2005 |
12,264 |
|
2004 |
12,209 |
|
2003 |
12,017 |
|
2002 |
11,895 |
|
2001 |
11,815 |
* on 31 August 2016
36. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the role her Department will play in minimising the effect of Brexit on counties Cavan and Monaghan. [27402/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly let me say that this Government is committed to minimising any adverse impacts on our economy and on the free movement of people, goods and services on these islands as a result of the UK's EU referendum.
Clearly the result of the referendum in the UK was not the one that we had hoped for, but we will now work with both our UK and our EU partners to ensure that the outcome of the 'Brexit' process is one that best serves our wider interests - in terms of our place in the EU, our relationship with the UK as a whole, and on an all-island basis, including of course in the context of the continuing consolidation of the peace process.
Issues of particular relevance to my Department are the Common Travel Area; police and judicial cooperation; north-south security cooperation; and data sharing and judicial cooperation on civil matters.
The Common Travel Area has been in existence since Irish independence. It is an important feature of the close relationship between Ireland and the UK with long-established benefits for trade and tourism between our two countries. Both Governments have publicly declared their commitment to ensuring no return to a so-called 'hard border' on the island of Ireland. There are excellent relations at official and political level in relation to enhancing the operation of the Common Travel Area and we are committed to that continuing. Retaining the Common Travel Area will be a key issue for Ireland in the context of negotiating new terms and conditions for the EU’s relationship with the UK. We will prioritise this matter in the context of a new relationship between the EU and the UK, and in bilateral discussions with the British Government.
The eventual departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union does mean that the only land border between the European Union and the United Kingdom will be on the island of Ireland. But just as is the case right now, the Irish border will be geographically isolated from the rest of the European Union and in particular it will be outside the Schengen area so the integrity of the border controls of the Schengen area will not be affected in any way by the UK's exit. There is therefore a strong case to be made for the continuity of current arrangements in relation to the border, in particular an absence of border controls or other restrictions on the free movement of people.
On the police and security co-operation front it is important to emphasise that we do not envisage any diminution in security and police co-operation between Ireland and the UK.
Let me assure the House that substantial work has been undertaken across Government to identify the key strategic, policy and operational risks. This will continue to be prioritised in my Department and across all Government Departments and agencies. Our primary objective remains to protect and advance this country's best interests.
As I stated earlier, I cannot pretend to the House that 'Brexit' will not pose complex challenges but we are committed to doing all we can to reduce any potential adverse effects for all the people on the island, including of course those who reside in the border counties.
37. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the number of community gardaí in the Dublin metropolitan region western. [27390/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Community Gardaí, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources
I have been informed that as of the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 780 Community Gardaí assigned to Garda Divisions throughout the country. Of these 58 were assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Division. It is, of course, the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána.
Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. In this regard I welcome the strong emphasis placed by the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. Proposed initiatives include the establishment of local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an Inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to proactively work with the community to prevent and detect crime; and the establishment of Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders.
The implementation of these initiatives will be supported by the Government's commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country. This will be achieved though continuing the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, as well as doubling the Garda Reserve and increasing the number of civilian staff so as to free-up Gardaí for front-line policing. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 members will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. So far 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Community policing, and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner. Applications must be made through www.publicjobs.ie. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.
The Government is also committed to prioritising community crime prevention schemes. My announcement last week at the National Ploughing Championships of a doubling of the funding for the Community Alert Programme to €350,000 which will go directly to local groups is a tangible expression of this commitment to supporting a partnership approach to crime prevention between local communities and An Garda Síochána.
38. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the rate of progress in accommodating refugees from Syria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27389/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under the programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 migrants into the State by the end of 2017, through a combination of the EU relocation mechanism established in 2015 to assist Italy and Greece (opted into by Ireland voluntarily) and the UNHCR-led refugee resettlement programme currently focused on resettling refugees from camps in Jordan and Lebanon.
This is made up of approximately 2,622 persons to be relocated to Ireland from other EU Member States (Italy and Greece) under the two EU relocation decisions and 520 programme refugees which Ireland pledged to resettle under the voluntary EU resettlement programme. Persons admitted here under these programmes will also have an entitlement to family reunification, if they wish to do so, thereby further increasing the numbers accepted by Ireland.
Under the Resettlement programme, 520 programme refugees are to resettled in Ireland under the UNHCR-led programme by December 2016. To date, some 486 refugees have been admitted from Lebanon. Sufficient candidates were selected during a selection mission to Lebanon earlier this year to fill the rest of the quota of 520 refugees. These have been security screened and health screened and are scheduled to arrive in groups between now and the end of October. As we will have fulfilled our commitments under the EU Resettlement programme ahead of target, the Government recently announced that we are extending the resettlement programme to take in a further 260 refugees from Lebanon in 2017.
As regards the EU relocation programme, it is well documented that the pace of arrivals under this programme to date has been slower than expected. This has been a subject of concern for me. The Government is wholly committed to ensuring that Ireland meets its obligations under the programme in a timely fashion. I am pleased to report, therefore, that following a highly productive visit by Irish officials to Greece earlier this year, the frequency and numbers of arrivals has increased and is continuing to improve.
Ireland has to date taken in 69 Syrian people, mostly families. It is estimated that by the end of 2016 Ireland will have accepted over 360 people under relocation. A further 40 people have been assessed and cleared for arrival and arrangements for their travel to the State are currently being made and IRPP officials interviewed a group of 63 people in Athens who, once cleared for travel, are expected to arrive in October. The intention thereafter is to sustain the pace and size of intakes throughout 2017 at the levels required to allow Ireland to meet its commitments within the timeframes envisaged under the EU Relocation Decisions.
As regards relocations from Italy, some technical issues have arisen with regard to the programme in Italy. More recently, I spoke directly with relevant EU Ministerial colleagues, and a Departmental official travelled to Italy in order to address the delays. Following this work a solution to the technical issues preventing relocations from Italy is in train.
39. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures British citizens living here will have to take in respect of Irish citizenship given that the British electorate has voted to leave the European Union; if British citizens living here can apply for dual citizenship or a passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19223/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe entitlement to Irish citizenship, as well as the conditions pertaining to a grant of citizenship through naturalisation, are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship through naturalisation, if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as prescribed in the Act. The statutory conditions are that the applicant must be of full age; be of good character; have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a further total residence in the State amounting to four years; intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation; have, before a judge of the District Court in open court, in a citizenship ceremony or in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons, allows made a declaration, in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State, andundertaken to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.
Under Irish law it is possible for an Irish citizen to hold dual citizenship; the acquisition of Irish citizenship is not contingent on the renunciation of the citizenship of another jurisdiction. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application forms, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie.
As outlined, the grant of citizenship is a national competency and there are no current plans to amend the legislation. It is our intention to maintain the existing arrangements with regard to the United Kingdom. Should an issue arise in this area during any possible future negotiations between the UK and the other EU member states, the position will be revisited at that stage.
The issuing of an Irish passport is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
40. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the numbers in the Garda traffic corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27381/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current strength of the Traffic Corps is 668 as of the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available. Of course road traffic legislation is also enforced as part of the day to day duties of members of An Garda Síochána.
An Garda Síochána's Roads Policing Operations Plan 2016 incorporates a programme of high visibility road safety and enforcement operations, carried out in partnership with other state agencies, and is being implemented by each Regional Traffic Superintendent. The focus of the Plan is on the most vulnerable road user categories of motor cyclists, pedal cyclists, pedestrians and learner permit holders. Garda operations specifically target road use behaviour known to contribute significantly to collisions, including speeding, driving while intoxicated, and use of a mobile phone.
The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country. This will be achieved though continuing the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, as well as doubling the Garda Reserve and increasing the number of civilian staff so as to free-up Gardaí for front-line policing. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 members will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. So far 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. The Traffic Corps, and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner. Applications must be made through www.publicjobs.ie. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.
This investment in personnel is complemented by investment in other resources, for example, some €46 million has been allocated under the Capital Plan for the Garda fleet to enable Gardaí to be mobile and visible and responsive.
41. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reservists in the Meath Garda division. [27397/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Garda Reserves, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. I am informed by the Commissioner that, as of the 31 August 2016, the strength of the Garda Reserve stood at 789 of which 23 were assigned to the Meath Garda Division.
The members of the Reserve have undergone training in many of the skills required to be an effective full-time member of An Garda Síochána and make a real and tangible contribution to the policing of communities right across the country. This is recognised in the "Programme for a Partnership Government" which includes a commitment to double the Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures. I have had discussions with the Commissioner in relation to the delivery of this commitment and what steps might be taken to ensure that the expanded Reserve is used to best effect in support of visible policing. In this regard, I welcome the recent assignment by the Commissioner of a Superintendent to head up the Garda Reserve Management Office. I understand that that Office is currently undertaking an audit of the experience and skills of Reserves which, when completed, will assist Garda management in considering the future role to be played by the Reserve. It has also started work on the development of a recruitment plan with the objective of recruiting and training 300 new Reserves annually starting next year. I understand that as part of the planning process the Office is examining the possibility of recruitment at the regional or divisional level, rather than centrally, and also the manner in which the training is delivered.
The expansion of the Reserve will complement the commitments in the Programme for Government to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000 and also to increase further civilianisation to free up Gardaí to front-line policing duties. The delivery of these measures over the lifetime of the Government will ensure a visible policing presence in communities nationwide. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. So far 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Another 150 will attest later this year.
In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September which includes a special stream for eligible reserve members. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner. Applications must be made through www.publicjobs.ie. The existing recruitment campaign which was launched last November is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.
42. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the number of community gardaí in the Waterford Garda division. [27412/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Community Gardaí, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources
I have been informed that as of the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 780 Community Gardaí assigned to Garda Divisions throughout the country. Of these 41 were assigned to the Waterford Division. It is, of course, the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána.
Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. In this regard I welcome the strong emphasis placed by the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. Proposed initiatives include the establishment of local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an Inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to proactively work with the community to prevent and detect crime; and the establishment of Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders.
The implementation of these initiatives will be supported by the Government's commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country. This will be achieved though continuing the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, as well as doubling the Garda Reserve and increasing the number of civilian staff so as to free-up Gardaí for front-line policing. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 members will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. So far 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Community policing, and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner. Applications must be made through www.publicjobs.ie. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.
The Government is also committed to prioritising community crime prevention schemes. My announcement last week at the National Ploughing Championships of a doubling of the funding for the Community Alert Programme to €350,000 which will go directly to local groups is a tangible expression of this commitment to supporting a partnership approach to crime prevention between local communities and An Garda Síochána.
43. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality , further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 9 June 2016, if she will report on the developments in the Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy; if she will support the recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27438/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware from my previous response on this matter, there is a comprehensive consultation process underway, led by my Department, to develop a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy to improve the situation for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. Phase 1 (identification of key themes for the new Strategy) and Phase 2 (identification and agreement of high level objectives under each agreed theme) of that consultation process have been completed. The final phase, Phase 3 (identification of detailed actions to achieve each agreed objective, with associated time-scales, key performance indicators, institutional responsibilities and monitoring arrangements), is currently underway. This process will provide a new set of specific, cross-Departmental actions that need to be taken to bring about a real improvement in quality of life for Travellers and Roma. It is intended that the new Inclusion Strategy will run from 2016 to 2020 and that it will be in place later this year. As part of Phase 3, regional public consultations took place from 22 September 2016 - 27 September 2016; I attended two of those consultations (in Dublin and in Athlone, respectively) and I am delighted to report that overall attendance and participation were encouraging and positive. Feedback from those consultation sessions will be collated by my officials and the draft Inclusion Strategy will be updated accordingly. I plan to submit the final draft of the Inclusion Strategy to Government shortly for consideration and sign-off.
As set out in my earlier response, the issue of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group is being considered in the context of the development of the Inclusion Strategy. I have had a long standing interest in this area, most notably through my chairing of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality when it produced its report on the Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity (April 2014). When I spoke earlier this year at the Traveller Pride awards, I stressed that we need to broaden the discussion on this issue. The debate needs to be taken forward in an inclusive way, explaining what is involved to mainstream Irish society and bringing the settled community along with Travellers on the issue. My officials are continuing to work with the national Traveller organisations on this matter and I intend this to be a priority for me over the coming months.
