Written Answers Nos. 85-94
85. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position of a visa application of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28862/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned submitted an application for De Facto Partner Permission on 20/07/2016 and that an acknowledgement letter was issued on 28/07/2016. The Deputy may wish to note that applications of this type can take up to 6 months to be processed and that INIS is currently dealing with applications received in April, 2016.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 email service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
86. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Donegal division at present; the way the numbers compare with the years 2008 and 2010, respectively; if she will provide a district-per-district comparative within the Donegal division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28904/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra87. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reservists in the Donegal divisions at present; if she will provide a Donegal divisional district-per-district breakdown for the number of Garda reservists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28905/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including 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.
The total strength of the Donegal Garda Division on the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 387 with 23 Reserve Gardaí. The detailed information requested on the strength of An Garda Síochána in the Donegal Garda Division by District, on the 31 December 2008 and 2010, and on the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the table.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014 and start recruiting again.
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 and to double the Garda Reserve. 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 of whom 14 have been assigned to Donegal. Another 150 will attest later this year and will be assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Divisional policing, and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
The "Programme for a Partnership Government" also includes a commitment to double the Garda Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures. Reserve members have undergone training in many of the skills required to be an effective full-time member of An Garda Síochána and it is important that we build on the very real contribution that they are making to the policing of communities right across the country.
I have spoken to the Garda 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 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, to bring the strength of the Reserve up from its current strength of 789 members to 2,000.
|
Strength of Donegal Garda Division |
||||
|
Districts |
31/12/2008 |
31/12/2010 |
31/08/2016 |
Reserve |
|
Letterkenny |
191 |
175 |
156 |
16 |
|
Buncrana |
91 |
80 |
70 |
3 |
|
Milford |
56 |
54 |
66 |
- |
|
Glenties |
57 |
58 |
* |
- |
|
Ballyshannon |
93 |
99 |
95 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
488 |
466 |
387 |
23 |
*The amalgamation of the Glenties District took place on the 11th November, 2013 which resulted in the Glenties District being apportioned between Ballyshannon and Milford Districts.
88. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reopen any of the Garda stations closed within the Donegal division due to cutbacks since 2010; the need to do so in order to strengthen community policing and combat rural crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28906/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra89. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to re-establish the former Glenties district headquarters following its amalgamation by the previous Government with two other districts within the Donegal division; the need to do so in order to strengthen the policing of west and south west Donegal; if she will provide a stronger rural-based policing service to the persons and rural communities of west Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28907/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide a new Garda station for Donegal town, as the present station is in need of replacement and plans for a new station have been long promised; if a site has been identified; if plans have been agreed and drawn up regarding this new facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28911/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra94. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for Dunkineely Garda station in the Donegal division and her plans for policing in the Dunkineely Garda station area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28912/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 89, 93 and 94 together.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for the provision and refurbishment of Garda accommodation and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, a major refurbishment of Donegal Town Garda station is envisaged under the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016 – 2021. In this context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Office of Public Works has developed proposals to extend and refurbish Donegal Town Station and these proposals are currently being considered by local Garda management.
The Deputy will also be aware that some 139 Garda stations, including Dunkineely, were closed on foot of the Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme, which was implemented in 2012 and 2013, following the completion by An Garda Síochána of a comprehensive review of its district and station network. As the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at her disposal, the review was undertaken with the objective of identifying opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. It concluded that a revised district and station network commensurate with the organisation’s resource base would best meet public demand. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the closures have allowed front line Garda to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion particularly with regard to various targeted police operations.
With respect to the reopening of stations, the Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing in every community, including the most minimal response times possible. Under the Programme, the Government is committed to asking the Policing Authority to oversee a review of, amongst other things, both the boundaries of Garda districts and the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas and I have asked the Authority to initiate the proposed review. I have previously informed the House that I intend to put the outcome of the review before the House.
The Programme also commits the Government to launching a pilot scheme to reopen 6 Garda stations, both urban and rural, to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order. I have requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions in relation to the distribution of Garda resources in the State, to identify for reopening 6 stations that were closed under the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme.
90. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to speed up and deal with the delays at present experienced by those awaiting Garda vetting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28908/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that there is no particular delay in the Garda employment vetting process; rather there has been a very significant improvement in vetting processing times in recent months.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at present 80 percent of vetting applications are processed by the Garda National Vetting Bureau in under five working days. This represents a dramatic improvement in turnaround times for the processing of vetting applications in recent years, falling from an average of 14 weeks in mid-2013. This improvement has come about as a result of an unprecedented investment by the Government and the Garda Authorities in providing this service, including an increase of over 80 percent in staffing levels and the roll out earlier this year of an e-vetting system.
In April this year I commenced the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 and in tandem with that An Garda Síochána launched the e-vetting system. E-vetting facilitates the online processing of applications and this has significantly streamlined the vetting process and contributed to a sustained reduction in processing times for vetting applications. I am informed that at present 85% of organisations registered for vetting are operating the e-vetting system and the Garda Authorities are working to encourage all other organisations to do so.
One very important feature of the e-vetting system is that the individual applicant can track the progress of their own vetting application online and can, therefore, see when their application has been processed and returned to the relevant registered organisation.
For those vetting applications that continue to be submitted in paper format, the average turnaround time is in the order of four weeks from the receipt of the application by the Vetting Bureau and this represents a minimum timeframe given the administrative input required.
Processing times for applications can be longer in some individual cases when, for example, additional enquiries may be necessary or where errors have been made in the application. It is important to note that delays can also occur in other aspects of the application process which are outside of the control of the Garda Authorities, for example, in the submission or return of applications by the registered organisations.
The primary purpose of the vetting service is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Accordingly, the vetting process demands rigorous procedures to safeguard its integrity and to maintain the highest level of confidence by the public and organisations availing of the service. Any vetting process will take a certain minimum amount of time to complete and, taking into account the importance of protecting children and vulnerable adults while providing an effective and efficient service, the current processing period is not unreasonable.
91. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for providing a new courthouse building for Donegal town, given that the current building is in need of replacement and not fit for purpose; her further plans and a site location for the new facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28909/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that at present there are no plans for a new courthouse in Donegal town. As the Deputy is aware, the new courthouse in Letterkenny, due to be completed before the end of 2017, is one of seven courthouse construction and renovation projects currently being procured via Public Private Partnership as part of the Government's Infrastructure Stimulus programme.
92. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for providing a new courthouse building in Dungloe as the present courthouse urgently needs replacement; if plans have been drawn up and a site location agreed for the new facility and if there is a timeline for replacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28910/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that there are currently no plans for a new courthouse in Dungloe. A site was acquired a number of years ago for a new courthouse but there are no plans for construction at present which is subject to the availability of funding. As the Deputy is aware, the new courthouse in Letterkenny, due to be completed before the end of 2017, is one of seven courthouse construction and renovation projects currently being procured via Public Private Partnership as part of the Government's Infrastructure Stimulus programme.
Questions Nos. 93 and 94 answered with Question No. 88.
