Written Answers Nos. 120-142
120. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the investment plan for the training unit in Mountjoy Prison; and her plans for the unit and its long-term role in the rehabilitation of prisoners. [13083/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has commenced the repurposing of the Training Unit Place of Detention (on the Mountjoy Prison Campus) to a dedicated Unit for older prisoners.
A key action of the current Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan (Action 2.5) is to ensure that older prisoners are identified as a specific group who have particular needs within the prison population. There are currently a number of such prisoners in the care of the Irish Prison Service who have significant and ongoing healthcare needs, many of whom are currently dispersed across the estate and in some cases significant distances away from the healthcare providers they rely on.
The establishment of the unit will allow the Irish Prison Service to accommodate such prisoners in a purpose built unit within close proximity to a variety of medical care and will also allow for appropriate remedial works to the accommodation which is currently outdated and lacks in-cell sanitation thus delivering on the commitment to provide in-cell sanitation to all prison cells.
It is envisaged that the repurposing of the unit will take 18-24 months to complete. During this time, it will be necessary to accommodate current prisoners elsewhere in the prison estate, primarily within the Mountjoy Campus.
It is intended that prisoners who are currently on programmes of temporary release will be facilitated in continuing with such programmes.
121. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a Garda station in Dromahair, in view of the national review of Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13097/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including in relation to Garda stations.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme gave rise to the closure of some 139 Garda stations, including Dromahair, in 2012 and 2013, following the completion by An Garda Síochána of a comprehensive review of its district and station network. That 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. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the closures have allowed front line Gardaí to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to targeted police operations.
The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Government plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
Revisiting the decisions made to close Garda stations at the depths of the recession is also part of that commitment.
In this context, I have requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions, to identify 6 stations for reopening on a pilot basis to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order. The pilot will feed into the wider review being undertaken by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, of the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities.
I understand that work is continuing in An Garda Síochána to identify the 6 stations for inclusion in the pilot and that consultations have taken place with relevant stakeholders, including the Policing Authority. I expect to receive a report from the Commissioner by the end of May in connection with the exercise.
122. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if all members of An Garda Síochána will receive diversity training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the training of its members and civilian staff and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
The Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 commits An Garda Síochána to ensuring that every individual and community that the organisation comes into contact with will be treated equally, fairly and with dignity. An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan 2017 commits An Garda Síochána to building trusting relationships with local communities, in particular with minority and diverse groups, through the implementation of a new Garda Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
I have requested the specific information sought by the Deputy from the Commissioner in relation to diversity training and I will write to her upon receipt of same.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 122 for answer on Tuesday, 21 March 2017, the text of which was as follows:-
"To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if all members of An Garda Síochána will receive diversity training; and if she will make a statement on the matter."
At the time the then Minister responded that she would request the information sought by you from the Commissioner and she would write directly to you on receipt of the same.
I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that diversity training is embedded into all aspects of the Foundation Training Programme which is provided to all trainee Gardaí.
In particular diversity training is delivered as part of the Policing with Community Module on Phase one of the BA in Applied Policing completed by all new recruits to An Garda Síochána.
I am further informed that the Garda Bureau of Community Diversity and Integration (GBCDI) has national responsibility for liaison with ethnically diverse communities and one of its central roles is to liaise with representatives of minority groups, and reassure them of the Garda services that are available.
Since 2002 Garda Ethnic Liaison Officers (ELO) have been appointed to each Garda Division. The role of the Ethnic Liaison Office is to liaise and establish communication links with representatives of the various minority communities within their respective divisions. The Ethnic Liaison Officers also inform and assure these communities of the Garda services available to all communities, within the community. The list of Ethnic Liaison officers is available on the Garda website at www.garda.ie.
I hope this information is of assistance.
123. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the contracts entered into by her Department and its agencies with a company (details supplied); the nature of these contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13145/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the contracts entered into by An Garda Síochána with a company (details supplied); the nature of these contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13146/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
I can confirm that my Department and its agencies have not entered into any contracts with the company in question.
125. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the detail of the assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, in Cork city and county or assets located elsewhere but owned by persons in Cork city and county for each year since 2010; the details of such assets currently held by CAB; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13156/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Criminal Assets Bureau takes actions under the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996 to 2016 to deprive or to deny persons of assets which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly from criminal conduct; or the benefit of such assets.
Sections 2 and 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 provide the mechanism under which the Bureau can apply to the High Court seeking to freeze or restrain a person/entities dealing with a specific asset. In accordance with these provisions, the High Court may, in circumstances where an interim order or interlocutory order under that legislation is in place, appoint a receiver in respect of the property to which the order relates.
Section 4 provides for the transfer of property to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This Section refers to assets which have been deemed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct, for a period of not less than seven years, and over which no valid claim has been made under Section 3(3) of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Section 4A allows for a consent disposal order to be made by the respondent, thus allowing the property to be transferred to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in a period shorter than seven years.
In accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 an annual report on the activities of the Bureau is prepared and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The reports include details of the number of receivership orders obtained, the values of such orders and the amounts realised by the Bureau to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the benefit of the Central Exchequer in the particular year. The Annual Reports are available in the Oireachtas library and on the website of An Garda Síochána and my Department. The Annual Report of the Bureau for 2015 is the latest available Report.
With regard to the specific information sought, I can inform the Deputy that this information is not available. The Bureau operates on a national basis, targeting assets wherever they are situated and the Bureau does not record its activities on a geographical basis.
126. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of burglaries reported in Drogheda, Dundalk, Ardee, Dunleer, Laytown and Bettystown by quarter over the last 12 months, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics in relation to the information requested directly to the Deputy.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
127. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of the prison population made up of non-nationals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13229/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that on 31 January, 2017 the number of non Irish nationals in custody was 492 of which 469 were Male and 23 were Female. This represents approximately 13% of the overall prison population for this day.
128. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 16 February 2017 (details supplied), if each driver was convicted of just one offence of drink-driving; the number of drivers convicted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13280/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Courts Service has confirmed that the precise data sought by the Deputy would require a detailed examination of individual case files for drink-driving prosecutions, which would require the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time to provide. However, the Courts Service has provided relevant data contained in the table, which will be of assistance to the Deputy. The table details the number of convictions for drink-driving offences and the number of persons convicted of this offence for the period 2015 to end January 2017 inclusive.
Courts Service - Data relating to the offence of drink-driving
|
Year |
Convictions (offences) |
Convictions (persons) |
|
2015 |
2,574 |
2,442 |
|
2016 |
2,844 |
2,718 |
|
January 2017 |
329 |
314 |
129. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the establishment of a new fraud database as set out in the report of the cost of insurance working group and its 33 recommendations; if additional staff will be hired for this unit; the intended budget to be allocated; the way this information will be gathered and stored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9544/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Deputy will be aware, the Department of Finance published the 'Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance' in January this year. One of the recommendations (No. 25), which my Department has taken the lead on, is to establish a fully functioning integrated fraud database for industry to detect patterns of fraud. The purpose of the Database is to reduce levels of fraud by providing access to details of incident data which can be used to detect patterns of potentially fraudulent behaviour.
In order to determine the parameters of the database to be established and consider the policy and legislative issues, as well as funding, access and content, a Working Group has been established. The deadline for this scoping exercise is the end of June 2017, when the Group will submit a report to the Working Group on the Cost of Insurance, which is chaired by Minister of State, Eoghan Murphy, T.D. If it is determined, following this initial scoping exercise, that a database is a viable option, then a further exercise will be carried out to put the necessary legislative and other measures in place to facilitate it.
130. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm that, in line with the one person, one salary principle, no public servant who is a member of a State board or agency under the control of her Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees and, if any such remuneration is being paid, that such payment will be discontinued and payments that were wrongfully paid be reclaimed. [13321/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn answer to the Deputy's question, I can confirm that, in line with the one person one salary principle, no public servant who is a member of a State board or agency under the control of my Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees.
131. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Louth division currently on long-term leave or sick leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13331/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.
I am further informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Louth Division, on the 31 January 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 303 of whom 9 are currently on long term leave, including sick leave.
When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This year, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that 838 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 41 of whom have been assigned to the Louth Division. I am also informed that another 750 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including the Louth Division, in the coming years.
This investment in personnel is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will see an increase in Garda visibility in our communities.
132. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will have the Dáil Éireann records corrected with regard to Parliamentary Question No. 623 of 28 June 2005, in which it was incorrectly stated that it was in July 2000 that the storage site Clancy Barracks had been sold; and if she will correct the record to state correctly that the sale was completed on 26 March 2004. [13376/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the response to Questions Nos. 450, 451, 453, 454, 455, 456 and 457 of 8 October 2013 which sets out the position in respect of this matter. The Deputy will appreciate, of course, that the sale of Clancy Barracks, completed in March 2004, was a matter for the Minister for Defence at that time.
133. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority; if it will have a role in adjudicating on claims that currently involve the taxing master; if so, if this role will be retrospective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13444/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 makes extensive provision in Part 10 for a new and enhanced legal costs regime that will bring greater transparency to how legal costs are charged along with a better balance between the interests of legal practitioners and those of their clients. As part of this structural reform, under section 139(1) of the Act, the existing Office of the Taxing-Master, which is an Office of the High Court, is to become the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators. The new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators will, therefore, continue to operate independently in its determination of disputed legal costs and the Legal Services Regulatory Authority will not be performing those functions currently exercised by the Taxing-Master retrospectively or otherwise. However, this would not preclude the Regulatory Authority from recommending the future referral of a legal costs matter to the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators as part, for example, of the resolution of a complaint.
The Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators will be supported by a modernised transparency and governance framework with prescribed business, strategic and annual reporting cycles. It will be under the management of the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator under whose general direction the other Legal Costs Adjudicators in the Office will operate. Under the terms of section 140 of the 2015 Act the new Office will establish and maintain a publicly accessible Register of Determinations which will also state the reasons for the legal costs determinations concerned. Under section 142 the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator may also prepare and publish, for the guidance of Legal Costs Adjudicators, legal practitioners and the public, guidelines on the manner in which the functions of the Legal Costs Adjudicators are to be performed. For the first time in legislation, Schedule 1 of the 2015 Act sets out the Principles Relating to Legal Costs that are to be applied under section 155 in the adjudication of legal costs by a Legal Costs Adjudicator while also having regard to such matters as whether the work claimed was actually and appropriately done, was reasonably charged and the costs concerned reasonably incurred. It should also be noted that a number of the new provisions contained in Part 10 of the 2015 Act will also apply to legal costs determinations carried out by County Registrars.
While the Legal Costs Regulatory Authority will not assume any of the current functions of the Taxing-Master it will, under the new complaints regime contained in Part 6 of the 2015 Act, continue to provide an opportunity for the informal resolution of more minor legal costs disputes between legal practitioners and their clients at what might best be described as the consumer level. This facility is intended to allow more minor legal costs matters to be resolved informally at the invitation of the Regulatory Authority without incurring the substantial costs and time that would arise under a full and formal referral to the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators. However, it should be noted that this informal process is not intended to deal with more serious legal costs disputes or to deal with the charging of "grossly excessive" fees the charging of which could, under section 50 of the 2015 Act, be considered to amount to professional misconduct by a solicitor or a barrister.
The current working focus remains very much on the phased commencement of the respective sections or Parts of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and the effective roll-out of the key functions concerned over the coming period. Some of these functions such as the holding of public consultations on Legal Partnerships, Multi-Disciplinary Practices and certain aspects of the work of barristers under sections 118 to 120 of the Act have already commenced. The Chairperson and members of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, its Interim Chief Executive and my Department are working closely to ensure that we can successfully coordinate the identification of the necessary steps and commencements by the Department, and the delivery, by the Authority as the new independent statutory regulator, of the various remaining provisions concerned. The changeover to the new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator will, therefore, come into effect with the commencement of the relevant provisions of Part 10 of the 2015 Act. This is something for which detailed preparation is already being made by a specifically tasked joint working group chaired by my Department in conjunction with the Courts Service that is working to map out and oversee the various practical steps that have to be taken to get the new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators up and running. This work is also intended to ensure that the relevant new legal costs adjudication processes, documentation, rules of court and IT systems can be put in place in a legally robust manner. Certain transitional arrangements that will apply to the coming on stream of the new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators and the modalities of processing any matters which may already have been referred for a taxation of legal costs are set out in sections 164 and 165 of the 2015 Act. In broad terms, this will be done on the basis that such referrals will be dealt with in accordance with the applicable law as it stood when they were initially made.
134. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when Part 7 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 relating to enduring powers of attorney shall be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13449/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties and is being commenced on a phased basis. It is intended that significant progress will be made in 2017 on the implementation of the new decision-making support options provided for in the Act. New administrative processes and support measures, including the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission, must be put in place before the substantive provisions of the Act come into force. A high-level Steering Group comprising senior officials from my Department, the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission is overseeing the establishment and commissioning of the Decision Support Service.
Part 7 of the Act provides for new enduring powers of attorney provisions that expand the powers provided for under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996 to include healthcare matters and to provide for oversight of attorneys. Until Part 7 of the Act has been commenced, enduring powers of attorney can continue to be created under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996.
135. Deputy John Brassil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will expedite a join family visa application for a person (detail supplied) whose application for a visa was made on 29 February 2016 and is still pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13476/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application referred to was refused by the Visa Office in New Delhi on 16 March, 2017. The applicant has been informed and of the reasons for same.
The Deputy may wish to note that 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 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.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to the New Delhi Visa Office (newdelhivisaoffice@dfa.ie).
136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review a visa application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied); the correct procedure to be followed by the persons who wish to appeal the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13489/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 2 March 2017. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that no appeal has been submitted. Guidelines on the appeals procedure are available on the INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie).
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 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.
137. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a resident garda will be provided in Rathdowney, County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13502/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps the 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 Commissioner that, in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his or her Division.
Rathdowney Garda Station forms part of the Portlaoise Garda District which is within the wider Laois/Offaly Garda Division. I am informed by the Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Laois/Offaly Division on the 31 January 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 296 and the strength of Portlaoise District was 162 of which 2 were assigned to Rathdowney Garda Station. There are also 19 Garda Reserves and 23 civilians attached to the Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
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 to deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This year, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
I am further informed by the Commissioner that, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, 838 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 29 of whom have been assigned to the Laois/Offaly Division. I am also informed that another 750 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including the Laois/Offaly Division, in the coming years.
This investment in personnel is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will see an increase in Garda visibility in our communities.
138. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of fixed-charge penalty-point notices issued to drink-drivers detected at blood-alcohol concentration, BAC, levels between 50 mg and 80 mg in each of the years 2012 to 2016; the number of drivers who paid the FCN within the time limit; the number of drivers summonsed to court for failing to pay the FCN; the number of drivers convicted; the number of driver licence numbers recorded on conviction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13508/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the information requested by the Deputy and I will contact the Deputy directly upon receipt of the relevant information.
Insofar as conviction statistics are concerned, the Courts Service is not in a position to match the prosecutions specified in the Deputy's question to court results. It follows that it is similarly not possible to ascertain the number of driver licence numbers recorded for the offence referred to in the question, where the offence specified results in a conviction.
139. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has the final figures of the precise costs to the State in facilitating Prince Charles's visit here in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13510/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of necessary resources to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries, having regard to the security considerations involved, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the total expenditure paid from the Garda Vote in respect of the visit of HRH Prince Charles to Donegal is €0.8m.
140. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for a join family visa in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13533/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the information referred to was received by the Visa Office on 14 February 2017.
As explained in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 September 2016, there has been an exponential increase since the second quarter of 2015 in the number of such applications. This has given rise to a current caseload in the region of 10,500 applications overall which have to be assessed very carefully to ensure that any fraudulent applications or potential abuses of the Directive are detected and dealt with appropriately. Legal proceedings in relation to a number of similar such applications are currently before the courts, and accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that I am somewhat limited in what I can say on the matter.
While every effort generally is made to process these applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of applications, their complexity, the possible need for the Visa Office to investigate, enquire into, or seek further information in relation to certain applications, and the resources available. Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications waiting to be processed and the fact that such applications are processed in chronological order (i.e. based on date order of receipt), I cannot at this time give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).
141. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) with regard to the rise in crime in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13543/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that Operation Thor is a nationwide initiative to tackle burglary and related criminal activity. It was designed and launched after I initiated a broad review of our response to burglary and it represents a major step-up in our response to criminals who have sought to target householders in many areas of the country.
An Garda Síochána carefully monitors the activities of criminal groups affecting all areas of the country, including Co. Kerry, and are implementing strong policing measures to disrupt and dismantle their networks. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda resources to specific areas, but I am assured that Garda management constantly monitor the distribution of resources in the light of crime trends and overall policing needs. As the Deputy is aware, very significant resources have been provided to the Garda authorities, including an overtime allocation of €88.5 million in the current year, to support large-scale policing operations, including Operation Thor. If I might illustrate the scale of Garda activity against burglary and property crime – under Operation Thor we have seen more than 67,000 targeted checkpoints nationwide, and in the region of 4,000 arrests connected to a range of offences which, in addition to burglary, have included handling stolen property, possession of firearms and drugs offences.
Operation Thor has particularly targeted mobile gangs engaged in burglary and related crimes and it is encouraging to note that since the launch of the operation in November 2015, the burglary figures have shown a significant downward trend. Indeed, the most recent CSO official recorded crime statistics for Q3 of 2016 show a decrease of 31% in burglary for the twelve months ending 30 September 2016 compared to the previous twelve month period. This reflects the success of the concerted Garda drive against crime being implemented under Operation Thor. In fact, CSO figures for the Kerry Garda Division show a reduction in Burglary of 56% in the first nine months of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015, coinciding with the introduction of Operation Thor.
As part of the concerted strategy to combat burglary, I made it a priority to secure the enactment of specific legislation targeting prolific burglars in the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015. These provisions are now available to Gardaí to support prosecutions arising from Operation Thor. The reduction in the volume of burglaries as a result of Operation Thor will not of course be indicated in the overall detection rate for burglary. However, I might add that the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act was commenced a year ago and introduced the DNA database, which provides Gardaí with investigative links ('hits') between people and unsolved crimes, including burglaries. It is anticipated that this will assist in improving detection rates for burglary over the coming years.
Underpinning all of these measures is the Government's ongoing commitment 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. The Government plans to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This year, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan which is in train within An Garda Síochána. Approximately 300 appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve.
142. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding applications that are under appeal with the private security authority in respect of a private security licence; if the applicant can operate until the appeals process is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13573/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Authority licenses both contractors and individual service providers. As the Deputy will be aware it is an independent body.
The 2004 Act sets out the relevant provisions in respect of the Authority's decisions. In general terms, in circumstances where a decision of the Authority is to refuse to renew a licence and that decision is appealed then the Authority's decision stands suspended pending the outcome of the appeal proceedings. Provided the licensee holds a valid licence at the time of the appeal he/she may continue to operate according to that licence. There are certain circumstances provided for where if the decision of the Authority is made on grounds that the safety or welfare of any persons may be at risk from the continuance in force of the licence then the licensee cannot continue to operate even after the lodging of an appeal. Where a new applicant appeals the refusal of a licence, the applicant cannot provide a security service during the appeal process as he/she does not hold a valid licence to provide such a service.
