Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:107. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons in employment in 2017. [21003/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployment Data
Ceisteanna (107)
Freagraí scríofa
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not yet available.
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment (ILO) in the State.
The most recent figures available are for Q4 2016 when there were 2,048,100 persons aged 15 years and over in employment in the State.
Employment Data
Ceisteanna (108)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:108. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Taoiseach the number of self-employed persons in 2017. [21004/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not yet available.
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment (ILO) in the State.
The most recent figures available are for Q4 2016 when there were 321,400 self-employed persons aged 15 years and over in the State.
Income Data
Ceisteanna (109)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:109. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons earning the minimum wage or less in 2017. [21005/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment (ILO) in the State.
The most recent figures available are for Q4 2016 when there were 134,500 employees aged 15 years and over reporting earning the National Minimum Wage or less in the State.
Garda Youth Diversion Projects
Ceisteanna (110)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:110. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of establishing ten new Garda youth diversion projects; and the estimated full year cost of running these projects. [20995/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy may be aware that €1.25 m per annum is being made available from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support the operation of the ten new Garda Youth Diversion Projects established in 2015/2016. Some €1.21 m is being allocated to these projects in 2017 following on from an appraisal of their annual plans and budget applications for the year.
The amount allocated to each Garda Youth Diversion Project may vary depending on a number of factors. These include the number of participants on a project, the number of youth justice workers employed, the particular programmes and interventions planned for project participants based on a completed risk and needs assessment, and the overheads of the project such as rent, insurance, utilities costs, etc.
The estimated cost of establishing and operating a further ten new GYDPs would be similar to those referred to above.
Garda Compensation
Ceisteanna (111)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:111. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a Garda compensation case (details supplied). [20899/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that two applications for compensation under the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts, 1941 and 1945, were made by the person concerned. Authorisations were granted to the claimant to proceed to the High Court for compensation in respect of each case, in accordance with the Acts. The first authorisation was granted on 3rd October 2008 and the second on 15th November 2012.
Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (112)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:112. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024; the cost of implementation to date in 2017; and the anticipated cost each year for the duration of the programme. [20928/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, which was launched on Friday 2 October 2015, sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to, work are supported and enabled to do so. People with disabilities are only half as likely to be in employment as others of working age. The reasons for this are complex, and include level of education and skills, fears around loss of benefits, employer know-how, low expectations, and limited re-entry to work following onset of a disability, as well as a higher incidence of ill-health.
The Strategy is a cross-government approach that brings together actions by different Departments and State agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities. In tandem with that, it seeks to ensure there will be joined-up services and supports at local level to support individuals on their journey into and in employment.
The Strategy's six strategic priorities are to:
- Build skills, capacity and independence;
- Provide bridges and supports into work;
- Make work pay;
- Promote job retention and re-entry to work;
- Provide co-ordinated and seamless support;
- Engage employers.
The Strategy is monitored and overseen by the Comprehensive Employment Strategy Implementation Group under an independent chair. To date, the Group has met on eight occasions in order to review progress, prioritise areas of work and ensure that the 2015 - 2017 Action Plan is being implemented. The Chair of the Group recently published his first annual report, and this is available at www.justice.ie. The key issue in relation to the implementation of the Strategy is the co-ordination of departmental efforts in this area, and therefore, while individual actions in the Strategy may have additional cost implications which will require to be included in the Votes of the relevant Departments, taken as a whole, the focus in the Strategy is on better co-ordination and use of existing resources, rather than on additional funding allocations.
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
Ceisteanna (113)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:113. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application under the communities integration fund (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20933/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I launched a call for applications under the Communities Integration Fund on 7 February with a closing date of 30 March, 2017. A total amount of €500,000 will be made available to local community based groups to promote integration in their area e.g. local sporting clubs, faith-based groups, cultural organisations and community support networks. Grants/funding may be provided up to a maximum of €5,000 depending on the size and nature of the project. I am delighted with the response to the call as over 300 applications, including the one referred to, have been received. These are being assessed and all applicants will be informed within the next number of weeks as to the outcome of their application.
Garda Promotions
Ceisteanna (114)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:114. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure supervisory ranks are filled (details supplied); the positions vacant at present; when they are likely to be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20939/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the 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.
In particular, the filling of vacancies in the supervisory ranks of sergeant and inspector is a matter for the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility under the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (as amended) for holding competitions for the selection of members for promotion to these ranks.
I have requested the specific information sought by the Deputy from the Commissioner and I will write to her on receipt of same.
Deportation Orders Re-examination
Ceisteanna (115)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application pursuant to section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20960/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 20 June 2002.
Representations were received asking for the Deportation Order to be revoked, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). Following consideration of the information submitted the Deportation Order was affirmed on 25 April 2016.
Further representations have been received from the person's legal representative, pursuant to Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. All relevant aspects of the case will be carefully considered before a decision is made.
The effect of the Deportation Order is that the person concerned must leave the State and remain thereafter outside the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order in this case is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Visa Applications
Ceisteanna (116)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the hardship caused by the current limits placed on visas for persons visiting family members here (details supplied); if she will consider altering this or introducing a discretionary duration for visas in certain circumstances. [21032/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that non-EEA nationals, whether visa required or not, may visit the State for up to a maximum of 90 days including where they are visiting family members. I am also advised that the 90-day limit for a short stay visit is the norm in the European Union.
The 90-day limit is not arbitrary but is linked with the provisions in the Immigration Act 2004 which requires any persons residing in Ireland for more than 90 days to register their permission to be in the State with the relevant immigration office. In effect, such persons who are in the State for longer than 90 days are considered to be residing in Ireland as opposed to merely visiting.
A person may apply for a long-stay visa such as a "join family" visa which is appropriate when they wish to reside with a family member for longer than 90 days, for example, following the birth of a child to a family member or to care for a family member who is in poor health. Such an application would be processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in my Department's Policy Document on non-EEA Family Reunification. Each visa application is decided on its own merits taking all relevant factors into account.