Written Answers Nos. 850-870
850. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will, on compassionate grounds, offer residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that applications for the persons concerned are being considered. However, INIS had not been informed of the change in circumstances as outlined by the Deputy. In order for the case to be examined further the applicant and/or their family should be advised to write to Residence Unit 2 of INIS updating them of the change in circumstances.
Might I remind the Deputy 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 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 Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
851. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will approve naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28381/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position remains as outlined in response to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 2 March 2017. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was deemed ineligible for reasons provided to the person concerned in a letter issued on 23 May 2016.
The records show that the person's permission to reside expired on 22 November 2016. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the residency requirements are met.
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.
852. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will facilitate long term residency naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28382/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the records show that the person referred to currently has permission to reside in the State, on a Stamp 4 until 22 September 2019, which entitles her to avail of employment. There is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy,
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the residency requirements are met.
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.
853. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28383/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe International Protection Act, 2015, was commenced on 31 December 2016. Under the Act, a new single application procedure was introduced under which all aspects of a person's claim (asylum, subsidiary protection and permission to remain) are considered together by the International Protection Office (IPO) rather than sequentially as heretofore. The IPO replaced the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) from the commencement date. The Chief International Protection Officer (CIPO) and the International Protection Officers in the IPO are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions. They are also bound by confidentiality provisions in respect of applicants, as set out in Section 26 of the 2015 Act.
If an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State, for confidentiality reasons it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant should contact the International Protection Office directly either by email to info@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to the Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.
For your information, on 27 February 2017 the Chief International Protection Officer, following consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published a statement on the Prioritisation of Applications for International Protection under the International Protection Act 2015. The IPO statement in relation to the prioritisation of applications is available on their website (www.ipo.gov.ie).
854. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incidents of rape and sexual assault which have been reported as occurring within direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28408/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) nor my Department gathers, holds or maintains any such statistics. All such criminal matters should be reported to An Garda Síochána so that investigations into any alleged offences against the person can take place as quickly as possible.
855. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of adults and children who have been granted their stamp 4 visa or leave to remain that remain in direct provision or other non-permanent accommodation funded by his Department on the first day of each month in 2016 and to date in 2017. [28478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the numbers of persons with a form of status who continue to reside in State provided accommodation are not available on a monthly basis for 2016. What can be said is that the numbers of persons with some form of status residing in State provided accommodation ranged from approximately 450 persons to approximately 600 persons during 2016. The numbers rise and fall as some residents are granted a form of status and others with status move into the community. Over 1,900 persons left the State provided accommodation system during 2016. It is important to note that not all those leaving State provided accommodation would have done so because they received a form of status. The State provided accommodation system is entirely voluntary and some of those leaving the system were exercising their right to live elsewhere.
The collation of information regarding the number of persons with status who had come through the normal protection process is available on a monthly basis from January 2017 and the Reception and Integration Agency will continue to collate this information on an ongoing basis. The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy:
|
Month |
Number of those with a form of status |
|
January 2017 |
532 |
|
February 2017 |
454 |
|
March 2017 |
421 |
|
April 2017 |
415 |
|
May 2017 |
396 |
|
to date in June 2017 |
399 |
856. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the new private security appeals board will be appointed; the reason for the delay in appointing the board; and when it will reach a decision on the case of a person (details supplied). [28485/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Private Security Appeal Board is established in accordance with the provisions of Part 5 of the Private Security Services Act 2004. The Government appointed the current Board on 2 May 2017. The process for the appointment of the Board was conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines but took longer than had been anticipated to complete. The Deputy will appreciate that in accordance with the provisions of the 2004 Act the Board is independent in the performance of its functions. I have been informed that at its recent meeting the Board considered the case of the person to whom the Deputy refers and that it will correspond directly with the person in early course.
857. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a garda compensation case (details supplied). [28486/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 on 3rd October 2008 and on 15th November 2012, notifying the applicant's legal representative to proceed to the High Court for compensation in respect of each case.
858. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of recruiting additional Garda Reserve members (details supplied) in 2018; and the costs associated with training the additional Garda Reserve. [28523/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 858 for answer on Tuesday 20 June, 2017, in which you requested the cost of recruiting additional Reserves in 2018.
As you will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact you again.
The Garda authorities have provided the information requested in the table.
As the Deputy will be aware service in the Garda Reserve is voluntary and unpaid. However, an allowance is payable to Reserve members who complete a minimum of 208 hours duty annually as a contribution towards expenses incurred in performing their duties. The allowance is currently set at €1,000 per annum. In addition, the uniform cost per Reserve member is in the region of €1,300. As such, should all recruits complete the minimum of 208 hours duty annually, the full year cost of increasing the strength by the amounts requested in your question are outlined in the table. The costs associated with the training of the reserve members is considered part of the Garda trainers’ normal duty and is therefore not identifiable.
|
Number of Additional Reserves |
Total Cost |
|
100 |
€230,000 |
|
200 |
€460,000 |
|
300 |
€690,000 |
|
400 |
€920,000 |
|
500 |
€1,150,000 |
|
600 |
€1,380,000 |
|
700 |
€1,610,000 |
|
800 |
€1,840,000 |
|
900 |
€2,070,000 |
|
1,000 |
€2,300,000 |
859. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda Reserve recruits expected to complete their training in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [28524/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra860. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the projected number of Garda Reserve members in the force by the end of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [28525/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra861. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recruitment number of Garda Reserve members in 2018 sufficient to meet the 2,000 target in the programme for Government. [28526/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 859 to 861, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
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 plan is progressing well. This year, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves, 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to ensuring funding is available to allow sufficient recruitment into An Garda Síochána in 2018 and the coming years so that the planned overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is achieved.
It is regrettable that there has been a substantial reduction in the strength of the Reserve in recent years from a peak of 1,164 in 2013 to 649 as of 30 April, 2017. The fall-off arises from a range of factors, not least the lifting in 2014 of the moratorium on recruitment of trainee Gardaí which has affected Reserve numbers in two ways - firstly some 200 serving Reserves have successfully applied to become trainee Gardaí, and secondly, resources in both An Garda Síochána and in the Public Appointments Service have been focused on delivering an accelerated programme of recruitment of full time members of An Garda Síochána. I am sure that the Deputy will agree, notwithstanding the very valuable contribution of Reserve members throughout the country, that it was the right decision, with finite resources, to prioritise the running of recruitment campaigns to replenish the full-time ranks of An Garda Síochána over the last three years. With the plan to reach 15,000 Garda members well on track it was possible for the Commissioner and the Public Appointments Service to undertake a new recruitment campaign for Garda Reserves. That is now in train and will, allowing for the selection process and necessary training of successful candidates, facilitate a start to be made on strengthening of the Reserve across every Garda Division, in the coming years.
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 as we expand the Reserve we build on their contribution to the policing of communities right across the country and ensure that they are used to optimum effect. In this regard, I am informed that An Garda Síochána is completing 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 including whether additional powers should be conferred on Reserve members.
862. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of recruiting additional civilian Garda members (details supplied) in 2018. [28527/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 862 for answer on Tuesday 20 June, 2017, in which you requested the cost of recruiting additional Civilians in 2018.
As you will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact you again.
The Garda authorities have provided the information requested in the following table.
The figures outlined in the following table have been calculated based on an estimated cost per person of €43,000. The precise costs would of course depend on the profile of the personnel to be recruited in terms of their qualifications and level of responsibility within the organisation.
|
Number of Additional Civilian Staff |
Total Cost |
|
100 |
€4,300,000 |
|
200 |
€8,600,000 |
|
300 |
€12,900,000 |
|
400 |
€17,200,000 |
|
500 |
€21,500,000 |
|
600 |
€25,800,000 |
|
700 |
€30,100,000 |
|
800 |
€34,400,000 |
|
900 |
€38,700,000 |
|
1000 |
€43,000,000 |
I trust that this is of assistance.
863. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda civilian members expected to complete their training in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [28528/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra864. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the projected number of Garda civilian members in the force by the end of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [28529/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra865. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recruitment number of Garda civilian members in 2018 sufficient to meet the 4,000 target in the programme for Government. [28530/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 863 to 865, inclusive, together.
As part of its Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána, the Government has agreed an overall vision for a Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 to include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This very substantial investment in personnel is driven by our commitment to ensure all citizens have the reassurance of a visible, responsive and effective policing service.
The most recent available figure for the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána is for 30 April 2017, at which point there were 2,098 civilian staff members working throughout the organisation carrying out senior management, administrative and technical roles. The projected number of 4,000 civilians will effectively double the current figure on an incremental basis and represents a medium-term target of a Garda organisation 20% comprised of civilians. That will bring An Garda Síochána, currently 14% comprised of civilians, more in line with international norms and ensure that trained Gardaí are not engaging in administrative and technical duties which could be done by suitably qualified civilian staff.
The 20% target will be achieved through a twin-track approach of, firstly, a “civilian by default” policy to be adopted in relation to the filling of all new posts other than operational policing posts and for non-operational policing posts that become vacant and, secondly, the redeployment of Gardaí and backfilling by suitably qualified civilians where necessary. In its 'Changing Policing in Ireland' report, the Garda Inspectorate has estimated that there may be up to 1,250 Gardaí currently in such posts and the Government’s plan aims to return as many of these Gardaí as possible to front-line duties over the next five years. With this in mind, the Garda Commissioner, in conjunction with the Policing Authority, has been requested to identify posts suitable for redeployment and to prepare a 5 year plan for reaching the 20% medium term target. This plan, with the consent of my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, will determine the number of civilians to be recruited in each of the coming years and the projected number of civilians for each year in order to reach the target of 4,000 civilians by 2021.
As a first step in this process, funding for the recruitment of up to 500 civilians has been provided in Budget 2017 to facilitate the Commissioner in addressing capacity and critical skills gaps across the organisation including in corporate supports, change management, human resources and financial management at the national, regional and Divisional level. These appointments are intended to facilitate deeper civilianisation in the coming years. To date, the Policing Authority (with the consent of the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) has approved 137 of these positions including two new senior posts of Executive Director Strategy and Change Management and Executive Director Legal and Compliance. The recruitment process for the Strategy and Change Management position has been completed and the name of the successful candidate passed to the Policing Authority which is the appointing body. The recruitment process for the legal and Compliance position is in train. The Government has also agreed in principle to the position of a Chief Information Officer. The majority of the positions sanctioned are in the areas of ICT, Human Resources, Governance and Strategy, Legal and Compliance, and Finance. 43 of the initial 137 sanctioned posts will go towards back filling vacancies created by the redeployment of Garda members to policing duties. Garda management has indicated that some 30% of the total 500 civilians to be recruited this year will lead to redeployment opportunities. In addition to these sanctioned posts, the Policing Authority have indicated to An Garda Síochána that consequential vacancies may be filled in the organisation.
Training for civilian members will vary from position to position depending on the nature of the role involved and continue throughout their career as the need arises and in order to aid continuous professional development. Unlike Garda members who must go through the full Garda training process, formal training courses are not necessarily a prerequisite for beginning work in civilian roles. Indeed one of the reasons for engaging civilians is that in many cases they already have the required professional expertise to undertake the role concerned within An Garda Síochána.
866. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of recruiting additional Garda (details supplied) in 2018; and the costs associated with training the additional Garda. [28531/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 866 for answer on Tuesday 20 June, 2017, in which you requested the cost of recruiting additional Gardaí in 2018.
As you will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact you again.
The Garda authorities have provided the information requested in the following table.
The annual cost for new Garda recruits includes a basic weekly allowance of €184. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale €28,405, rising to a maximum of €50,448 per annum after 19 years.
They may also qualify for other allowances depending on their assignments. For the purposes of this calculation, the costs are based on basic salary plus employer PRSI but do not include any allowances that the members may be entitled to after being attested. In addition, a commencement date of 1 January 2018 is assumed in order to provide full year costs.
The cost of recruitment and training recruits are subsumed into the overall training costs of the Garda College and are not easily identifiable.
|
Number of Gardaí |
Total Cost |
|
100 |
€1,857,879 |
|
200 |
€3,715,757 |
|
300 |
€5,573,636 |
|
400 |
€7,431,515 |
|
500 |
€9,289,393 |
|
600 |
€11,147,272 |
|
700 |
€13,005,151 |
|
800 |
€14,863,029 |
|
900 |
€16,720,908 |
|
1000 |
€18,578,787 |
867. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits expected to complete their training in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [28532/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra868. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the projected number of gardaí in the force by the end of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [28533/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra869. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new recruits the Garda College takes in each year; the dates on which this takes place; and the maximum number of recruits the Garda College can take in each of these intake periods. [28534/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra870. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recruitment number of gardaí in 2018 sufficient to meet the 15,000 target in the programme for Government. [28535/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 867 to 870, inclusive, together.
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.
Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 by 2021 will require some 2,400 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next three years in addition to the 2,000 recruited that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014.
In 2017, 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 engaging with my colleague, the Minister Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to ensuring funding is available to allow sufficient recruitment into An Garda Síochána in 2018 and the coming years so that the planned overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is achieved.
The workforce plan is progressing apace. So far this year, there have been two intakes of two hundred trainees in February and May with a further two intakes of 200 planned for August and November giving a total intake of 800. It is expected that the planned schedule of intakes will continue into 2018. I am advised by the Commissioner, that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, just under 1,000 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am also informed that another 600 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 - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016. In addition to this, a further 800 Garda trainees are expected to attest in 2018.
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 the organisation.
In relation to the capacity of the Garda College, I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda College provides a range of training and development courses to members of An Garda Síochána and all new recruits complete their initial 32 week training programme at the College. The physical capacity of the College extends to 496 bedrooms, 16 Classrooms and 4 Lecture Theatres. The College has the capacity to accommodate the planned intakes of Garda trainees.
