Written Answers Nos. 500-523
500. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the meetings of the strategic communications unit he or his Department officials attended; the date and location of each such meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45996/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my department officials have attended any meetings of the Strategic Communications Unit.
I did however meet with the Director of the Strategic Communications Unit in Leinster House on 5 October 2017, where he outlined some of the unit's intended work programme.
501. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the last time his Department's website was revamped or remodelled; the cost of same; if he or his Department officials have been consulted regarding creating one stand-alone online Government portal website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46013/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra502. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the investment in his Department’s website since 2011 including total associated costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46030/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together.
Development and remedial work on my Department’s websites is generally undertaken by officials in the Department. This was also the case with much of the work on the most recent revamp of my Department's website which was undertaken in 2015, with additional work to the value of €99,000(including VAT) carried out by external contractors. This is the only investment in my Department's website since 2011.
As part of the Government's eGovernment strategy 2017-2020, the Office of the Chief Information Officer has been working on the development of a Digital Service Gateway - a single digital point where citizens can easily access information about the Government services that are available to them. This work, which began at the beginning of this year, is ongoing and will involve the rationalisation of existing Government websites and online services over time. This project will be managed and developed by existing resources within the civil service and my Department is fully aligned with and committed to this overall strategy.
503. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Department staff in his press office; the reporting relationship in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46047/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two officials working full time in my Department's Press Office - the Department's Press Officer and one other member of staff who reports to the Press Officer. A further two members of staff work on internal and external communications, also reporting to the Press Officer. The Press Officer reports to the Head of Communications and Corporate Secretariat in the Department.
504. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocol for attendance by staff, both civil servants and political non-civil servants, to continuing professional development programmes and courses; the number of staff, both civil servants and political non-civil servants, in his Department who participated in such programmes on an annual basis in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the costs incurred by his Department for persons who participated in these courses; the providers of all such courses; the subject areas of all courses and programmes provided, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46064/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional development with a view to enhancing organisational and individual capability. The Department invests in a range of courses and programmes designed to address any gaps in knowledge and expertise. Staff also attend conferences and seminars to ensure that they are keeping up to date with recent developments and improvements related to their specific areas such as European policy, IT, human resources. My Department also provides financial assistance under a scheme where fees for third level courses may be refunded, if appropriate, to some staff pursuing third level courses which are relevant to the business of the Organisation.
The attached table (tab A) outlines the total learning and development costs from 2011 to date, including spend on courses, seminars, and the refund of fees scheme. It also details the number of training days and attendance figures for courses within that period.
The list of providers and courses provided over this period is extensive. The attached list (tab B) details the main providers for the period in question. The courses provided cover a wide range of areas including communication skills, people management, leadership, change management, as well as technical skills such as IT, inspection, audit, accounting, legal skills.
Breakdown of Expenditure from 2011 to September 2017
|
Year |
Training Courses (this includes cost of all courses delivered specifically for DJE staff and the cost of attendance on outside courses attended by staff) |
Refund of Fees Scheme (reimbursement of part or all of course fees for 3rd level courses attended by staff in their own time) |
Seminars and Conferences |
Total |
No of Training Days (for all course specifically run for DJE staff) |
Total No. of Attendees over all Training Days (referred to in coloumn F) |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|||
|
2011 |
294,876.00 |
267,685.00 |
8,632.00 |
571,193.00 |
156 |
1051 |
|
2012 |
179,744.00 |
174,005.00 |
13,456.00 |
367,205.00 |
126 |
881 |
|
2013 |
58,217.00 |
158,576.00 |
13,183.00 |
229,976.00 |
37 |
334 |
|
2014 |
60,230.00 |
166,900.00 |
17,191.00 |
244,321.00 |
14 |
542 |
|
2015 |
114,588.00 |
138,022.00 |
16,289.00 |
268,899.00 |
27 |
167 |
|
2016 |
254,592.00 |
159,220.00 |
38,343.00 |
452,155.00 |
122 |
2997* |
|
2017 - to Sept |
343,000.00 |
85,716.00 |
26,548.00 |
455,264.00 |
165 |
1554 |
* This figure includes the participation of 1319 staff on a monitored online Diversity Awareness Training Course
|
List of main Training Providers from 2011 to Sept 2017 |
|
ACCA |
|
Accounting Technicians Ireland |
|
Adaptas Training |
|
Alliance Francaise |
|
All-One Corporate Solutions Ltd |
|
Arcline Ltd |
|
Ashville Media Group Ltd |
|
Beacon Training |
|
Bluewave Technology Limited |
|
Byrne Wallace Law Firm |
|
Carr Communications Ltd |
|
CENAD sprl |
|
Chartered Accountants Ireland |
|
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors Ireland |
|
Chris Mee Group |
|
CIPD Ireland |
|
Common Purpose Limited |
|
DCM Learning |
|
DeafHear.ie |
|
Deloitte |
|
Department of Finance |
|
Department of Public Expenditure & Reform |
|
DMS Personnel Consultants (Ireland) Ltd |
|
ERA Academy of European Law |
|
Ernst & Young |
|
Euroaische Rechtsakademie |
|
European Academy for Taxes, Economics and Law |
|
European Institute of Communications |
|
European Institute of Public Administration |
|
Evolution, Human Resource & Management Consultancy |
|
Fitzwilliam Institute Group |
|
Gaelchultur |
|
GovNet Communications |
|
HazChem Training Limited |
|
Hibernian Training Courses |
|
IACT |
|
ICS Skills |
|
IIA Training Ltd |
|
Institute of Bankers |
|
Institute of Internal Auditors UK & Ireland |
|
Institute of International & European Affairs |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
|
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) |
|
IPASS |
|
Irish Centre for European Law |
|
Irish Quality Centre |
|
Irish Times Training (Irish Times Ltd, Itronics Ltd) |
|
La Touche Training |
|
Law Society of Ireland |
|
Leaders UK and Ireland Ltd (Young Programme Events Ltd) |
|
Legal-Island Ltd |
|
Mazars |
|
Mediator's Institute of Ireland |
|
New Horizons Ireland |
|
Olas |
|
Optima Training & Consulting Ltd., |
|
PDP Training |
|
Perpetual Solutions |
|
Pitman Training |
|
Presidion ( Formally SPSS Ireland) |
|
Professional Development Ireland Ltd |
|
Public Affairs Ireland |
|
Riskom International Pty Ltd |
|
Rothwell Performance Consulting |
|
Seneca Healthcare Solutions CiC |
|
Seven Psychology at Work |
|
Shannon Consulting |
|
Sureskills Ltd |
|
The Communications Clinic Ltd |
|
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Ltd. |
|
The Dublin Solicitors Bar Association |
|
The Honorable Society of King's Inns |
|
The Sandford Language Institute |
|
Tiger Consulting |
|
Trigraph Professional Training |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
|
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School |
|
UCD Adult Education Centre |
505. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the public relations companies or agencies the services of which his Department used for information campaigns since 1 January 2017; and the costs incurred to date in 2017. [46081/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details of companies or agencies contracted for public information campaigns since 1 January 2017 and the costs incurred to date in 2017 are set out in the table below. This includes the cost of public information notices in various media outlets for specific information campaigns on behalf of my Department.
|
PR Companies/Agencies |
Campaign |
Services Provided |
Cost € |
|
TBWA Dublin |
"What would you do?" Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence |
Strategic and creative advertising services |
105,378.52 |
|
PHD Media Ireland |
"What would you do?" Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence |
For media planning and buying advertising services |
564,408.34 |
|
Real Nation |
"Someone Like Me" Primary Schools Disability awareness programme |
Management of a disability awareness arts programme open to all schools in the State including public information, website development and assessment of applications.
|
49,635.00 |
|
The Communications Clinic Ltd |
Irish Refugee Protection Programme |
Preparation and delivery of communications strategy to support the implementation of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme |
2,691.24 |
|
Mediavest |
Fireworks Information Notice Newspaper Campaign 22 - 31 October 2017 |
Public Information Notices |
36,676.45 |
|
Mediavest |
Realistic Imitation Firearms Public Consultation 2017 |
Public Information Notices |
3,245.62 |
|
Mediavest |
Call for funding applications to the National Funding for the Promotion of Immigrant Integration and Communities Integration Fund |
Public Information notices in national media |
20,461.00 |
|
Mediavest |
Irish Refugee Protection Programme |
Public Information notices in national media seeking expressions of interest |
1,619.75 |
|
|
|
|
784,115.92 |
506. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to ensure that grant aided organisations are spending their moneys appropriately in view of the revelations regarding a charity (details supplied) in 2016; if his attention has been drawn to concerns about organisations funded by his Department; if so, the action he has taken; if his Department has issued new procedures regarding the use of credit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46098/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department provides funding to a range of non-governmental bodies which deliver valuable front line services. A framework of rigorous governance practices have been developed to manage the funding given to such bodies, to strengthen governance, to ensure that value for money is achieved and that the work is delivered to a high standard.
In 2017, my Department reviewed these practices and put in place further fund management processes to elicit assurances that money is expended appropriately. This requires bodies to furnish greater upfront details about their governance, payroll and expenditure practices; insists on the submission of independently audited accounts as a condition of funding and specifically requires them to set out details which might be regarded as red flags, such as the use of credit cards and salaries to staff. These processes can be subject to inspections by officials as appropriate.
507. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the maximum penalty for engaging in a sex act with a child beyond the current sentence of five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government takes the issue of sexual exploitation of children very seriously and has put in place comprehensive legislation to deal with these offences.
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 amended the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 to raise the maximum penalty for engaging in a sexual act with a child who is under the age of 17 years from 5 to 7 years imprisonment. Furthermore, the 2017 Act amends the 2006 Act to raise the maximum penalty for attempting to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of 17 years from 2 to 7 years imprisonment.
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 also provides that the maximum penalty for engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 15 years is life imprisonment and the same penalty applies to attempting to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of 15 years.
Finally, the 2017 Act introduces a range of new offences involving the exploitation of children, including inviting a child to engage in sexual touching, sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to watch sexual activity. The maximum penalties for these offences is in the range of 10 to 14 years, depending on the offence.
508. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of all planning and research work under way for the impact of the result of Brexit negotiations in his Department or related State agencies; if this analysis is intended for publication; the expected completion and publication date, respectively, of this research, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46124/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, Minister Coveney, has responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, he is working closely with his colleagues across Government to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This cooperation also involves the relevant State Agencies.
Work at Cabinet level is being prepared through cross-Departmental coordination structures and my Department is actively participating in this process. These represent a frequent and active channel through which all relevant Departments are providing their research, analysis and overall policy input to the Government’s wider response to Brexit, including its priorities for the ongoing Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK.
As the outcome of the negotiations is not yet known, an important focus of the planning and preparation being undertaken through these structures is on deepening the Government’s analysis and understanding of the exact consequences of a range of different possible scenarios. This represents an intensification of efforts to build on the Government's contingency planning.
Within my own Department, analysis and research on the possible impacts of the UK departure from the EU commenced in early 2016. A Working Group of senior officials was established to manage the Department's response and to carry out a risk analysis of the UK's potential departure, taking into account engagement with relevant justice sector agencies and other stakeholders. This work is ongoing and evolving and not therefore intended for publication at this time.
509. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the planned refurbishment of a Garda station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46136/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. This includes identifying and progressing any necessary remedial or refurbishment works required at individual stations. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
The Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, which is an ambitious 5 year Programme that will benefit over thirty locations around the country, provides for refurbishment works to Ballinasloe Garda station, including a new public office and custody management facility.
I am advised by Garda management that the procurement process for a scheme of works for the station has been completed by the OPW and they are currently engaging with An Garda Síochána in relation to the progression of the project.
510. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the privacy and data protection implications of a company requiring persons who hold accounts with them to provide their PPS numbers in order to continue holding an account with the company. [46140/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position appears to be that financial institutions are required to seek the PPSN of all persons opening a new account in accordance with the Return of Payments Regulations (S.I. No 136 of 2008). A Guidance Note on use of the PPSN for these purposes has been prepared by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners and is available on the Data Protection Commissioner's website, www.dataprotection.ie.
511. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce a system of regulation of immigration consultants here, similar to the UK office of the immigration services commissioner, in view of the fact that such consultants in the absence of regulation have potential free rein to exploit those who engage their services. [46146/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that immigration consultants operate under a private arrangement between themselves and any applicant who wishes to engage them. I understand that a significant number of such consultants operate outside of the jurisdiction.
There are no current plans to introduce a system of regulation; however, the matter will be kept under review.
512. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons granted family reunification under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended in 2015, 2016 and 2017; the number who held Irish citizenship at the time of their family reunification application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46147/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 18 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, made provision for recognised refugees to apply to the Minister for permission to be granted to a member of his or her family to enter and reside in the State. The number of persons granted family reunification under the provisions of Section 18 of the Act for the years requested by the Deputy is shown in the table below.
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Citizenship Service (INIS) of my Department that the provisions for family reunification under the Refugee Act do not extend to Irish citizens and therefore records are not maintained in such a way as to provide the information requested.
|
Year |
Number of persons granted family reunification |
|
2017 |
365 |
|
2016 |
265 |
|
2015 |
270 |
513. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to consider the provision of additional services for a town (details supplied) in County Kildare. [46168/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the town in question is the location of an Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre (EROC). An EROC is primarily concerned with accommodating recently arrived Syrian refugees and asylum seekers and providing them with a range of services before they are resettled in local communities nationwide. When these individuals move on, their places in the EROC are taken by further arrivals.
As the contracted capacity of the EROC in question is 143, I do not anticipate that the town will experience any significant overall increase in refugees living there. Consequently, I do not plan to significantly increase the provision of my Department's resources to the EROC.
A range of services are provided within the EROC and these are fully funded by my Department. However, the core services for those who are resident in the EROC are "mainstreamed" and every effort is made by the relevant services providers to ensure that the impact on local services is minimised. These services include, for example, services provided by the Department of Social Protection, health services provided by the HSE, education services provided in primary and post-primary schools as well as language services provided for adults through the relevant by Education and Training Boards. If the Deputy has particular concerns around service provision in the town that he believes may be impacted by the EROC then further enquiries should be made with the relevant service providers.
514. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 24 October 2017, the reason families to date were not permitted to seek a summary of the overall amount of funds in court; and the reason this policy has now changed. [46174/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra515. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 24 October 2017, if families are entitled to seek a summary of the way in which funds in court are spent or only a summary of the balance in the account. [46175/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the High Court has jurisdiction in wards of court matters and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me of the respective roles of the Committee of the Estate and the Committee of the Person (which is usually one person) appointed by the President of the High Court that apply to a person being taken into wardship which was set out in my reply to parliamentary question number 177 of 24 October 2017.
The Courts Service has further informed me that heretofore, the Committee of the Person was not given financial information on the funds held in court on behalf of the ward because, where a person was appointed Committee of the Person only, their role did not extend to financial matters. The Courts Service has also informed me that, having received enquiries on this issue, the Registrar of Wards of Court consulted with the President of the High Court and it was agreed that it could be beneficial to the Committee of the Person in their role if they were informed of the overall amount of funds held in court. It was therefore decided to provide the Committee of the Person with a summary of the overall funds held in court on behalf of the ward. In approximately 75% of all cases the ward’s Committee is a family member or a trusted friend.
If a family member wishes to have more involvement in and knowledge of the property and affairs of a ward it is open to that family member to apply to be appointed as a Committee of the Estate of the ward by writing to the Office of the General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court.
516. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process for a person from Australia who is married to a person who has an Italian and English passport to live and work here; the requirements necessary for the person to regularise his or her situation if he or she comes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46176/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that based on the general details and personal circumstances supplied by the Deputy regarding the individual concerned, it would appear that the most suitable immigration permission applicable to this person would be to submit an application for EU Treaty Rights on the basis of their marriage to an EU citizen.
Furthermore, I have been advised that all information with regard to submitting an application for EU Treaty Rights and the relevant application form can be located on www.inis.gov.ie. Upon submission of a completed application form which is accompanied by the specified documentation an applicant is afforded temporary Stamp 4 permission to reside and work in Ireland while their application is being processed.
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.
517. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to expedite a matter for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46216/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe processing of vetting applications is carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 and other relevant law. My Department has no role in the processing of individual vetting applications.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a vetting application was received by the National Vetting Bureau from a registered organisation in respect of the person referred to on 18 October 2017 and the application process was completed on 25 October 2017.
In the circumstances the person concerned is advised to contact the liaison person in the registered organisation to ascertain the current situation.
518. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the pay scales for court ushers. [46226/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that Court Ushers (or tipstaffs) act as assistants to judges of the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court while Court Criers carry out similar functions for judges of the Circuit Court. The Courts Service has also informed me that it was decided in 2011 that all newly appointed judges to those courts would be provided with a Judicial Assistant instead of a Court Crier or a Court Usher.
The pay scales for Court Ushers, Court Criers and Judicial Assistants are set out below. It should be noted that all new staff are on the Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) scales and that there are very few Court Ushers or Court Criers remaining on the non-PPC scales.
Pay Scales
COURT USHER - NON-PPC - WEEKLY
€429.36, €484.44, €498.89, €528.57
€542.90, €576.84, €595.02 (LSI1), €616.44 (LSI2)
COURT USHER - PPC - WEEKLY
€450.78, €501.76, €524.12, €555.38
€570.47, €605.42, €618.58 (LSI1) €640.93 (LSI2)
COURT CRIER - NON-PPC - WEEKLY
€458.52, €524.93, €562.71, €581.12 (LSI1), €601.46 (LSI2)
COURT CRIER - PPC - WEEKLY
€481.19, €550.85, €590.75, €609.93 (LSI1), €625.29 (LSI2)
The top two points on each of the pay scales above are Long-Service Increment (LSI) points payable after 3 years and 6 years, respectively, on the ordinary maximum point.
JUDICIAL ASSISTANT - PPC - ANNUAL
€28,651.00, €31,723.00.
519. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the drop of 20% in penalty point notices issued to drivers in 2016 compared to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46299/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the Deputy's question and will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.
520. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases of tuberculosis, TB, recorded in the prison system in the past ten years, by year and the prison that reported such cases; the procedure and protocol the Irish Prison Service follows in reporting and handling a case of TB in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46303/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Prison Service has advised that tuberculosis is a disease notifiable to Public Health, Health Service Executive, and that statistics on the number of cases are therefore held by the Health Service Executive.
The Department of Public Health in the Health Service Executive manage any incidents of Tuberculosis in prisons and engage in contact tracing if deemed necessary. The contact tracing involves individual risk assessments, which include the time spent with an infectious case and the vulnerability of individuals being risk assessed. Any identified infectious Tuberculosis case will be immediately transferred to hospital and will not return to prison until it is confirmed that the patient is no longer infectious.
All prisoners, on reception into prison, either directly from the community or on transfer from another prison, undergo a healthcare committal interview, part of which is a screening for tuberculosis. This screening assesses the principal physical symptoms of active tuberculosis. Should a prisoner present with some of these symptoms then these will be available for the doctor when they examine the prisoner within 24 hours of the committal. If it is suspected that the prisoner may be suffering from active TB, which could be infectious, healthcare staff then make arrangements with the Governor for the prisoner to be isolated, and testing can begin.
Isolation remains in place until the regime of testing, including sputum specimens and chest X-rays, have either shown no TB infection or, if active infection is discovered, referral on to St James’ Hospital for treatment.
Procedures for isolation and stocks of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment are available in each prison. A prisoner who is suspected of having active TB but has no cough, and therefore not infectious, may not be isolated but will be tested. The local Public Health Department, Health Service Executive, is informed if a prisoner is suspected of having active TB.
Latent TB is not infectious, and if a prisoner has latent TB, there will be a referral to Public Health, which will conduct tests and recommend treatment.
The Irish Prison Service is currently revising its procedures for the identification of prisoners who may have TB to ensure that procedures are in line with best practice. Revised procedures will incorporate the changing risks in society, including free movement in the EU, especially from areas where there is a high incidence of TB, and social risk factors. The revised procedures will improve awareness of TB amongst staff and prisoners as an ever present risk to encourage vigilance, and therefore make detection and treatment more effective and cross infection less likely.
521. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that have been Garda vetted annually since the process of Garda vetting was established. [46324/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the Deputy's information, I have set out in the table below the number of vetting applications processed by the Garda Vetting Bureau each year from 2005 to date.
|
Year |
Applications |
|
2005 |
933 |
|
2006 |
45,252 |
|
2007 |
80,283 |
|
2008 |
137,049 |
|
2009 |
156,799 |
|
2010 |
223,313 |
|
2011 |
276,520 |
|
2012 |
222,145 |
|
2013 |
342,023 |
|
2014 |
323,521 |
|
2015 |
318,814 |
|
2016 |
360,395 |
|
2017 to date |
394,829 |
522. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that have made multiple Garda vetting applications for different organisations in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017. [46325/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda National Vetting Bureau does not keep statistics in respect of the number of individuals that have made multiple Garda vetting applications for different organisations.
The Deputy will appreciate that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults and it is carried out by An Garda Síochána primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016.
In this context vetting checks are conducted by the Vetting Bureau for each new application received to ensure that the most recent data available is taken into account. This is because once there has been any significant lapse of time between one employment and another, the original vetting disclosure must be reviewed to take account of any changes in information, such as more recent criminal convictions. Furthermore, the Data Protection Acts require that any sensitive personal data which employers use in regard to their employees must be current, accurate and up-to-date. Importantly, the general non-transferability and contemporaneous nature of the current process also helps to protect against the risk of fraud or forgery in the process.
The Deputy will wish to know that the Act provides for the sharing of vetting disclosures in certain circumstances by registered organisations, a facility which is of assistance in the health and education sectors, for example, in reducing the need for multiple vetting applications.
523. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost incurred by persons applying for Garda vetting since the process of Garda vetting was established. [46326/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána does not charge a fee for the processing of Garda Vetting applications by the National Vetting Bureau. The question of fees, if any, that may be charged by a given organisation for the administrative services it provides to applicants is a matter for the individual organisation concerned.
