Tuesday, 20 Mar 2018

Written Answers Nos. 306-322

Peace Commissioners Data

Ceisteanna (306)

Pat Deering

Ceist:

306. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of acting peace commissioners and notaries public in County Carlow. [11919/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to advise the Deputy that Peace Commissioner records are appointment based and they do not always reflect the actual situation on the ground because the Department is reliant on the Peace Commissioners themselves and other interested parties, to advise of changes which may occur subsequent to appointment e.g. death, retirement, inactivity or relocation.

While every effort is made to maintain an accurate record of active Peace Commissioners, individuals requesting their services are advised to contact local Gardaí, to ensure that a particular listed individual is active and available. 

The names and Sub-Districts of all appointed Peace Commissioners held on file in County Carlow are as follows:

Sub-district	Name
Ballon	Delaney, John
Ballon	Kavanagh, Patrick   Joseph
Ballon	Kealy, Catherine
Ballon	Nolan, Patrick
Ballon	Nolan, Sean
Borris	Doyle, Michael
Borris	Kinsella, Thomas
Borris	Lennon, Eamon
Borris	Murphy, Moses
Borris	Quinn, William
Carlow	Aherne, Anne
Carlow	Alcock, Declan
Carlow	Brennan, William
Carlow	Brophy, Eileen
Carlow	Browne, Fergal
Carlow	Browne, Paul   Joseph
Carlow	Hosey, Mary
Carlow	Hynes, Lorraine
Carlow	Kelly, Rody
Carlow	Kennedy, Kevin
Carlow	Lacey, Walter
Carlow	Matthews, Joseph
Carlow	McDonald Brady,   James
Carlow	McDonald, Clare
Carlow	Murnane-O'Connor,   Jennifer
Carlow	O'Brien, Brigid   Mary
Carlow	O'Mahony, Claire
Carlow	O'Neill, Thomas
Carlow	Purcell, Michael
Carlow	Townsend, James
Hacketstown	McCall, Edward B.
Leighlinbridge	Doran, Michael
Leighlinbridge	Meaney, Martin
Leighlinbridge	Nolan, Donal
Muinebeag	Aughney, Noel G.
Muinebeag	Clarke, John
Muinebeag	Foley, Denis
Muinebeag	Mahon, Derek
Muinebeag	McNally, John   Snr.
Muinebeag	Meaney, Michael
Muinebeag	Murphy, William
Muinebeag	Sheill, Ann
Muinebeag	Somers, Michael
Myshall	Fox, John Peter
Myshall	Jordan, Peter
Rathvilly	Hanly,   Margaret  Marie
Rathvilly	Kennedy, Noel
Rathvilly	Leonard, Bill
Rathvilly	Maloney, Michael
Rathvilly	O'Donoghue, Brian
Tullow	Dawson, Carmel
Tullow	Fennelly, Clare   Colette
Tullow	Keogh, Thomas
Tullow	Nolan, Sean
Tullow	O'Toole, Patrick
Tullow	Paton, William F.
Tullow	Pender, John

My Department does not maintain a register of Notaries Public. This is a function of the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland on whose website the Deputy will find a listing of Notaries Public.

Internet Safety

Ceisteanna (307, 315, 316)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

307. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the transfer of the Office of Internet Safety to the Department for Children and Youth Affairs as recommended by the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group has been completed. [11941/18]

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

315. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the transfer of the hotline.ie service to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as recommended by the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group has been completed. [12041/18]

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

316. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the transfer of awareness raising functions and guidance for parents and schools to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as recommended by the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group has been completed. [12042/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 307, 315 and 316 together.

The Department of Justice and Equality is the lead Department in terms of the criminal and legal aspects of Internet safety. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of the Taoiseach has recently convened a cross-Departmental group to consider a whole of Government approach to online safety matters and I am working with my colleagues Minister Naughten, Minister Zappone and Minister Bruton as part of this process. Part of the core work of this group is to ensure that the work being undertaken by relevant Departments is effectively coordinated within Government to ensure maximum effectiveness. In this context, a discussion is taking place as to where the Office of Internet Safety (OIS), which remains in my Department for the time being, might be located to ensure maximum effectiveness. The OIS continues to carry out its existing functions which include the coordination in Ireland of the EU Safer Internet Programme with partner bodies that provide inter alia awareness raising and hotline functions.

As part of the Government review of this policy area, on 8 March, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently hosted an Open Policy Forum which a number of Departments, including my own, was involved in, and which was attended by a broad range of stakeholders. The recommendations of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (ICGAG) were among the topics discussed. Arising from that event and the work underway through the cross-Departmental group, it is anticipated that an Action Plan will be published by the end of June 2018.

A range of recommendations and proposals have been made in recent years in this field, and these were the subject of detailed discussion at the Open Policy Debate.

Subsequent to the work of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group, many of the issues arising, including the management of internet safety functions, were subject to further detailed examination by the Law Reform Commission in its report on ‘Harmful Communications and Digital Safety’ in September 2016, and these recommendations also now fall to be considered further in the context of the work of the cross-Departmental Group, and the forthcoming Action Plan.

Garda Resources

Ceisteanna (308)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

308. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when increased Garda resources will be made available for the Edgeworthstown sub-district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12011/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

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 I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I understand that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the information requested by the Deputy and I will revert to him directly when a response is to hand.

The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Courts Service

Ceisteanna (309)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

309. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the construction of the planned family law courts complex at Hammond Lane, Dublin 7 will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12012/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Government’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 provides for a development at the Hammond Lane site including the development of a Family Law and Children’s Court. The project is to be delivered as a Public Private Partnership with an anticipated completion date of end 2020 or early 2021.

As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998 management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions.

Following a detailed design exercise undertaken by the Courts Service in partnership with the Office of Public Works and in consultation with key stakeholders, a business case for the project with detailed costings was submitted to my Department for approval and was reviewed in the context of competing and significant capital requirements in the Justice sector.

There are on-going discussions with the Courts Service in regard to a number of issues including the project scale as well as funding aspects. In due course, the project would also require sanction from Department of Public Expenditure and Reform before it can proceed.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (310)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

310. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to each county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12026/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As 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 this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am informed by the 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. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

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 achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, just under 1,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.

I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. This year a further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College. Also a further 600 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the remainder of the year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.

In addition, a further 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training 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 needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Division.

I am informed by the Commissioner that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested, as resources are assigned on a Divisional basis which does not necessarily accord to county boundaries. For the Deputy's information I have set out the number of Gardaí, as advised by the Commissioner, assigned by Division for each of the years 2011 -2017 and as of 31 January 2018, the latest date for which figures are currently available. 

Garda Numbers by Division 2011 -2018*

DIVISION	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018*
D.M.R.   EAST	452	420	407	388	377	376	378	373
D.M.R.   NORTH	779	744	714	681	668	676	670	668
D.M.R. NORTH   CENTRAL	660	654	624	607	590	612	611	609
D.M.R.   SOUTH	605	588	569	549	541	549	532	523
D.M.R. SOUTH   CENTRAL	735	700	686	642	627	630	622	612
D.M.R.   WEST	771	744	717	699	688	673	672	667
KILDARE	318	318	315	301	312	316	360	357
LAOIS /   OFFALY	304	289	284	276	278	299	339	339
MEATH	302	296	287	281	277	286	309	308
WESTMEATH	255	254	245	245	246	242	270	271
WICKLOW	339	334	328	323	318	304	305	305
CAVAN /   MONAGHAN	360	348	311	323	318	318	329	329
DONEGAL	444	427	409	397	392	382	386	388
LOUTH	305	292	286	281	287	302	319	313
SLIGO /   LEITRIM	313	303	305	296	294	297	304	306
KILKENNY/CARLOW	303	298	289	279	284	296	329	329
TIPPERARY	376	371	371	359	354	364	382	390
WATERFORD	290	284	274	274	282	277	297	298
WEXFORD	273	260	252	251	255	258	292	291
CORK   CITY	690	677	683	671	651	644	666	666
CORK   NORTH	304	303	300	297	298	300	324	327
CORK WEST	312	304	275	271	276	281	295	298
KERRY	314	298	296	290	300	299	319	320
LIMERICK	637	605	589	565	554	559	558	557
CLARE	308	293	291	287	292	292	309	311
GALWAY	595	585	574	570	560	568	580	576
MAYO	309	300	307	298	303	300	323	327
ROSCOMMON /   LONGFORD	286	280	285	285	292	301	310	314

* As of 31 January 2018

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (311, 314)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

311. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to Donegal town Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12028/18]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

314. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to each Garda station in County Donegal in each of the years 2008 to 2017 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12031/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 314 together.

As 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 this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am informed by the 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. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

I am informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the Donegal Division on 31 January 2018, the latest date for which information is currently available, was 388, of whom 23 are assigned to Donegal Town Garda Station. There are also 15 Garda Reserves and 35 Garda civilian staff attached to the Donegal 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 Armed Support Units, 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 achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, just under 1,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide including 32 to the Donegal Division. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.

I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. This year a further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College. Also a further 600 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.

In addition, a further 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training 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 needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Division, including the Donegal Division.

For the Deputy’s information I have set out in tabular form the number of Gardaí, as provided by the Commissioner, attached to each station in the Donegal District as of 31 December 2008 - 2017.

Strength of Donegal Garda Stations 2008 - 2017

STATION	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
CARRICK	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1
ARD AN RÁTHA	-	-	-	3	2	1	2	2	2	2
BALLINTRA	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	-
BALLYSHANNON	35	35	47	47	45	48	46	39	39	39
BUNDORAN	12	10	8	6	6	6	6	7	7	6
DONEGAL TOWN	34	37	34	33	32	29	30	28	25	22
DUNKINEELY	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
MOUNTCHARLES	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
NA CEALLA BEAGA	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	5
NA GLEANNTA	28	26	29	25	19	16	13	12	12	11
PETTIGO	1	1	1	-	-	1	1	1	1	1
BUNCRANA	50	49	57	50	53	50	50	47	44	45
BURNFOOT	15	15	5	6	6	5	5	4	4	2
CARNDONAGH	5	5	3	4	3	5	7	8	8	8
CLONMANY	1	1	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1
CULDAFF	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
MALIN	5	4	4	3	1	-	-	-	-	-
MOVILLE	10	6	6	7	4	4	5	5	5	5
MUFF	4	4	4	4	3	4	3	3	3	4
BALLYBOFEY	25	23	25	24	23	25	25	25	24	24
CARRIGANS	5	5	5	5	5	2	4	4	3	3
CASTLEFIN	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	4	4	4
CONVOY	3	4	4	3	3	3	3	3	1	1
LETTERKENNY	132	123	114	104	107	103	96	103	106	116
LIFFORD	13	13	16	17	15	14	14	14	13	13
NEWTOWNCUNNINGHAM	4	4	4	3	2	2	2	2	2	2
RAPHOE	4	4	2	3	4	3	3	2	2	2
ALT AN CHORRÁIN	-	-	-	1	1	1	1	-	-	-
AN BUN BEAG	7	8	11	15	14	17	15	15	15	15
BURTONPORT	2	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
AN CLOCHÁN LIATH	-	-	-	8	12	7	6	7	7	7
ANAGAIRE	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-
ARDARA	3	3	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
AN CRAOSLACH	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
AN FÁL CARRACH	6	9	8	9	9	9	8	8	9	9
CARRAIG AIRT	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	2	2	2
KERRYKEEL	3	4	4	4	4	3	2	2	2	2
KILMACRENNAN	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1
MILFORD	31	28	27	27	26	27	27	28	26	28
RATHMULLEN	1	-	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
RAMELTON	4	4	4	2	2	2	2	2	1	-
GLEANN CHOLM CILLE	1	1	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-
MÍN AN LÁBÁIN	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
CLOUGHER	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
NA BROCACHA	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
DOOCHARY	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
DUNGLOE	11	12	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
CHURCHILL	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
DUNFANAGHY	4	3	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
MÍN AN LÁBÁIN	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-

Crime Data

Ceisteanna (312)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

312. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incidents reported to An Garda Síochána at each Garda station in County Donegal for each of the years 2008 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12029/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The 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 for the years 2008-2016 directly to the Deputy.

As the Deputy will know, the CSO has not yet published official recorded crime statistics for 2017 but I have been informed that the CSO intends to recommence publication under reservation during the second quarter of this year.

Garda Station Opening Hours

Ceisteanna (313)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

313. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda stations in County Donegal which were open to the public on a 24 hour basis in each of the years 2008 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12030/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The 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 the determination of opening hours of Garda stations. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table details the Garda stations in County Donegal which were open to the public on a 24 hour basis each of the years from 2008 to 2017:

Year(s)	Garda Stations
2008 to 2012	Letterkenny Ballyshannon Donegal Town Milford Buncrana Na Gleannta
2013	Letterkenny Ballyshannon Donegal Town Milford Buncrana  Na Gleannta* (Na Gleannta District amalgamated into Ballyshannon and Milford Districts on 11 November 2013)
2014 to 2017	Letterkenny Ballyshannon Donegal Town Milford Buncrana

Question No. 314 answered with Question No. 311.

Questions Nos. 315 and 316 answered with Question No. 307.

Garda Transport Data

Ceisteanna (317)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

317. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and marked Garda motorcycles attached to the Garda Traffic Corps as of 31 December 2015, 2016 and 28 February 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12115/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

However, the information requested by the Deputy, as provided by the Garda authorities, is set out in the table:

Vehicles attached to Garda Traffic Corps

Date	Marked cars	Unmarked cars	Motorcycles	Total
31/12/2015	114	28	67	209
31/12/2016	107	30	104	241
31/12/2017	108	34	93	235
28/02/2018	108	35	90	233

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015.

In total in the period 2013 to end of 2017, almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet, with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period.

Crime Data

Ceisteanna (318)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

318. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of mobile phones reported stolen to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of mobile phones recovered during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12116/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to this matter and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Garda Operations

Ceisteanna (319)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

319. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 28 November 2017, the position regarding the promised liaison between his Department, An Garda Síochána and other relevant stakeholders to address the issue of nuisance quad bike and scrambler use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12124/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I share the Deputy's concern in relation to the serious public safety issues associated with the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes, and my concerns are on the public record of this House. 

As the Deputy will be aware, a multi-agency approach is required to tackle this anti-social issue effectively. To facilitate this, I have written to the relevant Government Departments and State agencies in order to ascertain whether there are additional legislative or other solutions which can assist in dealing with this serious issue more comprehensively.

Following the receipt of responses from all agencies concerned, my Department wrote to all bodies again on 14 February 2018 to confirm the scheduling of a meeting on 28 February 2018 to discuss the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes with a view to identifying more effective possible solutions and determining responsibility and timeframes for implementation.

The Deputy will appreciate that this meeting had to be cancelled at the last minute due to the severe weather conditions that beset the country in late February/early March. This meeting has now been rescheduled for 25 April 2018.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to promote cross-agency engagement in relation to this important public safety issue.

Garda Equipment

Ceisteanna (320)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

320. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of instances of Garda firearms and less than lethal weapons being discharged in the past ten years, categorised by the nature of the discharge accidental or otherwise and the type of weapon involved. [12130/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The information sought by the Deputy is not to hand. I have requested the Garda Commissioner to provide this information. When it is received, I will write directly to the Deputy.

Garda Training

Ceisteanna (321)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

321. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that undertook each level of public order training in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12153/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and 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.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the information requested by the Deputy and I will revert to him directly when a response is to hand.

The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Migrant Integration

Ceisteanna (322)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

322. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the local authorities that have and have not active migrant integration strategies in place, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12190/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

I have no responsibility in relation to the actions of Local Authorities. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have sought the relevant information from the Local Government Management Agency. A recent survey was undertaken of the 31 Local Authorities week beginning 12 March 2018, all 31 responded. Ten Local Authorities have confirmed that they have a migrant integration strategy.

These are:

Carlow County Council

Dublin City Council

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

Galway County Council

Kerry County Council

Kildare County Council  

Kilkenny County Council

Limerick City and County Council

Mayo County Council

South Dublin County Council.

21 Local Authorities have stated they do not have a migrant integration strategy, in addition Local Authorities are addressing migrant integration and wider social inclusion through their Local Economic and Community Plans (LECP).

The development of Local Authority integration strategies will be undertaken within the framework of the National Strategy. Action 52 of the Migrant Integration Strategy - A Blueprint for the future, which was published on 7 February 2017, provides for the updating of integration strategies by local authorities over the lifetime of the Strategy i.e. from 2017 to 2020. A Monitoring and Co-ordination Committee has been established to support the process of implementing the Migrant Integration Strategy. The Committee, which comprises representatives of relevant Government Departments, State Agencies and the NGO sector, met for the third time in January 2018 and are due to meet again in May 2018. Progress on the implementation of the actions in the Strategy will be reviewed at the end of 2018 and a report prepared for Government.