Written Answers Nos. 570-588
570. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if serving Garda personnel may assist with voter registration on third level campuses or institutes of technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16306/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI should say at the outset that I, as Minister, have no responsibility to direct An Garda Síochána operationally or in the assigning of personnel to relation to particular operations. Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) vests full control of An Garda Síochána in the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no power to interfere or intervene in such matters.
Further, voter registration is not a matter in relation to which my Department has any function.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department sought and received clarification from him in relation to his question and I will revert to him as soon as the information concerned is received from An Garda Síochána.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
571. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the options open to an American citizen (details supplied) to live and work here on a full-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16365/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that they do not offer specific advice to individuals on immigration pathways.
The person concerned might in the first instance consider consulting the INIS website www.inis.gov.ie as it contains information on all matters relating to immigration. Other websites of relevance are the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation regarding possible work permit requirements - www.dbei.gov.ie and the Department of Education and Skills for matters relating to education - www.education.ie.
The INIS Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification is found at www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/immigration-policy-family-reunification and may be of relevance to the circumstances of the persons concerned.
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.
572. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of applications from counties Sligo and Leitrim that were made to his Department for funding under the CCTV scheme; when allocations will be made under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16399/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department has launched a Community-based CCTV grant-aid Scheme to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. Eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000.
There has been an increasing level of enquiries relating to the Scheme. Some 11 applications have been received to date and I understand that a number of other applications are currently being readied for submission. Of these, 1 application was received from a group in County Leitrim. No application has been made to date by any group within County Sligo.
4 applications under the Scheme have been approved to date, with approved funding totalling almost €120,000. A further 4 applications are under active consideration. The remaining 3 applications have been returned to the applicants concerned to enable them to provide the information necessary to qualify for grant-aid, including the application from County Leitrim.
Successful applicants receive an up-front payment of 50% of approved funding upon approval of the grant, with the balance to be paid when the CCTV system is fully operational.
I am very anxious to ensure that all interested groups, in both rural and urban areas, take advantage of the availability of this grant aid scheme. Full details of the grant aid package including guidelines, application forms, code of practice and other relevant documentation are all available to download from my Department's website - www.justice.ie.
573. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will be brought to a conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16419/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, as indicated in my response to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 100 of the 22nd February, the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation which was received from the person referred to on 12 February is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most straightforward cases are now processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
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.
574. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in his Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16434/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the question posed by the Deputy I would just like to clarify that the grade of clerical assistant no longer exists in the civil service. My Department currently has 14 clerical officers employed on temporary contracts. The following table details the number of staff and the duration of their employment in my Department.
|
Duration of contract |
Number of staff |
|
2-3 years |
1 |
|
1-2 years |
9 |
|
Less than 1 year |
4 |
|
Total |
14 |
Temporary Clerical Officers are typically engaged by my Department to provide cover for staff availing of the shorter working year scheme, to cover short term vacancies or to bridge vacancies that sometimes arise if there are delays in recruitment of permanent staff.
Any officers engaged as temporary clerical officers who are interested in applying for permanent employment in the Civil Service can register to receive notifications of recruitment campaigns from the Public Appointments Service.
575. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a visa for a person (details supplied) will be extended. [16449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that they do not offer specific advice to individuals on immigration pathways. The person concerned might in the first instance consider consulting with the INIS website www.inis.gov.ie as it contains information on all matters relating to immigration and specifically the section relating to Non EEA persons wishing to study in the State.
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.
576. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline his plans to implement community courts as an alternative to formal legal proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16450/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department led a Working Group of Justice Sector officials to consider options for moving forward on the proposal to establish a Community Court. Building on the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, the Working Group considered proposals to enhance the approach to tackling low level offenders and effectively addressing their offending behaviour through a Community Justice Intervention type programme. This would be a diversion from the courts system in a way that has the potential to respond more effectively to one-off and repeat, low level offending with the emphasis on speedy processing aimed at reducing the risk of re-offending and would also offer quick referral to the necessary services. My Department wishes to build on this work and is still examining a number of possibilities, including the creation of a conditional cautioning system of which there are a number of models, which require careful consideration.
577. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if passports supplied with recent documentation in the case of a person (details supplied) will be returned as a matter or urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16453/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the passports in the case of the person mentioned by the Deputy were returned on 10 April 2018.
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.
578. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of certificates of naturalisation that have been granted to UK citizens by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service in the past 20 years. [16514/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the retrieval and compilation of the information requested by the Deputy for each of the past twenty years would necessitate a disproportionate use of time and resources which could not be justified in circumstances where the priority is to deal with the cases on hand. Information can, however, be provided for the seven years 2011 to 2017 inclusive as outlined in the following table:
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Applications Granted to UK citizens |
70 |
85 |
55 |
51 |
54 |
98 |
529 |
The recent significant increase in certificates of naturalisation granted to UK citizens is attributed to the Brexit referendum which led to UK nationals, some living in the jurisdiction for lengthy periods of time, to apply for Irish citizenship. The number of applications received from UK nationals continued to increase in 2017 and this year to date, albeit from a very low base prior to the referendum.
579. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the number of days in the past academic year since September 2017 on which education and training workshops in the Irish Prison Service were closed due to the unavailability of prison service staff other than teaching staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16516/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law abiding lives on release. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services.
The Department of Education and Skills provides an allocation of 220 whole-time teacher equivalents to the Prison Service through the Education and Training Boards. Education in prisons is delivered in partnership between the Education and Training Boards and the Irish Prison Service with a focus on providing education which is quality assured, student centred and which facilitates lifelong learning. The partnership endeavours to meet the needs of prisoners through helping them cope with their sentence, achieve personal development and prepare for life after release.
The guiding principles which underpin the prisons' work and training service are to make available, work, work-training and other purposeful activities to all those in custody. Training activities are chosen to give as much variety as possible and also to give opportunities for those in prison to acquire practical skills which will help them secure employment on release.
332 Work Training Officers have been appointed and assigned to areas such as catering, laundry, industrial cleaning, industrial skills and gym.
The manner in which records are collated does not allow us to provide statistics on the number of days the workshops were closed and the reasons for such closures. However, the following table provides the hours workshops were closed as a percentage of potential open hours.
|
Month |
% Closed Hours |
|
September 2017 |
31% |
|
October 2017 |
23% |
|
November 2017 |
24% |
|
December 2017 |
28% |
|
January 2018 |
22% |
|
February 2018 |
24% |
The following table provides the days Education Centres were closed:
|
Month |
No of Days per month closed due to unavailability of Prison Service Staff (other than teaching staff) across 13 Education Centres |
|
September 2017 |
19 days |
|
October 2017 |
6.5 days |
|
November 2017 |
8.5 days |
|
December 2017 |
16.5 days |
|
January 2018 |
5 days |
|
February 2018 |
4 days |
|
March 2018 |
18 days |
|
April 2018 |
1 day |
Six of the 13 Education Centres in Irish Prison Service (Arbour Hill, Castlerea, Portlaoise, Midlands, Shelton Abbey, Loughan) did not have school closure for any day since September 2017.
580. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline his plans to increase funding to the Garda youth diversion programme in the north inner city in view of the particular difficulties faced by the area with the recent spate of gang murders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8870/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Gardaí are providing a robust response to the threat of organised crime, particularly in Dublin’s North Inner-City. Operation Hybrid, which includes significant support from Armed Support Units, has been established to coordinate the response to violent crime in Dublin and address public safety concerns about community safety, particularly in the North Inner City area.
The statutory framework relating to young offenders and the Garda Diversion Programme is set out in the Children Act 2001. The operation of the Garda Diversion Programme is supported by the nationwide network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs). There are now 105 of these projects in place nationally.
GYDPs are funded by my Department and each project is managed locally by a Community Based Organisation (CBO). Funding is allocated under multi-annual funding agreements with the CBOs and, in 2018, approximately €14 million will be allocated for GYDPs. From 2015, GYDPs have been co-funded under the Programme for Employability Inclusion and Learning of the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020.
The funding of individual GYDPs is kept under ongoing review, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, in the light inter alia of experience of caseload demands on the project. There are currently four GYDPs operating in the north inner city. Between 2016 and 2018 these projects were allocated an additional €82,236.00 in funding, which is an increase of 17% from 2016, bringing the total funding for the four projects to €566,236.00 in 2018.
In addition, my Department is obliged to carry out a call for proposals process during 2018 in relation to the provision of Garda Youth Diversion Project (GYDP) services generally, to fully comply with requirements related to the co-funding of projects by the European Social Fund Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020. The call for proposals provides the opportunity to enhance the range of supports available for diversion work, including in Dublin, and will ensure availability throughout the State of GYDP services.
583. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the manning levels as of 1 March 2018 in all Garda stations in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16648/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra584. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set down the number of community gardaí allocated to stations in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16649/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 584 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 the strength of the Kildare and Laois/Offaly Divisions on 28 February 2018, the latest date for which information is currently available, was 357 and 340 respectively. There are also 20 Garda Reserves and 30 Garda civilian staff attached to the Kildare Division and 16 Garda Reserves and 25 Garda civilian staff attached to the Laois/Offaly 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 Unit, 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 85 and 76 to the Kildare and Laois/Offaly Divisions respectively. 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. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, 200 of whom attested last month. Further, Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are on track to 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 Kildare and Laois/Offaly Divisions.
In relation to the number of “Community Gardaí” it is important to recognise that community policing is not a specialist role in An Garda Síochána; rather it is the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in carrying out their duties. The official categorisation as a “Community Garda" simply refers to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities including through the giving of talks to schools, community groups and others. It is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her having regard to the profile of the area and its specific needs.
I am assured by the Commissioner that the Garda National Model of Community Policing plays a key part in responding to crime by taking into account and responding to local conditions and needs. Overall the Model advocates a partnership based, pro-active, community-orientated style of policing. It is focused on crime prevention, problem-solving and law enforcement, with a view to building trust and enhancing the quality of life of the entire community. Clear objectives are set, such as high visibility in the community, ease of contact by members of the public, and enhanced support for crime prevention strategies.
As part of the Community Policing Model An Garda Síochána work in partnership with local communities, to prevent and deter crime through initiatives such as Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, Text Alert and the Garda Schools Programme as well as through more formal structures such as Joint Policing Committees.
The Community Policing Model also places a strong emphasis on Crime Prevention and within each Garda Division, where there are specialist Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs), who are trained to encourage, promote and advise on crime prevention within communities.
In addition, the National Community Policing Office, attached to the Garda Community Engagement Bureau, captures best practice in community policing initiatives and disseminates these practices through its communication network.
I have previously stated that I welcome the strong emphasis that the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 places on developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation and enhancing the current delivery model so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. In terms of progress on this important initiative, I am informed that a draft Community Policing Framework which outlines the manner in which Community Policing Teams will be established has been completed and is subject to internal review before being approved by the Garda Executive for implementation.
For the Deputy's information, I have provided in tabular form the total strength and Community Gardaí strength of Garda Stations in the Kildare and Laois/Offaly Divisions as of 28 February 2018 the latest date for which figures are readily available, as provided by the Commissioner.
|
COMMUNITY GARDA /STRENGTH KILDARE DIVISION 2018* |
||
|
Station |
Total strength-each Garda has a role in community policing |
No. who are exclusively engaged in Community Gardaí |
|
ATHY |
30 |
1 |
|
CASTLEDERMOT |
3 |
0 |
|
KILDARE |
36 |
1 |
|
MONASTEREVIN |
5 |
0 |
|
NEWBRIDGE |
52 |
0 |
|
RATHANGAN |
3 |
0 |
|
CARBURY |
7 |
0 |
|
CELBRIDGE |
11 |
0 |
|
KILCOCK |
10 |
0 |
|
LEIXLIP |
60 |
0 |
|
MAYNOOTH |
13 |
1 |
|
CLANE |
8 |
0 |
|
KILCULLEN |
2 |
0 |
|
NAAS |
115 |
1 |
|
ROBERTSTOWN |
2 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
357 |
4 |
*As of 28 February 2018
|
COMMUNITY GARDA /STRENGTH LAOIS/OFFALY DIVISION 2018* |
||
|
Station |
Total strength- each Garda has a role in community policing |
No. who are exclusively engaged in Community Gardaí |
|
BANAGHER |
6 |
0 |
|
BIRR |
30 |
0 |
|
CLOGHAN |
1 |
0 |
|
FERBANE |
5 |
0 |
|
KILCORMAC |
2 |
0 |
|
KINNITTY |
1 |
0 |
|
SHINRONE |
1 |
0 |
|
ABBEYLEIX |
20 |
0 |
|
ARLES |
1 |
0 |
|
BALLYLINAN |
2 |
0 |
|
BORRIS-IN-OSSORY |
1 |
0 |
|
CLONASLEE |
1 |
0 |
|
DURROW |
1 |
0 |
|
MOUNTMELLICK |
4 |
0 |
|
MOUNTRATH |
3 |
0 |
|
PORTALINGTON |
14 |
0 |
|
PORTLAOISE |
143 |
1 |
|
RATHDOWNEY |
2 |
0 |
|
STRADBALLY |
2 |
0 |
|
CLARA |
5 |
0 |
|
DAINGEAN |
2 |
0 |
|
EDENDERRY |
16 |
0 |
|
RHODE |
1 |
0 |
|
TULLAMORE |
76 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
340 |
2 |
*As of 28 February 2018.
585. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the further steps that need to be taken for Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence; when Ireland will ratify it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16668/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI and my Government colleagues are totally committed to tackling violence against women and domestic violence. The Programme for Government commits to full implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women (commonly referred to as the Istanbul Convention).
The actions necessary to ratify the Istanbul Convention are contained in the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021, published in January, 2016.
The implementation of these actions is ongoing including public sector training/education by a range of State agencies, the development of a Risk Assessment Matrix by An Garda Síochána and commissioning of national helpline services to respond to issues of domestic and sexual violence.
The outstanding actions are legislative and require delivery of two pieces of legislation:
i) The Domestic Violence Bill which was published on 3 February 2017. The Bill has passed all stages in the Seanad and is awaiting Report in the Dáil which is expected to commence shortly. It is expected that this Bill will be enacted in the near future and the legislation commenced as soon as practicable thereafter. The enactment of this legislation is key to advancing the ratification of the Istanbul Convention as its enactment will deliver four of the outstanding actions required under the Convention.
ii) The one remaining legislative action is the enactment of legislation for extraterritorial jurisdiction. Work on this action is underway and it is anticipated that this legislation will be published in the first half of 2018.
When the required legislative actions are implemented, Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Convention.
586. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline his plans to offer stamp 4 residency status to applicants who have spent more than five years in this jurisdiction and who have not come to the adverse attention of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16694/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans for a general grant of residency to persons simply because they have spent more than 5 years in the State.
I am informed by my officials in INIS, however, that non-EEA nationals who, for a variety of reasons, have a lawful permission to be in the State may be granted on application a permission to remain on Stamp 4 conditions. For example: non-EEA holder of 5 consecutive employment permits over a 5 year period; non-EEA Critical Skills employment permit holders and Researchers after 2 years; non-EEA spouse/civil partner/de facto partner of an Irish citizen; refugee/Protection Status/Programme Refugee; and non-EEA parent of Irish Citizen Child where parent was granted permission to remain in the State.
Other persons may, following a determination of their individual circumstances, if granted leave to remain, be granted a "Stamp 4" residency status.
587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of non-Irish born applicants who have been approved for naturalisation in each of the past nine years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16695/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the retrieval and compilation of the information requested by the Deputy for each of the past nine years would necessitate a disproportionate use of time and resources which could not be justified in circumstances where the priority is to deal with the cases on hand. Information can, however, be provided on the number of persons born outside the island of Ireland who were approved for naturalisation for the years 2011 to 2018 inclusive as outlined in the following table:
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 to date |
|
Number of non-Irish born applicants approved for naturalisation |
12,800 |
22,000 |
27,000 |
16,700 |
10,700 |
9,300 |
7,200 |
3,400 |
It should be noted that adult applicants approved for naturalisation must subsequently attend a citizenship ceremony where they will be granted their certificate of naturalisation, accordingly the numbers approved in any given year will not correspond with the number who are issued naturalisation certificates in the same year.
588. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the strength of An Garda Síochána; the way in which this compares to the average over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16696/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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. 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.
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.
I am informed by the Commissioner that 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 13,667 at the end of March – a net increase of over 700 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. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, 200 of whom attested last month. Further, Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are on track to 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 support all Garda activities, enhance visibility within our communities, and to provide additional resources across the organisation as new Garda recruits continue to come on stream.
I have set out in the following table for the Deputy's information the strength of An Garda Síochána for the last 10 years, and as of 31 March 2018, the latest date for which figures are readily available.
|
Year end |
Total Garda Strength |
|
2018* |
13,667 |
|
2017 |
13,551 |
|
2016 |
12,943 |
|
2015 |
12,816 |
|
2014 |
12,799 |
|
2013 |
13,093 |
|
2012 |
13,424 |
|
2011 |
13,894 |
|
2010 |
14,377 |
|
2009 |
14,547 |
|
2008 |
14,412 |
*As of 31 March 2018.
