Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Written Answers Nos. 118-138

Garda Data

Ceisteanna (118)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí injured in the course of duty in the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22831/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I know the Deputy will agree that we should never underestimate the difficulties and dangers the men and women of An Garda Síochána face on our behalf and the courage required to face down criminals in dangerous circumstances. The Government is committed to supporting the work of An Garda Síochána and to ensuring that the organisation is properly resourced to carry out its important role in protecting our communities.

I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána is committed to ensuring that members exposed to a traumatic incident or injured on duty receive the appropriate organisational response and with this in mind the Garda Employee Assistance Service provides a confidential professional support and referral service to both serving and former members of An Garda Síochána, students and their immediate families. 

I am advised that an Independent Counselling Service was introduced in An Garda Síochána on 24 June 2016 which provides counselling on a wide range of work and personal related issues including critical incidents, and trauma.  The service is available on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year and provides employees with immediate support from accredited counsellors over the phone and if required follow on counselling sessions in person.

I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Gardaí injured on duty during the period 2013 to 2017 and up to 23 May 2018 is as set out in the following table.

Number Gardaí injured on duty 2013 – 2018*
Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018*	Grand   Total
Total	513	629	630	664	635	181	3252

*Up to 23 May 2018

Criminal Assets Bureau

Ceisteanna (119)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the full extent of the scale and value of assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau in the past five years; if all such properties have been disposed of and the proceeds retained by the State; the status of properties not yet disposed of in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22832/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Section 21 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 requires the Bureau, through the Garda Commissioner, to provide a report of its activities each year to the Minister for Justice and Equality who is then required to lay copies of the report before each House of the Oireachtas.  The Annual Reports, including the most recent one for 2016 are available in the Oireachtas library and on the websites of An Garda Síochána and my own Department. I am advised that the 2017 Annual Report is currently being finalised and will be submitted to my Department shortly.

These Annual Reports provide details of the actions taken by the Bureau under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 – 2016, including details in relation to the volume and value of assets seized and disposed of by the Bureau.

All monies collected by the Criminal Assets Bureau are paid into the Government's Central Fund, from which the Government draws for expenditure on all necessary public services and investment.

Garda Investigations

Ceisteanna (120)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which resources continue to be made available for the pursuit of cold cases, including those of missing persons whose whereabouts have never been confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22833/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána have the necessary resources to tackle all forms of criminality in the State, including those cases currently under review by the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT).

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the SCRT continues to review serious cases that remain unsolved and continues to identify evidence and witnesses to assist in the development of these cases. The Deputy will appreciate that these matters fall within the remit of the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I have no role in this regard.

I am further advised that at the conclusion of each review by the SCRT, a substantive report is provided to the Senior Investigating Officer who considers the opportunities for further investigation. Any recommendation of organisational effect is disseminated within the Garda organisation to improve the overall investigative capability of An Garda Síochána.

The Deputy will appreciate that all Garda activities, including the investigation of unsolved cases, will benefit from the very significant investments which have been made in policing resources - all of which will support enhanced investigation and detection of crime, and benefit ongoing investigations. Budget 2018 will support the continuation of this high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track.

Garda Information and Communications Technology

Ceisteanna (121)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which modern technology is available to and used by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22834/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that Gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary to detect and investigate crimes, and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24/7 basis.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that ICT is recognised as an essential tool for supporting the day-to-day operations of over 16,000 Garda members, Garda reserves and civilian staff. On an annual basis, approximately 13.5 million vehicle registrations are read by the Automated Number Plate Recognition System, 1.9 million records are exchanged electronically with the Court Services, 9.3 million PULSE searches are conducted, 19.5 million TETRA secure digital radio calls are made and 118,000 fingerprints are searched.

A significant reform programme is currently underway in An Garda Síochána. In line with the Government's Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan, the key driver of reform is the Commissioner’s 5-year Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, which sets out a series of initiatives including those which will enable An Garda Síochána deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies in the fight against crime. In support of this plan, some €342 million, including €217 million under the Capital Plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.

In this context, a broad range of ICT projects are being delivered to support existing systems and develop them further, with the overall goal of supporting the ongoing business requirements of An Garda Síochána in all fields.

Some key ICT projects include:

- a new Property & Exhibits Management system, which has been deployed to record all property and exhibits which come into Garda possession and to manage them from scene to court.

- A new e-Vetting system is now operational which provides online processing of applications for Garda vetting for persons working with children and vulnerable persons. This system won the national eGovernment Award for 2017.

- A new Anti-Money Laundering application (GoAML) which supports Financial Intelligence Units to counter Organised Crime and Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering was implemented in June 2017.

- A new Enterprise Content Management System, to provide An Garda Síochána with a single enterprise content repository for all documentation and multimedia content created. A pilot of this system has been completed and rollout to all Divisions is currently being progressed.

- Enhancement of the PULSE system, to include Individual Victim Assessment and Victim Engagement screens and to include new functionality to enable Garda supervisors monitor the progress of incidents from initial data input right through to court outcome stage.

- A new Performance, Accountability and Learning Framework System has been developed to support performance assessment and development for all Gardaí. National rollout is currently underway.

- A new system operational since May 2017 enables the electronic capture of the details of all emergency calls to those Garda Divisional control rooms

- A new Intelligence Management System is operational and provides a single secure repository of sensitive intelligence gathered by operational members.

- A project to enhance network access to rural Garda stations is being progressed. Work on this project is well advanced and over 470 stations are now connected to the Garda network.

- A new Crime Investigations Management System is currently being developed and is planned to commence pilot implementation in late 2018. The system will allow for the management of activities completed as part of an investigation, maintain a full history of the chain of events in an investigation, manage information gathered, and decisions/actions taken. It will also integrate closely with the new Document and Content Management System, the new Property and Exhibits Management System, and other Garda IT systems such as PULSE.

- A project to implement a new Rosters and Duty Management System is currently underway. A pilot of the system is planned to commence in the first half of 2018.

- A project to provide mobile access for front line Gardaí, via a smartphone device, to Garda Information Systems including PULSE is currently being advanced. A pilot of the mobile solution is currently in progress in the Limerick Garda Division, which will be evaluated on completion as part of consideration of further rollout.

- Preparatory work is now being completed on a future project intended to implement a new national Computer Aided Dispatch System to manage the capture of the details of all emergency calls and the dispatch of resources to the incident has commenced.

In addition, An Garda Síochána, in collaboration with the Department of Justice and Equality, is actively progressing a number of EU ICT Projects to improve police co-operation and increase border security within the EU Community. These include:

- implementation of the FIND solution which is now operational enabling the Garda National Immigration Bureau to query the Interpol Stolen Lost Travel Document Database (STLD);

- implementation of the PRÜM initiative which delivers enhancements to the Automated Finger Printing System to step up cross-border cooperation in relation to terrorism, crime and illegal immigration; and

- implementation of the Schengen Information System which is planned to be ready for evaluation by the EU Commission by mid 2019 and which will enable the rapid dissemination of information pertaining to organised crime targets and terrorist threats and other subversive and non-subversive crime types across members’ states of the European Union.

Finally, it can be noted that decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

Citizenship Applications

Ceisteanna (122)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

122. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in processing a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); the way in which their paperwork was mislaid on two occasions; if the application will be expedited; and when the person can expect a final determination. [22843/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that as the details supplied have been provided by a third party and not directly by the person referred to, we are precluded under data protection provisions from disclosing information relating to any individual case to such a third party. Therefore it would not be appropriate for us to provide any further information specific to this case at this time.

What I can say in general terms, is that applicants for certificates of naturalisation must be lawful resident at the time of grant of such a certificate, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they reside. This is made clear to all applicants and it is incumbent on applicants to comply with this requirement.  

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. 

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.

Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 50.

Coroners Service

Ceisteanna (124)

John Brassil

Ceist:

124. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will request the Law Reform Commission to undertake a review of the coroner court system (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22869/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

This particular case took some time to bring to a conclusion from both the criminal investigation perspective and the coroner's inquest. The coroner opened and adjourned, at the request of an Garda Síochána, the inquest in 2012 and a death certificate in respect of the deceased was issued then by the Civil Registrar on foot of notification by the coroner.

There followed a lengthy and complex investigation by the Gardaí and a successful criminal prosecution was completed in April 2015. However, following the conclusion of that case, the Gardaí took another criminal prosecution against a further person in relation to the incident. That case was completed in late June 2017.

The coroner, following confirmation from the Gardaí that the inquest could proceed made arrangements for the inquest which was completed in May 2018.

I am not inclined to request the Law Reform Commission that it should review the coronial system. I do not believe that such a review would serve any useful purpose in this context.

Enterprise Ireland Data

Ceisteanna (125)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

125. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland jobs created per county in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22776/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

On 3 January 2018, Enterprise Ireland announced its 2017 end year results. The 2017 performance was strong, reporting the highest employment in the history of the agency, the highest net job creation in the history of the agency and the lowest number of job losses since 1998.  In 2017, Enterprise Ireland supported client companies employed 209,338 people. 19,332 new jobs were created by Enterprise Ireland backed companies in 2017.

We are seeing growth in traditional industry sectors such as construction and manufacturing as well as in the Digital Technology and Life Sciences sectors. These innovative companies are located across the entire country providing quality jobs in every county.

Job creation was evenly spread across the country, with every county seeing job increases in EI supported firms. Two thirds (64%) of the new jobs created were outside of Dublin. The West, Mid-West and North West saw the largest level of increases at 7% in 2017.

Enterprise Ireland attributes this strong performance by Irish businesses to the continuing growth of an entrepreneurial climate for start-ups, allied to strong jobs growth in the Construction (8% increase), Engineering (8% increase), Lifesciences (8% increase), Digital Technology (6% increase), Electronics (6% increase), Food (4% increase) and ICT sectors (5% increase).

The following table breaks down by county the jobs created in 2017 in Enterprise Ireland supported companies.

County	Total Jobs Gain in 2017 from 2016 = Permanent Full-Time (PFT) and Other Jobs
Carlow	250
Cavan	434
Clare	339
Cork	2,214
Donegal	375
Dublin	6,921
Galway	1,044
Kerry	415
Kildare	673
Kilkenny	340
Laois	168
Leitrim	100
Limerick	879
Longford	174
Louth	656
Mayo	322
Meath	651
Monaghan	494
Offaly	433
Roscommon	127
Sligo	212
Tipperary	574
Waterford	482
Westmeath	342
Wexford	342
Wicklow	371
Grand Total	19,332

Local Enterprise Offices Data

Ceisteanna (126)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

126. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of local enterprise office jobs created per county in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22777/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.

The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant state supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as local authority rates, public procurement and other regulations affecting business.

Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs provide financial assistance to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities.

Details of the number of new full- and part-time jobs created in gross terms amongst LEO supported companies in 2017 are set out in the following table.

LEO NAME	Number of LEO Clients	Number of Gross Jobs
Carlow	216	187
Cavan	206	207
Clare	224	251
Cork   City	156	128
Cork   North & West	261	154
Cork   South	203	209
Donegal	200	255
Dublin   City	397	445
Dun   Laoghaire/Rathdown	256	338
Fingal	211	226
South   Dublin	285	351
Galway   County/City	254	192
Kerry	425	267
Kildare	171	282
Kilkenny	254	232
Laois	115	93
Leitrim	155	104
Limerick	299	279
Longford	243	177
Louth	235	200
Mayo	207	242
Meath	242	284
Monaghan	152	207
Offaly	196	193
Roscommon	167	131
Sligo	231	152
Tipperary	297	467
Waterford	319	182
WestMeath	265	300
Wexford	213	238
Wicklow	127	162
Total	7182	7135

Job Creation Targets

Ceisteanna (127)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

127. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the job creation targets for the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and local enterprise offices in each of the years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [22779/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Yearly job creation figures by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are captured by the Annual Employment Survey conducted by my Department and published in January each year. The 2017 survey remains the most up to date and accurate source of information on Enterprise Agency job creation until the 2018 figures are published early next year.    

The IDA, EI and the LEOs publish their yearly targets as part of the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) process. Through the APJ the Government has committed to creating 200,000 new jobs by 2020, with 135,000 of these to be located outside of Dublin. Under the APJ the Government is also aiming to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the unemployment rate of each region to be brought within one per cent of the national average.  

Each of the Agencies have their own strategies targeting these ambitious levels of job creation over the coming years. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for 2017-2020 is to assist clients to create 60,000 new jobs and to sustain its existing record level of jobs. Enterprise Ireland has not published targets beyond 2020.

As part of its current strategy, IDA Ireland aims to create 80,000 new jobs and 900 new investments in the period from 2015 to 2019. I am pleased to say that total employment by overseas companies in Ireland now stands at a landmark 210,443 people which is an increase of 5.3% from 2016. This figure surpasses the IDA’s original five-year target of reaching 209,000 jobs in multinationals here. This is the highest level of employment in overseas firms in the history of the State and will deliver wide-ranging economic benefits for the people of Ireland. 

The LEO 2017 annual jobs survey results highlighted three consecutive years of local jobs growth throughout the country, with a net increase of 3,760 jobs and total direct employment among LEO client companies standing at 37,485. The LEOs are aiming to have 40,000 people employed in their client companies by the end of 2018 with 47,750 people employed by 2020. Targets have not been published beyond 2020. 

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Staff

Ceisteanna (128)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

128. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the necessary funding for the recruitment of additional resources, including two additional full-time digital forensic specialists, for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22795/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Over recent years, a number of senior-level vacancies have arisen within the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) through a combination of retirement, promotion and transfer to other parts of the public service. In that context, the skill sets, competencies, roles and responsibilities associated with each of those posts have been reviewed and reconfigured by the Director of Corporate Enforcement to better reflect the organisation’s current needs.

Following engagement between my Department, the Director and the Public Appointments Service (PAS), seven Forensic Accountants were recruited and a further one has been selected and is about to be appointed.  The Department also recruited a Digital Forensics Specialist, who was assigned to the ODCE.

My Department is working with PAS and the Director towards the filling of two vacancies for Enforcement Lawyers and a recruitment campaign to fill these vacancies with suitably qualified and experienced candidates is at an advanced stage.

With effect from the 23rd April, a staff member commenced a career break.  My Department is working to fill this vacancy.

At present, there are no requests for additional staffing from the ODCE.

Whilst the Office, along with a number of other State organisations, faces challenges in the recruitment of highly qualified professional staff, particularly in the current buoyant labour market, I am satisfied that it has sufficient pay monies.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (129)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

129. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for orthodontic treatment. [22728/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (130, 133)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

130. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the location in which blood tests taken in general practice and at Louth County Hospital are analysed. [22730/18]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

133. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of blood tests that were taken in general practice and at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, in 2017; and the location in which blood tests were analysed. [22733/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 133 together.

As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (131, 132)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

131. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the staffing complement in the phlebotomy laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; if staff have recently left; and if so, if they will be replaced. [22731/18]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

132. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the circumstances which would impact on the speed at which the venesection unit in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, would receive blood test results. [22732/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Question No. 133 answered with Question No. 130.

Psychological Services

Ceisteanna (134, 135, 136)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

134. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the waiting list for screening appointments with the primary care clinical psychology service in County Louth; and the length of time they have been waiting. [22734/18]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

135. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the waiting list for initial assessment with the primary care clinical psychology service in County Louth; and the length of time they have been waiting. [22735/18]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

136. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the waiting list for intervention with the primary care clinical psychology service in County Louth; and the length of time they have been waiting. [22736/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 136, inclusive, together.

 As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (137)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

137. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided to address the unacceptable waiting times for orthopaedic appointments in respect of patients triaged as urgent in a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22739/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the NTPF to provide treatment for patients.

The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) activity in 2018. The Action Plan includes a focus on orthopaedic patients with 800 of the 20,000 NTPF funded procedures planned for patients requiring hip/knee replacements.

In 2018, under the Plan, all clinically suitable patients waiting over 9 months for a hip/knee replacement will be offered treatment this year.

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in regard to the individual patient enquiry.

Home Care Packages

Ceisteanna (138)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

138. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the removal of the in loco parentis clause in HSE home care nursing packages in view of the motion which was passed in Dáil Éireann on 27 March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22747/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.