Written Answers Nos. 661-681
667. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has contracted the legal services of a company (details supplied) at any point over each of the past six years; if so, the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32645/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not contracted the legal services of Kilrane O'Callaghan and Co. at any point over the past six years.
668. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he will take following the majority of Dáil Éireann voting in favour of the establishment of a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied). [32663/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe resolution which was passed in this House on 14 June 2018 called on the Government to establish a public inquiry into the tragic death of this young man. It also referred, inter alia, to information systems within the Courts Service to facilitate access to information in respect to sentences imposed or orders made on persons previously convicted of offences.
As the Deputy is aware, certain matters related to the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of the young man in question were the subject of an investigation conducted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The report published by GSOC of its investigation found that there was no conduct by any member of the Gardaí which would constitute an offence. However, there was conduct that requires further investigation which may lead to disciplinary proceedings against one or more members. That further investigation by GSOC is on-going and I do not propose to comment on that matter while the investigation is proceeding.
In response to the motion calling for an investigation into the death of the person referred to in the Deputy's question, the Government, respecting fully the independence of GSOC, proposed that any further action be deferred until the current investigation was completed.
I want to reiterate the Government's undertaking that when investigations are completed, the question of what further action might be taken will be considered.
The motion referred to the need to examine the actions of the Gardaí, the Director of Public Prosecutions, GSOC and the courts. I recognise, as I did during the debate, the failings that occurred in the run up to this tragic incident and I pointed out that GSOC, the independent authority established by an Act of the Oireachtas should be allowed to complete its investigation unhindered.
In the meantime, I am considering how the issues around systems, processes and procedures that have been identified in this case, can be best reviewed so that lessons can be learned and that tragedies such as that which befell this family are avoided, to the greatest extent possible, in the future.
669. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss its concerns regarding the investigation into a tragedy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32667/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that I have recently been in correspondence with the group to which the Deputy refers in his question to respond to concerns they had raised with me and my predecessors.
I have indicated to the group that I would be willing to meet with them but I understand that the group does not wish to seek such a meeting at the present time. However, should the group wish to meet with me in the future, I can assure the Deputy that I will be willing to arrange such meeting.
670. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money spent by An Garda Síochána on professional, interpretation and translation services each year since 2006 to date. [32680/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 and who holds the role of Accounting Officer for the Garda vote.
I have asked the Commissioner for the specific information requested by the Deputy, but unfortunately it has not been possible to provide the information within the time available, particularly given that a period of 12 years is involved. I will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand.
|
Year |
€ |
|
2006 |
€1,966,622 |
|
2007 |
€2,987,444 |
|
2008 |
€3,402,734 |
|
2009 |
€2,709,734 |
|
2010 |
€2,358,445 |
|
2011 |
€1,845,352 |
|
2012 |
€1,173,934 |
|
2013 |
€1,818,012 |
|
2014 |
€1,683,035 |
|
2015 |
€1,487,759 |
|
2016 |
€1,851,161 |
|
2017 |
€1,789,665 |
|
2018 (to 26 October) |
€1,708,314 |
671. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ask the Garda management in the Sligo and Leitrim division whether the Enniscrone-Dromore west area could be moved from the Ballymote division to the Ballina division (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32684/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation and management of Garda resources, including distribution of personnel and arrangements for policing services, are a matter for the Commissioner, in light of the availability of resources and his identified operational demands.
As the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister I have no direct role in these matters. I understand that Garda management keeps these matters under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the available resources.
The Garda authorities have supplied information in relation to the matter as follows. I understand that responsibility for Enniscrone Garda station was reassigned from the Ballina District to the Ballymote District, as part of the Boundary Reallignment Project.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities in accordance with the Act, the Commissioner each year prepares a policing plan setting out the proposed arrangements for policing services for the following year, including any proposal to -
- Establish or dissolve a national unit of the Garda Síochána,
- Alter the boundaries of a regional geographical area under the control of an Assistant Garda Commissioner or of a divisional geographical area under the control of a Chief Superintendent,
- Establish or relocate a divisional headquarters under the control of a Chief Superintendent or of a district headquarters under the control of a Superintendent, or
- Open a Garda Síochána station in a new location or cease stationing members in an existing station.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are no plans outlined in the Policing Plan 2018 to alter the boundaries of a divisional geographical area under the control of a Chief Superintendent.
Finally I would note that, as the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, is carrying out a review of the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities.
672. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of Garda vetting for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32690/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the processing of vetting applications by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is an operational matter for the Garda Authorities and is carried out 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 as of 12 July records at the Garda National Vetting Bureau indicate that no valid Garda vetting application has been received in respect of the person who is the subject of the Deputy's Question. In the circumstances, I would advise the person concerned to contact the relevant registered organisation to ascertain the status of their vetting application.
673. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 10 July 2018, the number of prisoners on each night in April, May and June 2018 sleeping on the floor in Cloverhill Prison. [32716/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra737. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 10 July 2018, the way in which prisoners sleeping on the floor of Cloverhill Prison during April, May and June 2018 are categorised as homeless. [32830/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra738. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 10 July 2018, the steps he is taking to address the overcrowding at Cloverhill Prison; and the overall steps he is taking to divert low level criminals away from the penal system towards more appropriate intervention services. [32831/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra748. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of nights slept on the floor in Cloverhill Prison by each prisoner who did so in April, May and June 2018, by month and over the entire period. [32921/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 673, 737, 738 and 748 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that the more detailed information in relation to the number of prisoners on each night in April, May and June 2018, sleeping on the floor in Cloverhill Prison is available at the link.
However, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service, in relation to Question 32921/18 the number of nights slept on the floor in Cloverhill prison by each prisoner, that such details are not recorded by the Governor in respect of the identity of individual prisoners required to sleep on mattresses, or the dates on which this commences and ends in view of the fluidity of the situation on any given night or further period of time.
In relation to question 32830/18 the prison service does not categorise prisons sleeping on mattresses as homeless.
In response to Parliamentary Question 32831/18, the Deputy will appreciate that prison Governors are required by law to accept all prisoners into their custody who have been committed to prison by the Courts. As Cloverhill Prison is the primary remand prison for the Leinster area, it has recently been affected more significantly in terms of the increased number of committals in the past year.
However, I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that as of 17 July 2018 there were 396 prisoners in custody in Cloverhill Prison with a bed capacity of 431, equating to an occupancy rate of 92% with no prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor. The reduction in such numbers in recent weeks is due in no small part to the completion of the refurbishment works in Cloverhill Prison which I had referred to in previous Questions on the matter.
The Strategic Review of Penal Policy produced by the Penal Policy Review Group was published in September 2014. It advocates an approach to crime and the penal system which emphasises rehabilitation and advocates for an improved penal system, the reduction of reliance on imprisonment as a sanction, and an increased focus on alternatives.
Dr Mary Rogan is the independent chairperson of an Implementation and Oversight Group established in early 2015, to oversee implementation of the Penal Policy Review Group’s recommendations. This group comprises officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Irish Prison Service, Probation Service and An Garda Síochána and reports to me on a six monthly basis, on the implementation status of the recommendations of the Penal Policy Review Group.
This group has presented five reports to me to date, all of which were published on my Department’s website. The implementation of the PPRG recommendations constitutes the broad reform programme of penal policy currently being undertaken.
In terms of prison numbers, Ireland has a relatively low rate of imprisonment by international standards. According to the most recent published statistics, Ireland’s imprisonment rate is 78.1 per 100,000 of population. The equivalent European average is 129.9 and the median figure is 117.1. The Penal Policy Review Group recommended the adoption of a strategy to reduce prisoner numbers to a safe level subject to the need to ensure proper protection of the public. In light of this, my officials are drafting a Strategy, which is expected to be finalised this year.
Progress has been made in terms of some of the recommendations of the Penal Policy Review Group - for example, the pursuit of alternatives to custody, interagency working between the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service and the use of structured temporary release programmes such as the Community Return Programme and the Community Support Scheme.
Alternatives to custody continue to be pursued and legislation has already been passed. This includes the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011 which requires the sentencing judge to consider the imposition of community service where a custodial sentence of 12 months or less is being considered. The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 provides that the Court imposing a fine shall take into account a person's financial circumstances. It further provides, inter alia, that where a person fails to pay a fine by the due date, the Court may make an attachment order to earnings as a means of recovering the unpaid fine. As a result of this legislation, we are seeing a reduction in the number of committals. The information is available at the following link:
674. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 259 of 19 June 2018, when he expects to hear back from the Garda Commissioner about the reopening of Stepaside Garda station; the expected timeline for the reopening of the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32719/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra848. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the decision on the construction of a modular Garda station for Stepaside, County Dublin, is final (details supplied); if it is still planned that the station itself will be refurbished or rebuilt; if consideration has been given to making drawings or models of the modular construction available to the local community in advance of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33568/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra849. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on the opening hours and number of gardaí stationed in respect of the opening of a Garda station in Stepaside, County Dublin, modular or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33570/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 674, 848 and 849 together.
The 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a pilot scheme to reopen 6 Garda stations to determine possible positive impacts on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order.
The Garda Commissioner's final report on the matter, which is available on my Department's website, recommended that Stepaside Garda Station be reopened, along with stations in Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, Ballinspittle, Co. Cork, Donard, Co. Wicklow, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow and Rush, Co. Dublin.
As the Deputy is aware, at the outset of the process the Garda authorities provided a brief of requirements to the OPW in relation to the reopening of each of these 6 stations and requested the OPW to undertake technical surveys to determine the works which would be necessary to enable the stations to reopen. The OPW in turn concluded the necessary technical surveys and advised the Commissioner accordingly.
I can confirm that the Commissioner, following consideration of the OPW technical surveys of each of the 6 stations, has now identified the organisation’s preferred way forward, bearing in mind operational needs, costs, timeframe for delivery and other factors. Engagement between the OPW and An Garda Síochána has provided the necessary further detail to allow the pilot programme of reopenings to proceed to the next stage of implementation.
In the case of Stepaside, I can confirm that it has been agreed that the optimum solution is to reopen the station by providing a modular building on the grounds of the former station. The future use of the former station building is a matter for the OPW.
Finalisation of design, planning (where required) and procurement for each of the 6 stations included in the pilot programme will now be progressed by the OPW, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, in line with all applicable processes and procedures.
It is not possible to say at this stage when the 6 stations will reopen as this depends on a number of factors. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and vehicles, and I have no role in the matter.
675. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of core unit gardaí attached to the Dublin metropolitan region south division in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [32751/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra676. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to the Dublin metropolitan region south division by rank in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018, broken down by rank, division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [32752/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra679. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the full complement of gardaí in the Dublin metropolitan region south division in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by district and sub-district. [32755/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra680. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian staff attached to the Dublin metropolitan region south division in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018 by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [32756/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 676, 679 and 680 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the 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.
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 as new Garda recruits come on stream. The work of local Gardaí is also 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 and these specialist units are also receiving significant investment.
I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,000 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. This year a further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College and we 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 and I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the overall vision for 2021 remains on track.
For the Deputy's information I have set out in the tables at the link, as supplied by the Commissioner, the latest figures as requested.
677. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and type of Garda vehicles attached to the Dublin metropolitan region south division in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018 by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [32753/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Indeed in the period 2013 to the end of 2017, almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to assist Gardaí in being mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.
I understand that Garda management keeps the 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 Garda authorities that the table at the link outlines the number and type of Garda vehicles attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region South Division for the dates requested by the Deputy.
