Tuesday, 24 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 917-936

Courts Service

Ceisteanna (917)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

917. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding court waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34067/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore, the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the President of the Circuit Court monitors waiting times on an on-going basis and targets available resources at areas of greatest need. The allocation of court business is kept under on-going review and every effort will continue to be made to support court sittings, including in Cavan Circuit Court, as much as possible within available resources. There are currently no vacancies in the Circuit Court.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (918)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

918. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if funding or grants are available for local refugee projects such as project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34091/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Department of Justice and Equality operates a number of funding schemes in the area of Integration, which includes the integration of refugees.  A small grants scheme (of grants up to €5,000) from the Communities Integration Fund and a National Funding to Promote the Integration of Migrants scheme for larger grants over 3 years are both operated by the Integration Policy Unit of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration. 

The Communities Integration Fund allocates around €500,000 annually to local community based groups for projects to promote migrant integration, raise intercultural awareness and combat racism in their local communities. Under National Funding to Promote the Integration of Immigrants, grants totalling €1.8 million to help the integration of immigrants were made in 2017 for a total of 15 projects to be delivered over three years in a number of locations across the country by public bodies and NGOs who were successful following an open call for applications.  An open call was advertised under the Communities Integration Fund in 2018.  The closing date was 3 May and decisions on successful applications will be announced shortly.

The EU Funds Unit administers generally larger grants and for multi-annual projects using funding from European sources including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).  The EU Funds Unit conducted open calls in 2016 and awarded €3m for Integration and Employment of Migrants projects from the ESF fund and €4.5m from AMIF for Integration related projects.   It is expected that a further round of AMIF grants will be made in 2019.

The Department, in making funding allocations, has adopted the approach to have an open and transparent call process for selection and awarding of funds and all of these grants schemes are publicised as funding become available.

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (919)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

919. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in Cork city Garda division that have had access to broadband in each year since 2009. [34098/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

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

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 919 and 920 for answer on 24 July 2018 in which the Deputy requested the number of Garda stations in the Cork City Division that had access to broadband in each year since 2009.

The Deputy will recall, the information he requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.

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. Further, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT resources and the networking of Garda stations, are matters for the Garda Commissioner in light of availability of resources and his identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that broadband networks and services are used to connect stations to the Garda network for official purposes. All of the connections to the Garda stations are managed in Telecommunications Division to ensure the speed of the network connection meets the requirements of the particular location.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that there are 16 Garda stations in the Cork City Division. I understand that to provide details by year would be a voluminous task and would require a manual check of billing for a ten-year period.

However, the Garda authorities can confirm that as of 2014, in Cork City Division there were 13 Garda stations connected to the Garda network. Since that time, a further 3 have been connected to the Garda network completing the number of networked Garda stations in this Division.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (920)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

920. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in Cork city Garda division that have had access to high speed broadband in each year since 2009. [34099/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

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

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

Garda Strength

Ceisteanna (921)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

921. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in counties Cavan and Monaghan by station in 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34193/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

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, the following link, as supplied by the Commissioner, sets out the latest figures as requested.

Garda Strengh

Peace Commissioners Data

Ceisteanna (922)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

922. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the acting peace commissioners and notaries public in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [34194/18]

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 Counties Cavan and Monaghan are as follows:

Cavan
Sub-District	Name
Arva	Hartin, Francis Patrick
Arva	McGahern, Seamus
Arva	O'Donnell, Cormac Gerard
Arva	Smith, Patrick Joseph
Bailieboro	Coleman, May
Bailieboro	Giles, Michael
Bailieboro	McCabe, Francis
Bailieboro	McKeown, John
Bailieboro	O'Reilly, Carmel
Bailieboro	O'Reilly, Joseph
Bailieboro	Olwill, James J.
Bailieboro	Reilly, William
Bailieboro	Ryan, John Fitzgerald
Bailieboro	Smith, Turlough
Bailieboro	Turner, Thomas Winston
Ballinagh	Brady, Eamon
Ballinagh	Brady, Edward
Ballinagh	Brady, Seamus
Ballinagh	Clarke, Patrick B.
Ballinagh	Fleming, Charles
Ballinagh	McGauran, Philip
Ballinagh	Miney, Philip
Ballinagh	O'Reilly, James
Ballinagh	Smith, Donal
Ballyconnell	Connolly, Tony
Ballyconnell	Farrelly, Patrick
Ballyconnell	Johnston, Ronald
Ballyconnell	McCabe, Tony
Ballyconnell	McGovern, James
Ballyconnell	McKiernan, Patrick
Ballyjamesduff	Boylan, Dessie
Ballyjamesduff	Boylan, Matthew
Ballyjamesduff	Donnelly, John
Ballyjamesduff	Fox, Brendan M.
Ballyjamesduff	Lynch, Eugene
Ballyjamesduff	McDonald, Donald
Ballyjamesduff	Murray, John James
Ballyjamesduff	O'Reilly, Francis
Ballyjamesduff	O'Reilly, James
Ballyjamesduff	O'Reilly, Philip G.
Ballyjamesduff	Smith, Patrick
Bawnboy	Edwards, John
Bawnboy	Fleming, Edward
Bawnboy	McCaffrey, Michael K.
Belturbet	Donohue, Sinéad
Belturbet	Emery, Eamonn
Belturbet	McDermott, Liz
Belturbet	McGinley, Elizabeth
Belturbet	McGreevy, Owen Joseph
Belturbet	Scott, John Patrick
Blacklion	Carrick , Geraldine
Blacklion	Feeley, Edward
Cavan	Argue, Terence
Cavan	Beglan, John
Cavan	Boylan, Andrew
Cavan	Conaty, Patrick
Cavan	Flood, Cathal E.
Cavan	Gaffney, Margaret Angela
Cavan	Graham, William Derek
Cavan	Greaney, Mel
Cavan	Henry, Peter
Cavan	Keaney, Brendan
Cavan	Kelly, Margaret
Cavan	Keogh, Patrick Joseph
Cavan	O'Brien, Brian
Cavan	O'Neill, Michael J.
Cavan	O'Reilly, Patrick
Cavan	Reilly, Anne
Cavan	Reilly, Mark
Cavan	Sexton, Patrick
Cavan	Sharkey, Noelene
Cavan	Sorohan, Patrick
Cavan	Sullivan, Bernard T.
Cavan	Wilson, Diarmuid J.
Cootehill	Boyle, Aidan
Cootehill	Byrne, Danny
Cootehill	Connolly, Nora
Cootehill	Crosbie, Patrick
Cootehill	McCaul, Vincent
Cootehill	McMullen, Mary Kate
Cootehill	McQuillan, Daniel
Cootehill	O'Brien, Breda
Cootehill	Smith, Michael
Dowra	Cornyn, Kieran
Finea	McCabe, John
Finea	Reilly, Daniel
Finea	Smith, Patrick
Killeshandra	Brady, Matthias
Killeshandra	Maguire, Mary
Killeshandra	Mulligan, John
Killeshandra	O'Reilly, Philip
Killeshandra	O'Reilly, Raymond
Killeshandra	Thompson, Leo
Kilnaleck	Brady, John
Kilnaleck	Cassidy, Christopher
Kilnaleck	Colwell, Cornelius
Kilnaleck	McCabe, Derek
Kilnaleck	O'Dowd, Patrick
Kilnaleck	O'Reilly, Vincent
Kilnaleck	Reilly, Patrick Joseph
Kilnaleck	Smith, Trevor
Kingscourt	Barry, John
Kingscourt	Burns, Margaret Mary
Kingscourt	Carolan, Maura
Kingscourt	Finn, Peter Joseph
Kingscourt	Kelly, Clifford
Kingscourt	Kelly, Martin
Kingscourt	McCabe, Thomas Patrick
Kingscourt	Patterson, James
Kingscourt	Smith, Alan
Mullagh	Cahill, Brian
Mullagh	Daly, Peter
Mullagh	Duff, Thomas
Mullagh	Farrelly, Nicholas
Mullagh	O'Reilly, Mícheál
Oldcastle	Beirne, Thomas J.
Redhills	McEnerney, William B.
Redhills	McEntee, Patrick J.
Redhills	Reilly, Michael J.
Shantonagh	McElroy, Oliver
Shercock	Fidgeon, Philip
Shercock	McDermott, Francis
Shercock	O'Hare, John
Stradone	Jordan, Thomas Andrew
Stradone	Lynch, Michael
Stradone	Maguire, Brian
Stradone	Smith, Patrick J
Stradone	Tully, Jimmy
Swanlinbar	McGovern, Francis
Swanlinbar	McGovern, Martin
Swanlinbar	Prior, Thomas
Virginia	Brady, Andrew
Virginia	Brady, Peter Gerard
Virginia	Gilsenan, Joseph V
Virginia	Hanratty, Owen F.
Virginia	Monaghan, Benny
Virginia	Murphy, Patrick (Jnr.)
Virginia	O'Dwyer, Aidan

 

Monaghan
Sub-District	Name
Ballybay	Coyle, Séamus
Ballybay	Lynch, Thomas
Ballybay	McConnon, Francis
Ballybay	McDermott, Sean
Ballybay	Murnane, Peter
Ballybay	Smyth, Maria
Carrickmacross	Cotter, William J.
Carrickmacross	Cunningham, Edward
Carrickmacross	Durcan, Denis
Carrickmacross	Jones, Patrick J.
Carrickmacross	McArdle,, Gerard
Carrickmacross	McKenna, Patrick
Carrickmacross	McKettrick, Michael
Carrickmacross	McMahon, Kitty
Carrickmacross	McNally, Padraig J.
Carrickmacross	Nelson, James
Carrickmacross	Smith, Philip
Castleblaney	Atkinson, Kevin P.
Castleblaney	Bannigan, James Joseph
Castleblaney	Brennan, Sean
Castleblaney	Carragher, Terencia
Castleblaney	Carville, Gary
Castleblaney	Cole, Patrick J.
Castleblaney	Watters, Padraig
Clones	Bonner, Gabriella
Clones	Cunningham, Mary
Clones	Duffy, Edward
Clones	Maguire, Hugo B.
Clones	McAvinney, James
Clones	Nicholl, William
Clones	Rudden, Alice
Clones	Smyth, Vincent
Corrinshingagh	Hamill, Patricia
Corrinshingagh	Kelly, Peter
Corrinshingagh	Wilson, Roberta
Emyvale	Donnelly, Marion
Emyvale	Duffy, James F.
Emyvale	Finn, John Francis
Emyvale	Flood, Eugene
Emyvale	Lavery, Owen
Emyvale	McCarron, Bridie
Emyvale	McKenna, Brian
Emyvale	McKenna, Patrick
Emyvale	McMahon, Leo
Emyvale	McMeel, Peter
Emyvale	McQuaid, Sean
Emyvale	McQuaid, Vincent
Monaghan	Boyd, Vincent
Monaghan	Brennan, Francis
Monaghan	Connolly, Paudge
Monaghan	Connolly, Seamus
Monaghan	Hagan, Thomas
Monaghan	Leonard, James
Monaghan	MacEntee, Cormac
Monaghan	Maxwell, David
Monaghan	McAdam, Patrick
Monaghan	McArdle, Peadar
Monaghan	McChesney, Robert
Monaghan	McElvaney, Hugh
Monaghan	McEntee, Ciaran
Monaghan	McMahon, Eavor
Monaghan	McQuade, Patrick G.
Monaghan	Sherry, Joseph
Monaghan	Smith, John Francis
Newbliss	Leonard, John
Newbliss	McCaughey, Patrick
Newbliss	McConkey, George Mervyn
Newbliss	McConkey, Richard
Newbliss	McConkey, Robert
Newbliss	McGuigan, Sarah J.
Rockcorry	Brown, Samuel
Rockcorry	Duffy, Brendan
Rockcorry	McGoohan, Hugh
Scotstown	Caulfield, Matthew
Scotstown	Deery, John F.
Scotstown	McAree, Stephen
Scotstown	McKenna, Peter
Scotstown	Mohan, Patrick
Scotstown	Mulligan, John
Shantonagh	Conlon, Margaret
Shantonagh	Duffy, Aloysius
Shantonagh	Keenan, John
Shantonagh	Murtagh, Thomas
Shantonagh	Ward, Philip

My Department does not maintain a register of Notaries Public. Notaries Public are appointed by the Chief Justice and I have no function in this matter. This is a function of the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland on whose website the Deputy will find a listing of Notaries Public.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (923)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

923. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department's spending on travel and subsistence expenses in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34218/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to inform the Deputy that expenditure under the Travel and Subsistence subhead of my Department's Vote (Vote 24) totalled €0.386m 2017, and €0.182m to the end of June 2018.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (924, 925)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

924. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department's expenditure on photography and other promotional services including the creation of social media content in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34235/18]

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

925. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department's expenditure on public relations in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34252/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 924 and 925 together.

An itemised breakdown of public relations/promotional expenditure is set out in the table. In 2017 expenditure amounted to €1,100,887.00. Expenditure to date in 2018 is €33,550.55. These figures cover the creation and distribution of marketing and promotional content aimed towards the public, but does not extend to ancillary administrative costs arising out of the creation of that content such as stationery, merchandise etc.

Concerning photography costs, the Department has increasingly relied on in-house capacity where possible in the past number of years.

Finally, it is worth noting that the largest portion of expenditure by far in both years went towards Cosc's "What Would You Do?" campaign on the prevention of domestic violence.

2017	Expenditure	Service	Company
Feb-17	€5,018	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Mar-17	€40,473	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Mar-17	€20,171	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
29-Mar-17	€128.90	Interest 11 Days@.0219% includes 100 euro Compensation (late invoice)	MEDIAVEST IRELAND LTD
Apr-17	€21,012	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Apr-17	€7,862	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
May-17	€184,221	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
May-17	€40,329	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
Jun-17	€5,163	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
Jun-17	€553.50	Recruit Prison Officer Ceremony	Robert Redmond Photography
Jul-17	€61,455	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Aug-17	€22,867	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Aug-17	€7,400	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
Sep-17	€45,095	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
22-Sep-17	€3,872.64	ADVERTISING	PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE
22-Sep-17	€522.75	ADVERTISING	PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE
22-Sep-17	€522.75	ADVERTISING	PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE
22-Sep-17	€1,693.71	ADVERTISING	PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE
22-Sep-17	€9,464.49	ADVERTISING	PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE
Oct-17	€22,075	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Oct-17	€24,454	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
13-Oct-17	€3,733.05	Anti-Human Trafficking Posters	KIRBY PROMOTE & DISPLAY
Nov-17	€193,277	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Dec-17	€315,502	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Dec-17	€62,924	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
2017 TOTAL	€1,099,790.02

2018	Expenditure	Service	Company
Feb-18	€5,018	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
Feb-18	€18,556	Creative advertising services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	TBWA Dublin
Mar-18	€5,018	Media buying services for National Awareness Campaign on Domestic Violence	PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd
15-Mar-18	522.75	ADVERTISING	PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE
17-May-18	1057.8	Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) Policy Coordination Unit	EVENT PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANCY LTD
TOTAL 2018	€33,550.55

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (926)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

926. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department's expenditure on external consultancy in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34269/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

In response to the Deputy's question on the expenditure in my Department on external consultancy in 2017 and to date, please find as follows a detailed table.

Year	Company / Individual	Amount (inc Vat) €	Detail of Payments i.e. rationale for engaging Consultant
2017	Fitzpatrick Associates	28,228.50	Consultancy fees to undertake an interim evaluation of Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund period 2014 – 2017. Evaluation is a requirement of EU Funding.
2017	The Communications Clinic Ltd	2,691.24	Preparation and delivery of communications strategy for the IRPP
2017	Evros	96,135.60	Business Analysis support to assist with the production of a Service Delivery Strategy for INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service)
2017	RITS Bianconi Research Limited	1,400	Information Security Advisors
2017	University of Limerick	80,011	Funding of Greentown Research Study which looks at criminal networks. This is an academic study which could not be undertaken within the Department
2017	Ebiquity Marsh	13,222	Media auditing services for the national awareness “What would you do” campaign on domestic violence
2017	Ms Jennifer Carroll MacNeill	6,000	Legislative research.
2017	ESRI	35,400	A study of Gender in Senior Civil Service Positions in Ireland ( payment of final instalment)
2017	Information Security Assurance Services Limited (ISAS)	113,412	Independent IT Security Consultant.
2017	SAM360	400	Microsoft License Advisory Services
2017	Mazars	18,081	Irish Prison Service IT Risk Assessment.
2017	Mazars	48,708	Organisation Structure Review. Expertise required to analyse and evaluate the broad structure of the organisation and advise how it could be more effectively organised to deliver on its strategic and business objectives.
2017	EY	76,567.50	To conduct a review of the Department of Justice and Equality’s Change Programme initiated in response to the Report of the Independent Review Group (Toland Report)
2017	Mazars	59,409	Governance and organisational structure review of the Irish Prison Service
2017	Mr Justice John L. Murray	96,815.68	Review of the law on access by statutory bodies to telecommunications data held by communications service providers
2018	Information Security Assurance Services Limited (ISAS)	4,520.25	Independent IT Security Consultant
2018	Benefacts	24,600	Report on an approach to risk assessment of the non-profit sector.
2018	Mr Neal Flynn	3,393.55	Analysis and reports provided to the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice.
2018	Ebiquity Marsh	9,225	Media auditing services for the national awareness “What would you do” campaign on domestic violence
2018	McCann Fitzgerald	28,311	Investigation of Protected Disclosures
2018	Evros	24,446.25	Business Analysis support to assist with the production of a Service Delivery Strategy for INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service)

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (927)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

927. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the detail of each non-Civil Service appointment that has been made in his Department; the pay grade of each appointment; and the relevant qualifications that each appointee has for their position. [34286/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Further to the question raised I can confirm that my department has two special advisors, Ms. Sarah Kavanagh and Ms. Caroline Murphy. Both advisors are remunerated on the Principal Officer standard scale (PPC).

Ms Kavanagh holds a BA degree in History and Politics, an MA degree in Politics, an MA in Political Communication, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies and a Barrister at Law Degree.  Ms. Kavanagh worked in the Houses of the Oireachtas as a Parliamentary Assistant and Senior Policy Officer for nine years and as a Special Advisor in three Government Departments over the last four years.

Ms. Murphy has over 30 years’ experience in the fields of communications and media having worked with RTÉ in both TV and radio.  In addition, she is qualified as an Organisational Psychologist.

Having regard to the significant legislative programme that I am responsible for, Mr. Robert Bourke BL has been appointed to the position of Legal Advisor at the grade of Principal Officer.  Mr. Bourke has over ten years’ experience as a practising barrister and worked for nine months as a Legal Researcher for the Company Law Review Group.  He holds a BA degree in Business, Politics and French, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies and a Barrister at Law Degree.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (928)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

928. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers and other media content, such as, print, digital and other forms in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34303/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Department's total expenditure on newspapers and other digital media content in 2017 was €57,010.06.

The Department's total expenditure on newspapers and other digital media content in 2018 (to date) is €13,261.28.

As well as physical subscriptions to various publications, this spend also includes media monitoring services.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (929)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

929. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time equivalent press officers employed by his Department and him personally. [34320/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

My Department's Press and Communications Office, which undertakes internal and external communications activity in addition to press and media engagement, is staffed by six full-time civil servants.  In addition I have one media advisor.

Question No. 930 answered with Question No. 742.

Garda Investigations

Ceisteanna (931)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

931. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 110 to 112, inclusive, of 14 June 2018, if he has received the outstanding information referred to in his response; the reason for the delay in the issuing of this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34343/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy David Stanton)

As I outlined in my previous replies to the Deputy on this matter, the Garda authorities have tasked a Review Team with coordinating an examination of referrals to the Garda Diversion Programme from 2010-2017 and this work, which encompasses all 28 Garda Divisions, remains ongoing.

In relation to the particular outstanding data requested by the Deputy, I have been advised by the Garda authorities that all such data is under review as part of the aforementioned examination. Therefore, the Garda authorities are not in a position to provide the requested information at this time.

My Department has requested that the relevant data is provided as soon as it is feasible to do so. Furthermore, the Acting Commissioner has been requested to ensure that the present Review process is completed as soon as possible.

As soon as the outstanding information is received, my Department will arrange to forward it directly to the Deputy.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (932)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

932. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the contracts awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) in each of the past three years; the value of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department did not award any contracts within the past three years to M.CO. Projects Ltd.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (933)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

933. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of core unit gardaí attached to the Carlow division for each year from 2009 to date by division, district and subdistrict in tabular form. [34391/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

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.

The table in the following link, as supplied by the Commissioner, sets out the latest figures as requested.

Garda Numbers by Division

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (934)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

934. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached by rank to the Carlow division for each year from 2009 to date by division, district and subdistrict in tabular form. [34392/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

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.

The table in the following link, as supplied by the Commissioner, sets out the latest figures as requested.

Garda Numbers

Garda Transport Data

Ceisteanna (935)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

935. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and type of Garda vehicles attached to the Carlow division for each year from 2009 to date by division, district and subdistrict in tabular form. [34393/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

There has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. 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. Indeed from 2013 to 2017 almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to ensure that Gardaí can be 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 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. The responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between districts and stations as required by operational requirements.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Carlow District has been part of the Kilkenny /Carlow Division since 2010.  In 2009, the first year for which information is requested by the Deputy, Carlow formed part of what was then Carlow/ Kildare Division. 

Accordingly the following tables set out the information requested in relation to the number and type of Garda vehicles attached to the Kilkenny/Carlow Division to 2010 and to Carlow/Kildare Division in 2009.  I am advised by An Garda Síochána, that for operational reasons, this information is provided at Division and District level only.

2018 (as at 18 July)	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	11	5	1	1	0	18
KILKENNY DISTRICT	27	7	0	1	3	38
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	16	5	0	0	2	23
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	54	17	1	2	5	79
2017	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	13	5	0	1	0	19
KILKENNY DISTRICT	33	6	1	1	2	43
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	14	4	0	0	2	20
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	60	15	1	2	4	82
2016	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	13	4	1	0	0	18
KILKENNY DISTRICT	29	6	1	2	0	38
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	11	4	0	0	3	18
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	53	14	2	2	3	74
2015	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	13	4	1	0	0	18
KILKENNY DISTRICT	20	3	1	1	0	25
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	12	1	0	0	1	14
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	45	8	2	1	1	57
2014	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	11	4	1	0	0	16
KILKENNY DISTRICT	16	3	1	1	0	21
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	14	1	0	0	1	16
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	41	8	2	1	1	53
2013	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	8	4	1	0	0	13
KILKENNY DISTRICT	15	4	0	1	0	20
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	15	2	0	0	1	18
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	38	10	1	1	1	51
2012	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW	9	2	0	0	0	11
KILKENNY	13	4	0	1	1	19
THOMASTOWN	11	1	0	0	1	13
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	33	7	0	1	2	43
2011	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
CARLOW DISTRICT	9	2	1	0	0	12
KILKENNY DISTRICT	14	3	0	2	1	20
THOMASTOWN DISTRICT	9	1	1	0	1	12
Total for Kilkenny/Carlow Division	32	6	2	2	2	44

I am informed by the Garda authorities that figures for 2009 and 2010 are available only on a Divisional basis, as listed in the following table.

-	Cars	Vans	Motorcycle	4x4	Other	Total
Carlow- Kildare Division
2009	54	8	4	2	1	69
Kilkenny -Carlow Division
2010	38	6	2	2	2	50

Question No. 936 answered with Question No. 639.