Written Answers Nos. 223-237
223. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Redline; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions obtained to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38664/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Garda authorities that Operation Redline was put in place in 2012 and concluded in 2013. Operation Redline led to 27 arrests which resulted in 32 charges or summonses and 10 convictions.
224. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that operate CCTV in the custody area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38764/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including the installation of CCTV in custody areas in Garda stations. I, as Minister, have no direct role in that matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is received I will write directly to the Deputy.
225. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding provided to a charity (details supplied) in each of the years 2008 to 2018 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38774/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the funding amount provided by my Department to the organisation being referred to by the Deputy for each year for the period 2008-2018 are provided in the following table.
Department funding provided to Rape Crisis Network Ireland 2008- 2018
|
Year |
Total |
|
2008 |
€83,500 |
|
2009 |
€154,060 |
|
2010 |
€127,192 |
|
2011 |
€130,241 |
|
2012 |
€91,830 |
|
2013 |
€83,737 |
|
2014 |
€86,500 |
|
2015 |
€71,648 |
|
2016 |
€85,000 |
|
2017 |
€85,000 |
|
2018* (as at September 20 2018) |
€59,033 |
226. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding provided to each rape crisis centre in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38775/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the funding amount provided by my Department to rape crisis centres each year for the past ten years; and the services and supports provided from this funding by each centre, are provided in the enclosed tables. Staged payments were made during the course of a year for the particular service in some instances. Grants for awareness raising activities ceased to be paid to individual non-governmental organisations from 2016 onwards, arising from a call from them for a national campaign to be held, which commenced in 2016.
As the Deputy will be aware, Tusla is the main funder of domestic and sexual violence services and is providing €23.8m for these services in 2018.
Funding
|
Organisation Name -2018 (end June) |
Details of Payment |
Balance |
|
DUBLIN RAPE CRISIS CENTRE LTD |
GRANT FUNDING-BODYRIGHT PROG |
€ 11,000.00 |
|
DUBLIN RAPE CRISIS CENTRE LTD |
FUNDING SERVICES VICTIMS CRIME |
€ 20,000.00 |
|
DUBLIN RAPE CRISIS CENTRE LTD Total |
€ 31,000.00 |
|
|
RAPE CRISIS NETWORK IRELAND |
GRANT PAYMENT - LEGAL COORDINATOR |
€ 30,000.00 |
|
RAPE CRISIS NETWORK IRELAND |
Funding for Services to Victims of Crime |
€ 29,033.51 |
|
RAPE CRISIS NETWORK IRELAND Total |
€ 59,033.51 |
|
|
SEXUAL VIOLENCE CENTRE CORK |
Funding for Services to Victims of Crime |
€ 20,800.00 |
|
SEXUAL VIOLENCE CENTRE CORK Total |
€ 20,800.00 |
|
|
Grand Total |
€ 110,833.51 |
227. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to the issues raised by a local authority (details supplied) in relation to CCTV schemes; the measures he plans to implement to improve the criteria pertaining to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38782/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct but complementary categories, namely Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems.
Community CCTV is governed by section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI No 289 of 2006). This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must:
- be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee,
- have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner, and
- have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must also act as data controller.
This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of whether or not grant funding is sought from my Department to assist in their establishment.
In accordance with this legal framework, I understand that the large majority of local authorities have previously undertaken to act as data controllers in the context of specific community CCTV schemes. Further, it is important to note that many community CCTV schemes are up and running successfully nationwide.
I am also pleased to see that the numbers of new applications to the grant aid scheme administered by my Department are increasing - there have to date been 27 applications to the scheme, including 13 applications received this month. 6 applications have been approved. 18 applications are currently being considered. The remaining 3 applications have been returned to the applicants concerned to enable them to supply the information necessary to qualify for grant aid.
In establishing the grant-aid scheme, the Department consulted broadly including with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Attorney General. There was also consultation regarding the scheme with stakeholders including County and City Management Association (CCMA), Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), Irish Rural Link as well as interested community groups.
Nonetheless and in response to the queries or concerns expressed by some local authorities, my officials continue to engage on the matter in particular through the LGMA and the CCMA, to address any concerns and clarify any queries arising.
The Data Protection Commissioner’s Office has confirmed as recently as May of this year that it does not have any concerns on the legislative basis for CCTV. However it is currently conducting an audit of the practice, operation and governance of CCTV. We expect findings from this process to be of great assistance to local authorities as they carry out their function of Data Controller.
I am keen to ensure that all interested groups, in both rural and urban areas, have the opportunity to take advantage of the availability of this grant aid scheme administered by my Department. Under the scheme, which is intended to run for 3 years with funding of some €1 million being made available each year, 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 total of €40,000.
Full details of the grant aid package are available to download from my Department's website - www.justice.ie and support and guidance is available to help interested groups to apply for this funding through a dedicated email address communitycctv@justice.ie.
228. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress being made to implement a recommendation by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38887/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cost of Insurance Working Group proposed exploring the possibility that a specific unit, funded by the insurance industry, be established within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) to tackle insurance fraud.
I understand that the GNECB has engaged with Insurance Ireland in relation to this matter and submitted a mechanism for establishing an insurance fraud unit to Insurance Ireland in the first half of 2017. Following receipt of the reply from Insurance Ireland in July 2018, I met with the GNECB and the Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations, on 30 August to discuss this recommendation further.
I understand that, at this stage, the Garda Commissioner has yet to form a view on the recommendation, and no proposal or recommendation has yet been submitted to me as Minister.
229. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications made for community-based CCTV systems; the number that have been funded, installed and are now operational; the locations of all such CCTV systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38888/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems. In pursuance of this commitment, a grant-aid scheme was launched by my Department in 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of some €1 million being made available each year.
Under the scheme, 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.
Systems funded under this scheme supplement the existing network of CCTV systems, both Community and Garda, in operation in the State.
The Department receives a regular flow of enquiries regarding the scheme from a broad spectrum of the public. There have been 27 applications to the scheme to date, including 13 applications received this month. 6 applications have been approved to date. 18 applications are currently being assessed. The remaining 3 applications have been returned to the applicants concerned, to enable them to supply the information necessary to qualify for grant aid.
Details of the counties in which successful applications have been based and the funding approved are included in the following table:
|
County |
Number of applications |
Approved Funding |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
€40,000.00 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
€77,914.51 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
€8,835.00 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
€40,000.00 |
|
Total |
6 |
€166,749.51 |
I am keen to ensure that all interested groups, in both rural and urban areas, have the opportunity to take advantage of the availability of this grant aid scheme. For any community groups wishing to avail of the scheme, full details are available to download from my Department's website - www.justice.ie.
In addition, support and guidance is available from my officials to help interested groups to apply for this funding through a dedicated email addresscommunitycctv@justice.ie.
230. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the plans in place in order to allow stamp 3 skilled workers' spouses and partners to access employment here whilst living here with their partners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38471/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to change the rules with regard to allowing the spouses, partners and dependants of highly skilled non-EEA professionals residing here on visas in view of near full employment and as skill shortages begin to develop in the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38455/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 235 together.
Immediate family members, that is dependants, partners and spouses of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders already have very broad access to the Irish labour market. The Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit is uniquely available to the families of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, as part of the Government's policy to promote Ireland's attractiveness as a location for highly skilled workers. The application process is free of charge.
The following conditions ensure dependants, civil partners, and spouses eligible under this scheme will have greater ease of access to employment in the State:
- They can apply for a permit in respect of all occupations, including certain carers in the home, and excluding all other occupations in a domestic setting.
- They can apply for a permit with a remuneration of less than €30,000 p.a. (but not less than the National Minimum Wage).
- Their prospective employer is not required to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test.
The situation in relation to the immigration Stamp for immediate family members of non-EEA nationals is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. My officials are in consultation with officials in the Department of Justice and Equality on options to offer greater clarity to prospective employers on the position in relation to the dependants, partners and spouses of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders.
231. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if all the recommendations in the most recent report from the Personal Injuries Commission will be implemented; the timetable for the completion of all the recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38750/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to submit the Second and Final Report of the Personal Injuries Commission (PIC) to Government on the 18 September 2018. The publication of this Report now concludes the challenging work programme of the Personal Injuries Commission since its establishment in January 2017.
The Report makes ten recommendations and the implementation of which will be a matter for each of the bodies responsible. While the recommendations are not time-bound due to the nature of them, it is expected that they will be acted upon by the bodies responsible as soon as possible.
In this regard, I am writing to relevant Government colleagues, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Health, and other organisations including the Garda Commissioner, Insurance Ireland, The Law Society, The Council of the Bar of Ireland and the Law Reform Commission seeking co-operation in advancing the implementation of the recommendations relevant to them.
As the Personal Injuries Commission was established following a recommendation in the Cost of Insurance Working Group Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance published in January 2017, it is intended that progress on implementation will be monitored through the Cost of Insurance Working Group Quarterly Progress Reports published by my colleague Minister of State Michael D’Arcy.
232. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits that have taken place to the new advance factory on the Breaffy Road, Castlebar, County Mayo; and the month in which those visits took place. [38382/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra233. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps which have been taken to secure a tenant for the new advance factory on the Breaffy Road, Castlebar, County Mayo. [38383/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits that have taken place in County Mayo to date in 2018; the month each visit occurred; and the locations shown to prospective investors. [38384/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 to 234, inclusive, together.
County Mayo has hosted four IDA site visits to date in 2018. Site visits are collated by the IDA on a county-by-county basis only and are released every quarter. Information on the number of site visits per month to specific locations is therefore unavailable.
With regards to the Castlebar facility, this building is now completed and is being actively marketed to IDA clients through its network of offices in Ireland and overseas. The Agency does not, on account of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, release details of specific site visit itineraries of potential investors.
IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in all counties of Ireland to its client base. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as at least 70% of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) comes from existing client companies of the Agency.
The overall outlook for FDI in County Mayo remains positive. There are 16 IDA client companies employing 4,462 in total in the County. Mayo has experienced a 26% increase in FDI employment from 2012 to 2017 with job numbers increasing from 3,537 in 2012 to 4,462 at the end of last year. IDA Ireland continues to engage with its existing client base to support them in growing their business and footprint further in County Mayo.
236. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the expenditure savings that are earmarked for her Department for 2019 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2019. [38479/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mid Year Expenditure Report 2018 published by the Department of Public Expenditure Reform in July this year sets out the public expenditure position as at the end of June. Whilst the Report noted that total gross voted expenditure was slightly behind profile for the first 6 months of the year, it stated that it was too early to estimate what the end year expenditure position might be and indeed whether Supplementary Estimates or the surrender of funds to the exchequer may arise at year end.
As regards the Budgetary Strategy for Expenditure in 2019, the Expenditure Report in restating the pre-budget Departmental expenditure ceilings for 2018-2020 as set out in the Summer Economic Statement, reaffirmed that a headline deficit of 0.1% of GDP in 2019 would leave a budgetary package of €3.4 billion available for 2019. Of this total, €2.6billion of expenditure is already pre-committed, thus leaving €0.8billion for further allocation as and between taxation and expenditure measures in Budget 2019. The allocation of this €0.8billion will be determined through the Budget 2019 process following which my Department’s 2019 capital and current expenditure ceilings will be finalised for the coming year.
237. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if Ministers, ministerial advisers or officials in her Department have ever used private email to communicate on departmental issues between one another or with other persons or organisations; if so, the reason; if so, if she will publish these emails; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38561/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in my Department's internal ICT Usage Policy, staff are provided with email accounts for official use. It is the practice that communication of Departmental issues be conducted through Departmental email accounts and not through private email.
While no survey into the use of private email addresses has been conducted, I am not aware of any issues arising in this regard. Furthermore, the ICT Usage Policy sets out that access to Internet based email services are generally refused, partly due to the risk they pose in respect of mishandling communication of Departmental issues.
