Written Answers Nos. 383-402
383. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a visa application will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for a short stay visa was refused for reasons provided to the person concerned in a letter issued by my Department on 12 November 2019.
It is open to applicants to appeal visa refusal decisions, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Please be advised that no appeal was received in relation to this application.
If no appeal is received within two months from the date of refusal, applicants may submit a new application. If submitting a new application, applicants should bear in mind the reasons for refusal of the previous application and submit up to date supporting documentation. The application will be considered on its own merits.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
384. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) in respect of renewal of his or her stamp 4; if his or her child who was born here can proceed for naturalisation in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3136/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department issued a letter to the person concerned in April 2019 granting conditional permission to remain in the State. The person concerned was advised to furnish specific documentation at least four weeks before their permission was due to expire on 2 February 2020. My Department has no record of receiving any recent correspondence from the applicant.
I note from the details provided by the Deputy that the address for the person concerned differs from that which my Department has on record. The onus is on all persons to keep my Department notified of any changes to their details.
An application for a certificate of naturalisation may be submitted for a minor if the minor's parents have already been naturalised or if the minor is of Irish descent or has Irish associations or, at the time of their birth, was not entitled to Irish Citizenship but has since accumulated 5 years reckonable residency in the state.
Minors cannot apply for naturalisation by themselves. The application must be made by their parent, legal guardian or person acting on the child's behalf in loco parentis.
Further information on applying for naturalisation can be found on my Departments website https://www.irishimmigration.ie/citizenship/.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
385. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to abolish the upper age limit for persons to apply to become Garda trainee officers in view of the fact that it is perceived as discriminatory; the reason such an age cap exists; and if he has considered amending the age requirements to mirror those of the PSNI. [3182/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 which provide that the age at which a person may apply to join An Garda Síochána as a full time member is not more than 35 years.
As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018 the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and the report is now being implemented in accordance with the targets and timelines set out in the 4-year plan "A Policing Service for the Future".
Among the issues highlighted in the Commission's report was that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society and should therefore develop recruitment strategies to achieve a more diverse intake. These recommendations echoed those of the Garda Inspectorate following their examination of entry routes into An Garda Síochána. These reports highlighted certain issues in relation to recruitment strategies for An Garda Síochána, including the maximum age of recruitment.
I expect that the question of the appropriate age for recruitment to An Garda Síochána will be considered as part of that broader review of entry to An Garda Síochána.
386. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has consulted with the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI in respect of allowing officers of all ranks to transfer between the forces; and the details of the transfer system that exists. [3183/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. There are a number of routes under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 through which individuals with policing experience and qualifications gained in another jurisdiction may join the organisation.
Competitions for the positions of Garda Commissioner and Deputy Garda Commissioner are not restricted to serving members and, as the Deputy will be aware, the most recent competitions for these posts were open to all individuals with relevant experience and qualifications.
Competitions for appointment to the ranks of Assistant Garda Commissioner, chief superintendent and superintendent are open to members of the PSNI once they meet the eligibility criteria set out in the relevant Regulations under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Policing Authority assumed responsibility for undertaking these competitions on 1 January 2017 and, coinciding with that date, the eligibility criteria were extended to include any member of the PSNI not below the rank of inspector who has served not less than 2 years in that rank.
The Deputy may also wish to note that arrangements are in place to allow for the secondment of officers from the PSNI to certain ranks in An Garda Síochána for a period not exceeding 3 years. The Inter-Governmental Agreement on Police Co-operation obliged both Governments to introduce the necessary administrative and legislative measures to provide for exchanges, secondments and appointments between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI. Sections 52 - 54 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 gives effect to these obligations. Protocols are in place between the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI which provide for the implementation of a programme of personnel exchanges and secondments between the two police services.
Perhaps most importantly in this context, as the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018 the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and the report is now being implemented in accordance with the targets and timelines set out in the 4-year plan "A Policing Service for the Future".
Among the issues highlighted in the report was that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society and should therefore develop recruitment strategies to achieve a more diverse intake. These recommendations echoed those of the Garda Inspectorate following their examination of entry routes into An Garda Síochána, published in July 2018. That review recommended the extension of reciprocal arrangements to allow access to the sergeant and inspector promotion processes in both jurisdictions (An Garda Síochána and PSNI).
As part of the implementation plan a broad review of entry to An Garda Síochána will be carried out, which I expect will consider this and other issues.
387. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if members of the PSNI are permitted to carry their PSNI-issued firearm across the Border. [3184/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 2 the Firearms (Firearms Certificate for Non- Residents) Act 2000, the Minister for Justice and Equality has a power to grant firearms certificates, including to official security personnel from other jurisdictions, where it is deemed necessary to do so. Decisions in relation to the grant of certificates to such personnel are made in accordance with the legislation and following consultation with the Garda authorities.
An Garda Síochána and the PSNI co-operate on an ongoing basis in what is an essential relationship in guaranteeing security and community safety on this island. A reciprocal arrangement is in place is in place since 2013 between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI relating to the carriage of firearms in relation to close protection for certain people traveling between the two jurisdictions and the grant of firearms certificates for this purpose is undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2000.
388. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which the post of State Pathologist will be filled on a permanent full-time basis. [3189/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe positions of Chief State Pathologist and Deputy State Pathologist were advertised by the Public Appointments Service in September 2019. The recruitment process for the Deputy State Pathologist is still ongoing and it is anticipated that the post will be filled in the coming months.
Unfortunately the recruitment process for the Chief State Pathologist failed to identify a suitable candidate. However we are fortunate to have in place the Acting State Pathologist, Dr. Linda Mulligan, who is leading the office in the interim until a more permanent solution can be identified.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department commissioned a report from the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland which was published last year and found that a shortage of suitably qualified pathologists is a concern worldwide. The report identified a range of issues, including that the remuneration levels were not attractive compared to those available to pathologists working in hospital settings in Ireland or with pathologists in other countries. It also identified the importance of a national training scheme for ensuring self-sufficiency in forensic pathology. My Department accepted those recommendations and immediately engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which sanctioned an increased remuneration package for the most recent competition. My officials are also engaging with the Medical Council with a view to recognising pathology as a specialism and the other recommendations in the report will also be progressed in consultation with other key stakeholders.
In the meantime, my Department is keeping the situation under review and I am grateful to Dr Mulligan for her dedicated service in these circumstances.
389. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of off-road Garda vehicles purchased in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number of such vehicles withdrawn during the same period. [3190/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles, in accordance with operational demand. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The resources allocated by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion for 2020. Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I have been informed by Garda Authorities that they categorise off-road Garda vehicles as 4X4 vehicles. I am further informed that as at 29 February 2020, there were a total of 82 4x4 vehicles in the Garda fleet.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out the number of 4x4 vehicles allocated to and removed from the Garda fleet in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020.
|
- |
Total 4x4 allocated |
Total 4x4 removed |
|
2020 (up to 02/03/2020) |
1 |
0 |
|
2019 |
11 |
9 |
|
2018 |
21 |
14 |
Finally, the Deputy may wish to be aware that a total of €9 million has been allocated specifically for purchase and fit-out of Garda vehicles in 2020. The number and type of vehicles which will be purchased with this allocation as well as the Divisions to which those new vehicles are assigned are entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
390. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an asylum application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3197/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has been advised previously, for reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State.
An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate.
The International Protection Office may be contacted: by email to info@ipo.gov.ie; by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted either: by email to info@protectionappeals.ie; by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
However, I can inform the Deputy that an applicant for international protection is awarded international protection, whether refugee status or subsidiary protection status, upon a declaration of status being issued from my Department. This is done on foot of a grant recommendation from the International Protection Office (IPO) or a decision of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) to set aside a refusal recommendation of the IPO.
My Department processes the recommendations received from the International Protection Office and the decisions of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in chronological order based on the date the file is received in that Unit. Once the necessary due diligence has been carried out by the Ministerial Decisions Unit, a declaration of status will issue as soon as possible.
The Ministerial Decisions Unit operates an email service for responding to queries and can be contacted at - mduinfo@justice.ie
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
391. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juvenile court proceedings in each of the past five years; the number of cases that included the convening of a family welfare conference; the number that reportedly included a probation officer; and the number that resulted in the formulation of an action plan for the child. [3210/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra392. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juveniles found to be non-compliant with court-imposed action plans overseen by probation officers in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3211/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juveniles assigned community sanction, day centre orders and probation orders in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 to 393, inclusive, together.
The Children Act 2001 as amended provides the legislative framework for the youth justice system and provides for the care, protection and management of young people engaging in offending behaviour. It is underpinned by key principles which include using detention as a last resort and diverting children away from involvement in criminal activity.
The first main filter in the youth justice system is the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, which focuses on preventing criminal behaviour as well as diversion from the criminal justice system and rehabilitation of children between 10 and 18 years of age. The Garda Youth Diversion Programme is supported by a network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs). These projects are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime or anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk.
The second main filter provided in the Children Act is the range of non-custodial sanctions available to the courts. Part 9 of the Children Act 2001 provides for a suite of community sanctions including Probation Order, Mentoring Order and Detention and Supervision Order. The Probation Order with specified conditions is used most frequently, as it provides flexibility in tailoring the intervention to meet the individual needs of the young person concerned.
Young Persons Probation (YPP) is a division of the Probation Service which was established in 2006. YPP supervise the community sanctions contained in the Children Act 2001. I am assured that the Probation Service at all times works to support each young person to comply with their court order. Non-compliance with a community sanction can however result in the young person being returned to court, at which time they may be afforded a further opportunity to comply, the order may be varied by the presiding judge, or a period of detention may be imposed.
I have consulted with the Probation Service with regard to the data requested by the Deputy. I am informed that the tables below provide information as requested in relation to juvenile interactions with the Probation Service from 2014 to 2018. I am further informed that that statistics for 2019 are currently being compiled and will be published in the forthcoming Annual Report 2019 for the Probation Service.
It should be noted that the following tables provide information regarding new referrals to the Probation Service from the Courts for the years in question, and also provides a breakdown of ongoing supervision cases for each of the five years. I am informed by the Probation Service that a Probation Officer is assigned and a case management plan is put in place for all ongoing supervision cases. I am further informed by the Probation Service that the specific information requested regarding the number of juveniles found non-compliant with court imposed action plans is not currently maintained by the Probation Service.
|
New Referrals From Court |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Referral for Probation (Pre-Sanction) Reports |
775 |
805 |
671 |
646 |
700 |
|
Referral for Community Service Reports |
15 |
12 |
11 |
8 |
2 |
|
Pre-Sanction Reports to consider Community Service |
9 |
10 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
Orders without prior report |
26 |
25 |
15 |
9 |
12 |
|
Family Conference |
36 |
36 |
20 |
23 |
22 |
|
Total Referrals Young Persons |
861 |
888 |
725 |
690 |
740 |
|
Supervision |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Probation Orders |
242 |
273 |
210 |
233 |
290 |
|
Orders for Supervision During Deferment of Penalty |
370 |
306 |
264 |
264 |
289 |
|
Community Service Orders |
20 |
30 |
24 |
19 |
15 |
|
Fully Suspended Sentence with Supervision |
8 |
15 |
12 |
25 |
27 |
|
Part Suspended Sentence Supervision Orders Made |
7 |
10 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
|
Deferment of Detention Orders |
0 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Detention & Supervision Orders |
0 |
49 |
27 |
8 |
23 |
|
Other Orders* |
93 |
124 |
50 |
12 |
1 |
|
Total Supervision Orders Young Persons |
740 |
811 |
595 |
572 |
648 |
*Other Orders includes various disposals under the Children Act, 2001
The Deputy also sought information in relation to ‘Juvenile Court’. I take this to refer to the District Court sitting as the Children Court (section 71 of the Act of 2001). I am informed by the Court Service that information relating to the total number of juvenile offences concluded by the District Court, and in which a final order was made is contained in the Courts Service Annual reports. These reports are available on the Courts Service website at the following link: https://beta.courts.ie/annual-report. I am further informed that statistics for 2019 have not yet been collated and will be published in the forthcoming Annual Report for 2019.
Finally, in relation to future policy in this area, Minister of State David Stanton has chaired an expert steering group over the past twelve months to assist my Department in the work of developing a new Youth Justice Strategy. I expect a draft of the Strategy to be published before too long for a further round of consultations, with a view to it being finalised and brought to Government for approval as soon as possible thereafter.
The new Strategy will include consideration of how youth justice policy might be more closely aligned to other child and youth policies, including targeted policies to support children and families who experience multiple disadvantage and links between schools and other services and programmes. A particular challenge is how to ensure an effective response to the needs of the harder-to-engage cohort of children and young people, and ensuring that the Strategy focuses on this as a priority. The Strategy will include measures to address fragmentation within current services and programme delivery at local and national level so as to support a holistic response to the needs of particular children at risk, in the specific family and community context, rather than separate responses to different aspects of need at different ages and stages of the family cycle.
394. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the Youth Justice Action Plan 2014-2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3213/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra395. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda youth diversion projects active in Ballymun, Dublin 11; and the number of officers assigned to such projects in Ballymun. [3214/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda youth diversion projects active in 2019; the number of officers assigned to such projects in 2019; the funding allocated to such projects in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria which determine the catchment area for a Garda youth diversion project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3216/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 394 to 397, inclusive, together.
The Garda Youth Diversion Programme is supported by a network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs). The projects are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime or anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk.
There are currently 105 GYDPs in place nationwide with a budget of approximately €15.5 million in 2019 funded by my Department. This supports approximately 265 FTE youth justice worker posts - the number can vary throughout the year. In relation to Ballymun, the specific area referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that my Department currently funds one GYDP, with funding supporting 4 FTE posts.
Considerable progress has been made in the last two years to extend the Garda Youth Diversion Project network to ensure that the service is available throughout the State. This has been achieved by extending existing project catchment areas and allocation of additional staff. There are a small number of areas where this approach would not be suitable and these are being considered for the establishment of new projects instead.
Catchment areas for projects are determined in consultation with local community groups, members of An Garda Síochána and other stakeholders on a case-by-case basis. As the GYDPs have evolved organically since their inception, catchment areas vary depending on the project’s background and local needs.
In recent years, the GYDP model has been developed and extended, with a renewed emphasis on family support and early intervention/preventative work, as well as on working with harder-to-engage young people, including those not suitable for the Garda Diversion Programme. Where any new projects are being established, the minimum core of the project will now include 2 youth justice workers, a family support worker, an early intervention support worker and an outreach worker to engage with harder-to-reach young people.
In relation to future policy in this area, I have chaired an expert steering group over the past twelve months to lead my Department's work developing a new Youth Justice Strategy and I expect a draft of the Strategy to be published in the near future for a further round of consultations, with a view to it being finalised and published thereafter.
The new Strategy will include a focus on how youth justice policy can more closely align to other child and youth policies, including targeted policies to support children and families who experience multiple disadvantage and links between schools and other services and programmes. A particular priority is responding effectively to the needs of the harder-to-engage cohort of children and young people. The Strategy will include measures to address fragmentation within current services and programme delivery at local and national level so as to support a holistic response to the needs of particular children at risk, in the specific family and community context, rather than separate responses to different aspects of need at different ages and stages of the family cycle.
398. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of four wheel drive vehicles in the Galway Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3237/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles, in accordance with operational demand. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The resources allocated by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion for 2020. Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 29 February 2020, a fleet of 113 vehicles was assigned to the Galway Division, one of which was a 4x4 vehicle.
Finally, the Deputy may wish to be aware that a total of €9 million has been allocated specifically for purchase and fit-out of Garda vehicles in 2020. The number and type of vehicles which will be purchased with this allocation as well as the Divisions to which those new vehicles are assigned are entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
399. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be a reduction in Garda numbers and a further reduction in hours for the Garda station in Boyle, County Roscommon, under the proposed reorganisation of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3249/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for matters including the opening hours of Garda stations, allocation of personnel and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 29 February 2020, there are 27 Garda members assigned to Boyle Garda station. I am further advised by the Garda authorities that no reduction in manpower or opening hours for Boyle Garda Station is planned at this time.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. We now have approximately 14,300 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over
2,900 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow.
The rollout by the Garda Commissioner of the new Garda Operating Model meets a key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future, the four-year implementation plan giving effect to the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. This model has been long recommended by independent policing specialists, including the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and while new to Ireland, it is the standard in other countries. The new Operating Model is designed to provide a more responsive, localised policing service to communities and it streamlines Garda administration and re-organises resources in order to do so. I am confident that this adoption by the Commissioner of this new structure will lead to an improved policing service in communities nationwide.
400. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied). [3254/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy on 29 May 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. If further documentation is required, it will be requested from the applicant in due course.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
401. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3256/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 15 May 2019.
This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. If any further documentation is required, it will be requested from the person in due course.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
402. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of adults and children remaining in direct provision centres after their leave to remain has been granted, for the most recent date available. [3265/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, residents who have been granted an international protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) or a permission to remain have the same access to housing supports and services as Irish and EEA nationals.
My Department has a specific team who work in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status or permission to remain to access housing options.
Currently, there are approximately 1,018* residents in accommodation centres with status or permission to remain in the State.
Since the beginning of the year, a total of 191* people with status or permission to remain have transitioned out of accommodation centres. Approximately 103 of these people moved with the assistance of the services and supports outlined above. A total of 837 persons with status moved into the community during 2019.
* These figures are provisional and may be subject to change.
