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Thursday, 10 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 341-350

Ukrainian War

Ceisteanna (342)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

342. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the response of his Department to the Ukrainian war crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13724/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will appreciate, the situation in Ukraine has developed very rapidly over the past fortnight and events are continuing to unfold on a daily basis. In this uncertain environment, officials of my Department are continuing to gather as much information as possible in order to formulate recommendations for appropriate policy responses across a range of areas. This would include, for example, students both in Ireland and abroad whose education is potentially being impacted by these events, considerations regarding the response which the Irish Further and Higher Educations systems may have to mount, the impacts on ongoing research collaborations and so forth.

As this work progresses in the coming days, and clarity in relation to these and other issues is attained, I will be in a position to provide further information on policy options and will update the Deputy on the matter.

Departmental Consultations

Ceisteanna (343)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

343. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of external consultant's reports commissioned by her Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date of the report in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13566/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available. 

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (344)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

344. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of reserve gardaí that are suspended; the duration of their suspension including the year in which it commenced; the maximum duration that a reserve member of An Garda Síochána can be suspended for; if the number of reserve gardaí that have resigned their position; and the number that have been dismissed since the use of reservists commenced. [13577/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will appreciate, disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as at 8 March 2022, a total of 4 Garda Reserves are suspended. The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the date and duration of each suspension. 

Number of Reserves Suspended 

Date Suspension Commenced

Duration of Suspension

1

January 2018 

4 Years and 2 months

1

December 2019

2 Years and 3 months

1

May 2021

10 Months

1

January 2022

2 months

I am further informed that there is no maximum duration that a Reserve Garda in An Garda Síochána can be suspended for, as each case is different and has to be decided on its merits. Each suspension is reviewed on a regular basis for any changes in circumstances.  I am advised that since the commencement of the Garda Reserve 15 Reserves have been dismissed. 

I am further advised that 1,230 Reserve Gardaí have resigned since the commencement of the Garda Reserve, which can arise in a range of ways owing to an individual's other commitments and personal circumstances.   This number includes 268 Reserve Gardaí who, since 2013, were successful in applying to join An Garda Síochána full-time. Reserve Gardaí are required to resign from the Reserve, prior to signing their Garda Trainee contract. 

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (345)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

345. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-time gardaí that have had their probationary period extended in the past ten years to date; and the duration of each member’s extension of their probationary period. [13578/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána but it was not received in time. I will write to the Deputy when I have received it.

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (346)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

346. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have failed a physical fitness test in the past ten years to date; the number of gardaí that have failed the aspect of the test known as a beep test in the past ten years to date; and the number that subsequently passed all aspects of the fitness test upon a second attempt or more. [13592/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have sought the information requested from An Garda Síochána but it was not received in time. I will write to the Deputy when I have received the information.

Visa Applications

Ceisteanna (347)

Chris Andrews

Ceist:

347. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the delay in processing a visa application by a person (details supplied); the actions that she will take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13613/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a EU1 - Residence card with the EU Treaty Rights Division of my Department, which was received on 28 February 2022. 

The Unit, like all processing areas of my Department, has been negatively impacted by the public health restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with minimal access allowed to the office at certain times. This has regrettably resulted in significant delays in dealing with correspondence received in the office and an increase in processing times for all applications. 

The EU Treaty Rights Unit is currently issuing acknowledgments and application reference numbers to applicants approximately 6-8 weeks after an application is received.

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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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.  

Prison Service

Ceisteanna (348, 349, 350, 351)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

348. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the length of time babies remain in the care of their mothers in prison; the number of babies currently residing with their mothers in prison by age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13621/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

349. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of pregnant women who have been cared for in prison in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [13622/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

350. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of babies who were born to pregnant women in prison in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [13623/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

351. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of antenatal education care classes the prison service provides to pregnant women who may be in prison during their pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the support and provision of services pregnant women in prison. [13624/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 349, 350 and 351 together.

I can advise the Deputy that Rule 17 of the Prison Rules 2007 makes provision for a child to remain in the care of their mother in prison, until the child has reached twelve months of age.  

I can further advise the Deputy that pregnant women in the custody of the Prison Service receive all of their antenatal care and education through the services of the local HSE Maternity hospital. Access to antenatal care is provided on a par with expectant mothers who live in the community.

Due to the specific needs of a number of the women who are pregnant, specialist HSE services have a very close and responsive working relationship with both prison management and the prison healthcare team.  Most women receive all their antenatal care external to the prison in routine antenatal clinics in the local maternity hospital. When needed and in cases of emergency, specialist midwives will attend the prison; however, this is not normally required.

Expectant mothers are always facilitated to have their children born in hospital. The Prison Service has a mother and baby unit in the Dochas Centre. Expectant mothers are transferred from Limerick Prison to the Dochas Centre during their last trimester and remain there as long as their baby remains with them.

The Deputy will be aware that the construction of a new prison facility to provide accommodation for 50 female prisoners in Limerick Prison is advanced and is scheduled to become operational in the third quarter of 2022.  This development will enhance the facilities within the Limerick Female Unit to care for pregnant prisoners and provide a number of areas where the care of mothers and babies can be facilitated in a safe manner.

The Deputy may wish to note, the number of babies born to women while in prison, when compared to the number who have been in prison while pregnant, is very low.

There are currently no babies residing in the Dochas Centre. 

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the tables below.

The number of pregnant women who have been cared for in Prison in the years 2019 – 2021 and to date in 2022.

Year

Dochas Centre

Limerick

2019

21

3

2020

6

10

2021

11

4

2022 (as of 7.03.22)

1

3

*The Deputy may wish to note that the above counts are not of unique individual prisoners. In addition, there may be overlaps in particular between the figures for Dóchas and Limerick. 

The number of babies born to pregnant women in Prison in the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022.

Year

Number of babies

2019

1

2020

0

2021

2

2022 (as of 07.03.22)

0

Question No. 349 answered with Question No. 348.
Question No. 350 answered with Question No. 348.
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