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Thursday, 23 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 381-390

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Ceisteanna (381, 382)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

381. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legislative basis for his policy decision to restrict Ukrainian refugees to a maximum of two offers of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33502/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

382. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is putting in place an appeals process to accompany his policy decision to restrict Ukrainian refugees to a maximum of two offers of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33503/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict.

My Department is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 35,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 25,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Arrivals continue on a daily basis, and the Government remains committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response, and within the framework of the relevant European Directives.

Given the scale of the crisis the State is responding to with the large number of people looking for assistance it is not possible to facilitate requests for accommodation of a certain type or in a particular location except on specific medical or disability grounds.

Refusals of suitable accommodation place significant additional pressures on the system, negatively impacts on the State's ability to provide accommodation for continuing numbers of new arrivals, and leads to inefficiencies managing a limited resource in a time of great emergency.

The Refusals Policy which is now in place seeks both to respect an individual’s right to opt out of the State-sponsored scheme and make their own accommodation arrangements, availing of supports provided by other Departments as appropriate, and to ensure equitable treatment of all arrivals to the greatest extent possible.

Where an individual refuses an offer of suitable accommodation, they will be placed at the end of the queue and in due course will be made a second and final offer of accommodation. Where that second offer of suitable accommodation is refused, it will remain available but no further offers of accommodation will be made. It is important to emphasise that no one is left without an offer of accommodation.

This Refusals Policy was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including with the assistance of the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin, is communicated in English and Ukrainian at various locations, and will be kept under review. Should an individual have queries or questions in relation to the policy, clarifications may be sought on site with officials, or via ukrainetempaccom@equality.gov.ie.

Finally, this Refusals Policy in no way impacts an individual’s entitlements to access other supports available to them under the BOTP (Beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection order) scheme e.g. social welfare payments, access to medical care etc.

Question No. 382 answered with Question No. 381.

Research Funding

Ceisteanna (383)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

383. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a breakdown of the number of PhD researchers funded by Science Foundation Ireland; the Irish Research Council; the HSE and any other funding body; the number of persons in receipt of stipends directly from higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33332/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I can only respond to the Deputy’s question in terms of the student numbers supported by my Department through Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, and on student numbers as reported by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the latest Higher Education Research and Development Survey (HERD) survey. There are many other research funders in the national system, including Teagasc and the Health Research Board. There are also typically a number of PhDs funded through European Programmes.

Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy prioritises the nurturing and development of talent and excellence to build on Ireland’s reputation as an Island of Talent and a location for research excellence and impact. We recognise that the quality of our researchers is fundamental to the quality of our research system and its collaboration with partners in industry and policymakers, both in Ireland and abroad. 

Our priority under Impact 2030 is to ensure a consistent research student experience, regardless of funding source. This reflects the National Framework for Doctoral Education which is being advanced by the associated National Advisory Forum which is co-chaired by two agencies under the remit of my Department: the Higher Education Authority and Quality and Qualifications Ireland. 

A stipend is a well-established feature of funded postgraduate awards globally, providing an income to the awardee in recognition of the need to devote themselves on a full-time basis to their research.

According to the latest data from the HERD Survey, Irish HEIs had 2,120 internally-funded PhD and Research Master students in 2018. In the HERD Survey, 'Internally-funded' includes students who receive stipends, who are wholly funded by their institution's internal scheme (Recurrent Grant), who get only fees paid by the HEI, and staff who are doing PhDs/Master's in their own HEI.

The HERD Survey is undertaken every two years to monitor the level of research and development activities in the higher education sector.  Its latest iteration was published in January 2021 and can be accessed on:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/00d67-higher-education-research-and-development-survey-2018-2019/.

The next HERD survey is currently in the field and will be published in December 2022.

There were 2,022 PhD Students directly attributed to active SFI awards in 2021, as reported by SFI funded researchers through the SFI Research Outputs Survey 2021.  These are PhD student positions that have been funded through an SFI award.

The Irish Research Council is currently supporting 920 PhD researchers across its range of funding programmes.

Residency Permits

Ceisteanna (384)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

384. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) who is the father of an Irish-born child and is anxious to regularise his residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33555/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

To respect applicant confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether or not an application for international protection has been made in the State. The person referred to by the Deputy, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate, regarding the information sought.

The IPO 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 IPAT 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.

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.

Work Permits

Ceisteanna (385, 386, 393)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

385. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when she will publish the review of the atypical work permit scheme which is in place for non-EEA migrant fishers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33567/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

386. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice when the review of the atypical work permit scheme will be completed and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33952/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a publication date of the review of atypical work permit scheme for non-European Economic Area fishers given that she recently declared that it was imminent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33490/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 385, 386 and 393 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for an employment permit under the system operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.The scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the employment of non-EEA workers within defined segments of the Irish fishing fleet and was welcomed as a solution to the risk of exploitation and to guarantee employment rights and protections to non-EEA fishers availing of the scheme.The Review of the AWS for Sea Fishers is a cross Departmental review with representatives from my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As part of its work, the Review Group consulted with various stakeholders involved in the scheme. Observations on the operation of the scheme were made by stakeholders either via meetings with the Review Group and/or submissions received. Almost all stakeholders provided observations on the scheme.

The cross-departmental group recently completed its work and its report remains under active consideration by the relevant Departments, with a view to bringing recommendations to Government in the near future. In the meantime, the Oversight Committee, chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine continues to oversee the scheme as currently structured.

Question No. 386 answered with Question No. 385.

Work Permits

Ceisteanna (387)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

387. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will consent to giving a person (details supplied) a visa that will permit them to work pending the conclusion of a case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33258/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person referred to by the Deputy previously held a permission to be in the State, which was  extended as part of the Covid related emergency temporary extension of permissions to 31 May 2022.

It is open to the person concerned to write to Unit 2 in the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department to request a change of status by email or post at the contact details provided below. 

Email: Unit2ResidenceDivision@justice.ie

Postal Address:

Residence Unit 2

Immigration Service Delivery

Department of Justice

13-14 Burgh Quay

Dublin 2 D02 XK70

Ireland

When requesting a change of permission, the person should provide full details of their immigration permissions previously held and set out their current status and future intentions in the State.

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (388)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

388. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the number of serving gardaí, all ranks as at 1 January 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020 and 2021; the number of civilians employed at those same dates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33326/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion.

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs. 

I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 31 May 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 14,347 Garda members nationwide which represents an increase of over 35% since end December 1990. These Garda members are supported by 3,140 Garda staff. 

For the Deputy's information the table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí at end December 1990 up to end December 2021.

Year

 Garda Members 

31-Dec-1990

10,601

31-Dec-2000

11,640

31-Dec-2010

14,377

31-Dec-2020

14,491

31-Dec-2021

14,235

For the Deputy's information, the attached spreadsheet, provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the full compliment of Garda members from end December 2009 up to end December 2021, and at 31 January 2022 up to 31 May 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. 

The table below sets out the number of civilian Garda staff at 1 October 1990 and end December 2000 up end December 2021. 

Year 

01-Oct-1990

31-Dec-2000

31-Dec-2010

31-Dec-2020

31-Dec-2021

Garda Staff   (FTE)

496

1,729

2,099

3,112

3,168

The information can be found at the following link:  Further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers, including that allocation of Garda staff,  for the years 2010 up to 30 April 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, can be found  on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures  

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (389)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

389. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who are presently on sick leave for more than 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 12 months and more than a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33327/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, unfortunately this was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand. 

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 389 of 23 June 2022 where you sought:
“The number of Gardaí who are presently on sick leave for more than 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 12 months and more than a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. The delay in responding is regretted.
As you are aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I am advised by the Garda Authorities that the table below displays the number of Garda members who are presently on sick leave for more than 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 12 months and more than a year.

Number of Members absent due to Ordinary Illness

Number of Members absent due to Injury on Duty

1 – 3 Months

126

16

3 – 6 Months

72

13

6 – 12 Months

50

24

1 Year +

53

114

*Sick Leave Statistics as recorded on SAMS and reported @ 16/11/2022
Further detailed information in relation to the Garda workforce, including in relation to sick leave and absences, can be found in the Garda Commissioner’s monthly reports to the Policing Authority. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and can be found on the Policing Authority’s website at the following link:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/commissioner-s-monthly-reports-to-policing-authority/
I hope that this information is of assistance.

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (390)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

390. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who are presently on suspension for more than three months and more than a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33328/22]

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.

However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Gardaí who are presently on suspension more than three months and more than a year as requested by the Deputy. 

The number of Gardaí currently suspended for more than 3 months (Suspensions before 20/3/2022)

 

98

Currently suspended for more than a year

(Suspended on or before 20/06/2021)

 

64

(the figure provided for those Gardaí suspended for more than three months is inclusive of the figure for more than one year)

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