Written Answers Nos. 1410-1429
1410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to indicate the most appropriate procedure to be followed to regularise their position and apply for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); if they are being considered under the international protection regularisation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I introduced a separate strand under the Regularisation Scheme for international protection applicants who had been in the protection process for a minimum of two years; implementing a key recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group. Applications were accepted for six months to 7 August 2022.
Every application received is being assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria. Applications are processed in chronological order based on the date received and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the individual application.
As of 26 August 2022, 3,001 applications from individuals have been received and 1,392 permissions, or an equivalent permission by the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department, have been granted to successful applicants.
Applications are being assessed independently of the application that has been made for international protection. There is no requirement for an applicant to withdraw their international protection application, although some may choose to do so, if successful under this scheme.
Where a person is granted a permission under the international protection strand of the scheme or an equivalent status under the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015, it is open to them to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria set down in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Each citizenship application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received. Applicants are required to have five years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to six weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
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 at 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 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.
1411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed to become an Irish citizen in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43046/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the information supplied by the Deputy, my Department has no immigration record of the individual referred to. If the Deputy can provide further information, my Department would be happy to examine the matter further.
To be of some assistance, I have provided some general information below regarding the citizenship application process.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
Applicants are required to have five years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 6 weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
1412. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the number of solicitors, by county, providing civil legal aid in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [43053/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Legal Aid Board is responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. The Board delivers these services through directly employed solicitors in its network of law centres around the country and private solicitors from its private practitioner panels.
The Board operates a total of 34 full-time law centres along with a number of part-time centres. It also operates 20 family mediation centres. Eight of the law centres and family mediation offices are co-located.
Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made with the Legal Aid Board on foot of which the following information is provided.
I am informed that the Board deals with certain matters as priority matters, which means they receive the next available appointment at the law centre or are referred to a private practitioner. Such matters include domestic violence, child abduction, child care, asylum and related matters. All other applications are placed on the waiting list.
In the District Court, the vast majority of private family law cases, including domestic violence cases, are currently referred out to private solicitors and are not kept waiting, particularly if they have court cases pending.
I am further informed that the Board does not have law centres in counties Carlow, Leitrim, or Roscommon but provides part-time clinics in those counties serviced by staff in adjoining counties. Any member of the public is entitled to apply for legal services at any Legal Aid Board law centre regardless of their place of residence.
The Deputy will appreciate that the numbers employed in law centres and on the Panel vary from time to time and that any exercise to count the numbers is a point-in-time exercise. It is also the case that solicitors may decide to stop doing legal aid work either for a period or permanently, and unless they notify the Board formally of their wish to resign their membership of the Panel, their name will remain on the Panel. The Board advises that it is actively seeking to address this and to keep the Panel as up-to-date as possible.
The table below sets out, on a county by county basis, as of 30 June 2022:
(a) the number of solicitors (full time equivalent numbers) employed at the Board’s law centres (excluding those dedicated full time to international protection, certain torts matters, and the Board’s legal service for members of the Traveller community);
(b) the number of solicitors on the Board’s District Court Private Family Law Solicitors Panel (which deals with domestic violence, among other types of matter).
|
County |
Number of FTE solicitors in law centres(s) located in county |
Number of solicitors on solicitors panel whose office is located in county |
|
Carlow |
0 |
14 |
|
Cavan |
1.9 |
6 |
|
Clare |
3 |
11 |
|
Cork |
12.7 |
78 |
|
Donegal |
2.8 |
30 |
|
Dublin |
20.2 |
149 |
|
Galway |
10.2 |
45 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
27 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
23 |
|
Kilkenny |
4 |
3 |
|
Laois |
3 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
4 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
29 |
|
Longford |
1.8 |
17 |
|
Louth |
2 |
32 |
|
Mayo |
2.9 |
3 |
|
Meath |
3 |
21 |
|
Monaghan |
2.73 |
5 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
7 |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
11 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
11 |
|
Tipperary |
3.6 |
9 |
|
Waterford |
2.8 |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
3.5 |
19 |
|
Wexford |
2.6 |
9 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
13 |
|
Northern Ireland |
n/a |
1 |
While the table includes those on the Solicitors Panel whose office is located in the county concerned, it is open to solicitors who are located in a particular county to provide a service in courts in other counties. It is also open to solicitors based outside of the jurisdiction but who are also entered on the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland to have their name entered on the Panel, and one Northern Ireland solicitor has done so.
1413. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications to courts for orders under domestic violence legislation, by county, in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [43054/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms, and to ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities.
I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to Combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV).
The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance in Irish society for any form of domestic violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it.
As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána play a vital role in how we, as a State, work together to combat domestic violence and support victims.
All Gardaí are trained as first responders so they are equipped to deal with victims, including victims of domestic violence.
It is important to note also that An Garda Síochána has now established a Divisional Protective Services Unit (DPSU) in every Garda division across the country. This ensures that vulnerable victims of crimes, such as domestic abuse and sexual violence, presenting to Gardaí are met with specially trained Gardaí who can provide a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.
A search of the PULSE database was conducted by An Garda Síochána on the 29th August 2022 for Domestic Violence Act Orders which were issued during the period 01/01/2021 – 28/08/2022.
The number of Domestic Violence Act Orders is shown below by year and division in the table below.
|
Division |
2021 |
2022* |
Grand Total |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
313 |
212 |
525 |
|
Clare |
279 |
195 |
474 |
|
Cork City |
572 |
385 |
957 |
|
Cork North |
390 |
170 |
560 |
|
Cork West |
145 |
110 |
255 |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
333 |
226 |
559 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
340 |
217 |
557 |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
1177 |
771 |
1948 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
237 |
179 |
416 |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
869 |
588 |
1457 |
|
D.M.R. Western |
1320 |
839 |
2159 |
|
Donegal |
203 |
152 |
355 |
|
Galway |
497 |
378 |
875 |
|
Kerry |
216 |
155 |
371 |
|
Kildare |
371 |
273 |
644 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
328 |
215 |
543 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
428 |
269 |
697 |
|
Limerick |
425 |
386 |
811 |
|
Louth |
390 |
259 |
649 |
|
Mayo |
137 |
97 |
234 |
|
Meath |
549 |
296 |
845 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
298 |
166 |
464 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
171 |
98 |
269 |
|
Tipperary |
310 |
248 |
558 |
|
Waterford |
311 |
215 |
526 |
|
Westmeath |
231 |
174 |
405 |
|
Wexford |
417 |
280 |
697 |
|
Wicklow |
442 |
226 |
668 |
|
Grand Total |
11699 |
7779 |
19478 |
*Up to 28/08/2022
I am informed that data above is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available at 01:00 on 29/08/2022 and is liable to change.
1414. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice if all victims’ right to legal assistance and free legal aid under the Istanbul Convention is currently being met; the mechanism by which her Department monitors this obligation on the State; and the actions that she will take to redress failures to uphold this right. [43056/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that Ireland is meeting its obligations under the Istanbul Convention in the provision of legal assistance and free legal aid to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and, moving forward, is expanding the provision of these services.
The Deputy will be aware that the Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996, as amended.
Victims of domestic violence can access legal advice from the Legal Aid Board through its law centre network or via referral to a private solicitor. In order to improve access to this service, the requirement for a victim of domestic violence to pay a contribution in order to access the service was removed in 2017.
In June I launched Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, which is a whole of government strategy to combat DSGBV and has a particular focus on prevention, as well as ensuring that the criminal justice system and other services better support victims. It aims to bring about the attitudinal and system changes needed to ensure that there is zero tolerance in Irish society for DSGBV.
The Strategy contains a number of actions in relation to legislation in this area, one of which is the implementation of the recommendations on reform of sexual offences and other legislation contained in Supporting a Victim’s Journey, the government’s plan to make the criminal justice system more victim centred.
Supporting a Victim's Journey contains specific actions, which have been accepted by the Government, to ensure victims of sexual offences have access to legal advice.
It is intended that the range of offences for which legal advice is offered to victims will be expanded and an existing requirement for criminal proceedings to have actually commenced before a victim can access advice will be removed. It is expected that these measures, which require primary legislation, will be implemented in 2023.
1415. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice her Department's position given the recent decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to proceed with additional prosecutions on the need for a commission of inquiry into the conduct of a former doctor and convicted abuser (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43087/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decides whether or not someone should be prosecuted and for what crime. I am unable to intervene in, or comment on, this independent process.
As the Deputy will be aware, in October 2009 the then Minister for Health established an independent non-statutory review - the “Drogheda Review”, to advise on whether a further investigation into the procedures and practices at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (OLOL) Drogheda during the period 1964 to 1995 would be of significant public benefit. The report of this review was submitted to the then Minister for Health in September 2010.
Any question relating to this report or to further processes on these matters should be directed to the Minister for Health.
1416. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in her Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43158/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may wish to note that there are currently two people assigned to work with me as Special Advisers and they have been formally appointed by the Government. As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister of State does not have a Special Adviser.
All expenses are paid in accordance with Civil Service regulations and subject to verification and audit.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below.
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (To Date) |
|
Ministerial Adviser Expenses |
0 |
0 |
€2,380.37 |
1417. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the reason that the use of the swimming pool at the Templemore Garda training college has been withdrawn from members of the community in Templemore despite the fact that this has been the practice for many years and has helped to foster good relations between the community and the Garda College; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including the Garda College and its facilities and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I am however advised that the swimming pool remained closed during the Covid-19 pandemic but that in March 2022, a number of schools in the vicinity of Templemore were granted permission to use the pool. This permitted use ceased during the summer holiday period. However, I understand that it is expected to recommence at the start of the Autumn school term. I am further advised that the use of the swimming pool at the Garda College is granted by the OPW under licence to, and for the benefit of, the local community on a non-profit basis.
1418. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently on remand for theft offences and due to be released in each of the years 2024 to 2026, in tabular form. [43190/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy, that there are currently 156 prisoners on remand with the most serious offence of theft and related offences. In addition, I can advise there are currently 91, 30 and 10 prisoners serving a sentence with the most serious offence of theft and related offences due to be released in 2024, 2025 and 2026 respectively.
1419. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases that the Garda National Immigration Bureau has dealt with in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [43191/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for the management and administration of Garda business, including any cases dealt with by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
As the Deputy will be aware, GNIB has numerous functions, including registrations of immigration permissions for customers living outside the Dublin area; carrying out deportations; border control at ports of entry other than Dublin Airport; and investigations relating to illegal immigration.
Neither I, as Minister for Justice, nor my Department can intervene in an operational matter that is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I have no statutory remit regarding Garda operational matters.
1420. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of motorcycles attached to the Garda roads policing unit that are 1100cc, 1200cc, 1250cc and 1500cc, in tabular form. [43192/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may wish to note that there are currently two people assigned to work with me as Special Advisers and they have been formally appointed by the Government. As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister of State does not have a Special Adviser.
All expenses are paid in accordance with Civil Service regulations and subject to verification and audit.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below.
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (To Date) |
|
Ministerial Adviser Expenses |
0 |
0 |
€2,380.37 |
1421. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to the special crime task force as of 1 January 2021 and 24 August 2022, in tabular form. [43193/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), 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.
The Deputy raised the specific question of resources assigned to the Special Crime Task Force . I hope the Deputy will appreciate that, for operational and security reasons, An Garda Síochána does not disclose such information.
In the interests of transparency, further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers 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.
The information can be found at the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures
1422. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will amend regulations to extend visa-free travel to persons who would be entitled to the residence card of a family member of a European Union citizen were it not for the fact that they already hold residence on another more settled basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43206/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNon-EU/EEA nationals who are family members of a European Union citizen and have a document called “Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen” (as referred to in Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004), do not need an Irish visa to travel to Ireland. Permission to enter Ireland is required, and is given or refused on arrival at the port of entry by an Immigration Officer.
There is no standard wording of residence cards issued under the terms of the Directive and it is for the issuing authority of each Member State to determine if their document falls under the terms of the Directive. Any person that is unsure if the document they have comes within the definition of the Directive, as implemented by that particular Member State, should contact the authority who issued the document for advice.
If a person is entitled to a “Residence card as a family member of a Union citizen”, they should contact the relevant authority in the Member State concerned to apply for one.
Other non-EU/EEA nationals may require an Irish entry visa to travel to the State. Any person that is unsure as to whether they require a visa or pre-clearance to enter Ireland can check the requirements for their nationality on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Immigration-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
1423. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the process that is in place for the selection of candidates for nomination to the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings; if the process complies with rules requiring the procedure to be in accordance with published national guidelines or otherwise transparent and designed to lead to the nomination of the most-qualified candidates; and if it is intended to develop further processes for the selection of candidates in the future. [43212/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the next Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) election is due to take place on 25 November 2022 with the deadline for submission of GRETA candidates on 25 September 2022.
States party to the Convention are entitled to nominate candidates for GRETA membership. The states are required to ensure that their national selection procedure leading to the nomination of candidates for GRETA is either in accordance with published national guidelines or is otherwise transparent and designed to lead to the nomination of the most qualified candidates. The term of office of a member of GRETA shall be four years, renewable once.
I can confirm that the process for selection we have employed complies with the guidelines and that we have a transparent process in place.
Candidates must be experts who will be independent and impartial in their evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties. In addition it aims to ensure a multidisciplinary expertise, a gender and geographical balance as well as representation of the main legal systems.
The rules stipulate that the GRETA members must have recognised competence in the fields of human rights, of assistance and protection of victims or of action against trafficking in human beings or professional experience in the areas covered by the Convention. They must serve in their individual capacity, be independent and impartial, and be available to serve GRETA effectively.
It is essential that the selection process is open and transparent, with my Department advertising widely and in good time and employing an expert Selection Panel with no members who may be perceived as holding any conflicts of interest.
My Department published a public call for expressions of interest in the three main national newspapers (Irish Times, Irish Independent and Irish Examiner) on 22 July in conjunction with bilateral contact with experts in the sector of human trafficking and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and in the NGO and academic spheres. The deadline for receipt of applications was 31 August. A number of applications have been received.
The Department will now establish and chair a selection panel to advise on nominations, with members drawn from relevant Departments/agencies with expertise in the area of human trafficking and from the academic and/or NGO sector.
1424. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff who have been working in Mountjoy Prison in each of the past ten years; the number of prisoners who have been housed in the prison in each of the past ten years; if additional staff were employed to replace staff who were transferred to the training unit in the prison; the number of staff who were transferred to the training unit; and the number of staff who were employed to replace them. [43216/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that for security and operational reasons, the Irish Prison Service is not in a position to provide a breakdown of the staff resources allocated to individual prisons. The allocation of staffing across the prison estate is based on the security and operational needs of each individual prison. The number of staff required is influenced by factors including, in particular, the numbers in custody, category of prisoner and regimes and a range of other factors, including the risks and needs associated with specific areas and particular offenders.
The Irish Prison Service continually monitors the staffing requirements of, and vacancies that arise in, the organisation and recruitment campaigns are put in place as required. Vacancies can arise as a result of multiple factors including internal and external mobility, promotions and retirements.
The recruitment of Recruit Prison Officers by the Service has been ongoing since 2017, a total of 716 Recruit Prison Officers were recruited during the period 2017 to 2021 and it is anticipated there will be a total of 151 Recruit Prison Officers recruited by the end of 2022. The transfer of Officers across the Irish Prison Service estate and the assignment of Recruit Prison Officers to a location is based on the service needs of each particular location.
I can further advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is currently engaged with the Public Appointments Service and has recently launched the fifth Recruit Prison Officer Recruitment campaign since 2016.
The Deputy will be aware a decision was taken to temporarily close the Training Unit in Mountjoy in 2017 in order to repurpose for use as a facility for older prisoners and the staff assigned to the Training Unit at the time were reassigned to prisons across the prison estate, including Mountjoy. The Irish Prison Service reopened the Training Unit as a facility for older prisoners on 17th July 2022, and the required level of staff were redeployed from prisons across the estate.
In respect of the Training Unit the number of staff transferred is proportionate to the number of prisoners accommodated there, the transfer of staff to the Training Unit will be commensurate with the level of prisoner transfers.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of prisoners housed in Mountjoy Prison is provided in the table below.
Average Number of Prisoners in Custody in Mountjoy Prison for the period 2013 to 31 st July 2022
|
- |
Mountjoy Male |
|
Year 2022 (up to and including 08/09/2022) |
708 |
|
Year 2021 |
691 |
|
Year 2020 |
667 |
|
Year 2019 |
684 |
|
Year 2018 |
679 |
|
Year 2017 |
563 |
|
Year 2016 |
515 |
|
Year 2015 |
537 |
|
Year 2014 |
556 |
|
Year 2013 |
537 |
1425. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if a risk assessment was carried out before a person (details supplied) was brought into a wing in Mountjoy Prison; if so, the details of that risk assessment; and the length of time that it took for staff to respond to the alarm that was raised when the attack on the person was brought to light. [43217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners on committal to prison, receive a comprehensive risk assessment.
On arrival in prison, all prisoners are brought to the reception / committal unit of the prison, where there is an opportunity to provide details as part of the committal interview process.
The Governor will consider the risks posed including any risk to the prisoner themselves and any level of risk to other prisoners. This risk assessment will determine the regime necessary to ensure the safety of all prisoners.
In such cases, the Governor may also make a recommendation on the appropriate placement within the prison system, taking into consideration good order, security and operational issues, protection issues, available accommodation and the healthcare needs of the prisoner as well as the safety and security of other prisoners and staff.
On occasion, it is necessary for vulnerable prisoners and others to be separated from the general prison population for their safety. This is provided for under Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007. A prisoner may, either at his/her own request or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her.
I wish to inform the Deputy that the specific case raised is the subject of ongoing investigations by An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Inspector of Prisons. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment while there are investigations ongoing.
1426. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the supports that are in place in cases in which a person who is trapped in a domestic abuse situation in which their life and the lives of their children are at risk; the person or body that they or their family can contact to report this situation; and the way that the situation is handled in order to recover them safely and ensure that they are protected from their abuser. [43265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of such heinous crimes.
I am informed by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána attaches the highest priority to combatting all forms of domestic abuse and to helping and protecting those that are victims of this hideous crime. Operation Faoiseamh, launched at the start of the pandemic, is an ongoing proactive initiative. It is designed to ensure victims of domestic abuse are supported and protected and ensures domestic abuse incidents receive the highest priority response from Gardaí.
Divisional Protective Service Units have also been rolled out across the country and are now available in every Garda division. This means that specially trained officers are available nationwide who will be responsible for engagement with, and interviewing of, vulnerable victims. This ensures that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with specialist professional and expert assistance.
The Deputy will be aware that victims of domestic violence can access legal advice from the Legal Aid Board through its law centre network or via referral to a private solicitor. In order to improve access to this service, the requirement for a victim of domestic violence to pay a contribution in order to access the service was removed in 2017.
My Department also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services to victims of crime, including victims of domestic and sexual crime, within the criminal justice system.
A total of €13m has been allocated to further our work in these important areas under Budget 2022. This includes an additional €2.4m allocated for specific awareness raising and training programmes on domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV), bringing to €5.35m the funding available for combatting DSGBV.
€4.9m has been allocated to supporting Victims of Crime – this includes an additional €785,000 in direct supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes.
An additional €1 million is being provided under the Garda Vote to refurbish the Divisional Protective Service Units.
In addition to the above, a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing front-line services was conducted to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports have been identified and my Department agreed revised funding of €445,000 to ensure that we fill the gaps in supports and categories of victims identified.
To promote more sustainable service delivery and planning, we are also offering multi-annual funding commitments to key NGOs we work with where funding covers staff salaries. These funding grants cover accompaniment to court, to Garda interviews and to sexual assault treatment units and emotional support.
As I am sure the Deputy is aware, my Department is going to assume responsibility for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, in addition to the policy responsibility already held. To deliver excellent services, supports and accommodation and set world class standards, we will establish a new statutory agency with responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence by January 1 2024.
In June, I launched the new whole-of-government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. This new plan has a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported. It sets an overall goal of zero tolerance in our society for domestic violence.
Whilst my Department and Tulsa has provided increased funding year on year to support organisations in the sector to provide vital supports to victims, including helplines and refuges, we know we need to do more and we are determined to do so. This commitment is reflected in the strategy, which includes actions to ensure a victim/survivor centred approach to access the domestic and sexual violence information, services and supports through a €363 million investment.
The strategy commits to the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces – a doubling of spaces over the lifetime of this strategy, and the establishment of dedicated structures and standards to further accelerate the provision of refuge spaces.
The strategy also includes actions which will see tougher sentences for some of the most common cases of domestic abuse, and new laws to support victims and punish perpetrators. This includes examining the legal barriers that can prevent individuals experiencing sexual and or domestic violence to remain at home where it is safe to do so.
We continue to look at strengthening legislation in this area. I recently secured Government approval for the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, which will increase the maximum sentence for assault causing harm from five years to 10 years, make stalking and non-fatal strangulation stand-alone offences, and expand the existing harassment offence.
Assault causing harm is one of the most common charges in cases of domestic abuse, while non-fatal strangulation is frequently used as a tool of coercion, often accompanied by threats to kill, in domestic abuse cases.
Among other commitments in the new Strategy is to work with An Garda Síochána with an aim to improve prosecutions of breaches of any and all DSGBV civil orders provided for in domestic violence and family law legislation.
Other actions include a consideration to review and strengthen the range of emergency Domestic Violence Act orders available to the courts, and to improve the service and recording of orders in conjunction with the Court Service and the police service.
1427. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice the amount that her Department has spent on advertising on social media in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount spent per platform; and the campaigns per platform, in tabular form. [43379/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy on social media campaigns is set out in tabular format below.
Undocumented Migrants Campaign - 2022
|
Platform |
Cost |
|
Facebook & Instagram |
€10,737.72 |
|
|
€6,834.95 |
|
|
€2,156.88 |
|
Search (Google Ad words) |
€1,222.60 |
|
Ad serving and Trafficking |
€1,969.01 |
|
Total spend on social media |
€22,921.16 |
Zero Tolerance Campaign - 2022
|
Platform |
Cost |
|
TikTok |
€2,116.71 |
|
|
€2,335.45 |
|
|
€2,087.90 |
|
Total spend on social media |
€6,540.06 |
No Excuses Campaign - 2021
|
Platform |
Cost |
|
Facebook & Instagram |
€14,052.51 |
|
|
€5,226.87 |
|
TikTok |
€6,273.00 |
|
Tinder |
€30,750.02 |
|
Google Adwords |
€17,603.16 |
|
Ad serving and Trafficking |
€5,575.66 |
|
Total spend on social media |
€79,481.22 |
Still Here Campaign - 2021
|
Platform |
Cost |
|
Facebook and Instagram |
€1,232.46 |
|
Trafficking Fee |
€159.00 |
|
Total spend of social media |
€1,391.46 |
Fireworks Campaign - 2021
|
Platform |
Cost |
|
|
€2,049.99 |
|
Snap Chat |
€2,050.00 |
|
TikTok |
€2,049.99 |
|
Spotify |
€6,264.22 |
|
VOD – YouTube |
€8,835.09 |
|
Total spend of social media |
€21,249.29 |
1428. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full-year cost of recruiting two additional full-time civilian groom staff for the Garda mounted unit. [43390/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, which includes recruitment and the management of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Mounted Unit (GMU) is based at Áras an Úachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and falls under the remit of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime. The operational control of the GMU is overseen by Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services.
Point 1 of the relevant salary scale for the positions referred to is €29,998. Full year salary costs (assuming appointed at the start of January) for two roles would be €59,996 (excluding PRSI and any other pay related or recruitment costs).
1429. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice the number of woman incarcerated in the State, by prison, in each year since 2018 to date in 2022; and the number serving sentences of ten or more years. [43391/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. As a general rule, the court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime but to the individual offender. In doing so, the Court identifies where on the sentencing range the particular case should lie and then applies any mitigating factors which may be present.
I recognise that imprisonment can be very impactful on female offenders and it is generally recognised that non-custodial penalties, particularly supervised community sanctions, play a significant and important role in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing a degree of protection to the public. This is supported by Central Statistics Office figures on recidivism.
I recently published the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 and associated action plan. I am committed to the principle that adequate, appropriate and proportional punishment for those who commit crime is an essential and central element of our justice system, but core to our penal system is also the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration back in to society in order to reduce reoffending.
The guiding principle is clear that imprisonment should be used as a sanction of last resort for those who commit the most serious offences, typically those which justify a sentence of 12 months or longer, or individuals who the Courts determine cannot be managed safely in the community.
The proposals set out in the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 are there to help strengthen the options available to judges when they are considering cases, to facilitate the effective and efficient use of community sanctions by the courts, and to ensure that the courts have a wide range of appropriate options for dealing with people who have committed minor offences.
In particular, the review recommends that to deliver on the priority action to develop and expand the range of community based sanctions, including alternatives to imprisonment, that the following be explored and progressed:
- Further develop and expand the range of community sanctions including the development of diversity sensitive approaches to offenders including the Traveller community and other marginalised groups.
- Explore the efficacy and value of a Bail Supervision Scheme for female, young adult and other marginalised persons.
- Build on the joint Prison Service/Probation Service strategy “An Effective Response to Females who Offend” and incorporate the recently developed “Best Practice Approach”.
- Explore the feasibility of providing a structured rehabilitative response for women.
- Consider the introduction of weekend non-custodial sentences.
- Engage with CSO on further research to enhance understanding of the impact on reoffending of homelessness, addiction and/or mental health challenges and the availability of social and familial supports.
- Promote awareness and knowledge of the mutual recognition and possibility of transfer of community sanctions and measures between jurisdictions in the EU.
I can advise the Deputy that the specific information requested in relation to the number of woman incarcerated in the State by prison in each year since 2018 and the number of those serving sentences of ten or more year is provided in the 2 tables below.
For the Deputy's convenience, I can further advise that the Irish Prison Service collates and publishes the prisoner population breakdown, including those serving prison sentences, on a daily basis and this information is available on the Irish Prison Service website at www.irishprisons.ie.
Table 1 – Number of females committed during the period 2018 to date
|
Prison |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022* |
|
Limerick Female |
205 |
185 |
158 |
128 |
105 |
|
Mountjoy Female |
561 |
709 |
398 |
359 |
304 |
|
Total |
766 |
894 |
556 |
487 |
409 |
Table 2 – Number of females serving sentences of 10 years or more during the period 2018 to date
|
Prison |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022* |
|
Limerick Female |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mountjoy Female |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
* Provisional figures which will be subject to slight change pending publication of Annual Report 2022
