Written Answers Nos. 455-472
455. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee to disabled students who have already finished an undergraduate programme but need to retrain through no fault of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56534/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living financial challenges facing full time third level students funded through my Department, I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.
The once off reduction of €1,000 relates specifically to the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department's free fees schemes in academic year 22/23 and will reduce the student contribution payable from €3,000 to €2,000 in 22/23. In this regard, all full time undergraduate students eligible for free fees and paying the student contribution will benefit from this measure.
Under the Department's Free Fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding towards tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Free Fees schemes, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attainment. Students pursuing a second undergraduate course of study are not eligible for free fees funding.
Subsidised training programmes for graduates seeking to retrain are available including Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative. Information on retraining opportunities are available on gov.ie www.gov.ie/en/publication/89b3c-learn-new-skills-or-retrain/.
I am conscious that not all higher education students are eligible for free fees or student grants and so, as part of the cost-of-living measures, I have, as referenced above, allocated a further €8 million of funding for the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for the current academic year. This Fund provides financial support to students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Applications can be made under the SAF through the Access Office in a student’s third level institution.
456. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will broaden the entry criteria for Springboard in order that persons in receipt of the invalidity pension payment can also avail of Springboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56640/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpringboard+ is a targeted initiative, which is used to provide funding for higher education courses aimed at meeting the need for in-demand skills in the economy and supporting jobseekers to return to employment.
Unemployed people are eligible to participate on a part-time Springboard+ course provided they have a previous history of employment, are unemployed, are actively seeking employment, and are in receipt of one of the qualifying Department Social Protection (DSP) allowances or are signing for credits or were previously self-employed. The Invalidity Pension is not one of the qualifying Social Protection allowances for participating on a Springboard+ course.
Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. A qualifying condition for Invalidity Pension is that the recipient must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. However, Exemptions may be granted for Invalidity Pension recipients to undertake certain courses of study provided the course does not involve an in-work element and provided there is no payment being received on foot of participating on the course.
Not all Springboard courses have a work placement element. If the person wants to do a Springboard course that does not involve a work placement, then s/he may apply for an exemption to continue receiving their Invalidity Pension. Please note these exemptions are a matter for DSP. An exemption will not be granted if there is a work placement. If the person is applying for a course which includes a workplace element, they should apply for the Back to Education Allowance. They will receive the same amount of income support and will be able to revert to Invalidity Pension at the end if required. See relevant page on gov.ie for further information: www.gov.ie/en/service/418e3f-back-to-education-allowance/
457. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of female prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor each night in Limerick Prison during the months of September, October and to date in November 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra458. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of female prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor each night in the Dóchas centre during the months of September, October and to date in November 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56847/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra485. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of female prisoners who are sleeping on mattresses laid on the floor each night in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick Prison, respectively during September, October and to date in November 2022; the reason that this is occurring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56651/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 485 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts. As such the Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time, and the prison system is, of course, subject to peaks and troughs. Numbers are particularly high when the Courts are at their busiest and following the return to a more normal level of Court activity following the lifting of Covid restrictions, committal numbers have increased across the prison system.
Where the number of prisoners exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, Prison Service officials make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.
As the Deputy will be aware the Government has provided significant capital funding to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure. The construction of a new female prison is currently underway in Limerick Prison, this will provide 22 additional female cell spaces. This new accommodation is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2023.
I can further advise the Deputy that my Department has been working closely with the Director General of the Irish Prison Service to ensure both a safe working environment for staff and the safety and security of prisoners in custody. We are also taking a number of short and medium term steps to address the issue of increasing prison numbers.
Separately, the Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. In respect of delivering on this commitment, I recently published the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024.
The review seeks to find the balance between ensuring that people who commit serious crimes receive a punishment and a period of incarceration proportionate to that crime, while at the same time acknowledging that sometimes community based sanctions are more appropriate in diverting offenders away from future criminal activity.
Sentencing is a matter solely within the discretion of the trial judge, having regard to the circumstances of the case and of the accused and subject to any limits as may be prescribed by law for a particular offence. While these proposals do not change this, they are intended to 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 addition, as part of delivering the Penal Policy action plan, the need to ensure the continued availability of modern prison facilities with adequate capacity will continue to be central to the work of the Irish Prison Service and will be core to the development of the new Irish Prison Service Capital Strategy 2023.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of female prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor each night in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick Prison during September, October and to date in November 2022 has been provided by the Irish Prison Service and is set out in the table below. As can be seen from the information provided, there have been no incidences of prisoners sleeping on mattresses in the Dóchas centre during the period referred to.
459. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda CCTV schemes in operation throughout the State; and the number of cameras used. [56141/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration, budget and business of An Garda Síochána, which includes responsibility for Garda CCTV. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.
The Garda Commissioner authorises CCTV for the purposes of securing public order and safety in public places by facilitating the deterrence, prevention, detection and prosecution of offences under Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
Section 38 (a) provides for Garda CCTV schemes operated by An Garda Síochána. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that there are currently 47 Garda Controlled CCTV Schemes in operation throughout the state.
460. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of community-based CCTV schemes in operation throughout the State; and the number of cameras involved which the gardaí have access to. [56142/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, community CCTV schemes play an important role in local communities across the country, providing valuable reassurance and helping people to feel safer in their local areas. This is why it remains a priority for my Department to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in developing their local CCTV schemes, whilst balancing this with proportionate oversight of important data protection statutory considerations.
Since 2017 my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. Eligible groups, including community groups and local authorities nationwide, can apply for grant aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum total of €40,000.
The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also seek a once-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs.
As of October of this year, a total of 36 locations have been approved for funding by my Department to date under the community-based CCTV scheme, with a total of over €950,000 committed to these projects. I understand that in these 36 locations there are approximately 350 cameras in operation.
461. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of camera zones in operation under the Garda safety camera contract; and the number of hours of monitoring and surveying vehicle speed which they provide annually. [56143/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes operational decisions relating to road traffic matters.
Safety camera vans are currently operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána. Under the Garda safety camera contract, GoSafe provide a total of 90,000 hours of monitoring annually.
I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the number of safety camera zones nationwide is 1,363,
Further information on speed safety cameras can be found on the Garda website at the following link: garda.ie/en/roads-policing/safety-cameras/.
462. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure that an application for naturalisation for a person (details supplied) will be processed by her Department [56161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The Citizenship Division have been in contact with the person concerned recently in order to further process the application.
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.
Applications are processed in chronological order by date received. Due to the high volume of applications currently on hand, regrettably, the median time for processing applications is 19 months.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
In 2021, my Department issued 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest number of decisions made since 2015, and reflects positively the significant changes undertaken to date.
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.
463. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice if nationality is granted to applicants who are successful to get the right to remain; and, if not, if their time in Ireland is taken into account in cases in which they make such an application in the future under the undocumented immigrants scheme. [56190/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship. Those persons granted a permission under the undocumented scheme can have that permission considered as reckonable residence for the purpose of making an application for citizenship at a future date once they meet the criteria as set down in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. 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 5 years reckonable residence in the state prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 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 Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
464. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice if her Department implements a retention strategy to keep members of An Garda Síochána in the force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56225/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all matters relating to recruitment and personnel within An Garda Síochána. As Minister I have no direct role in such matters.
The vital role played by members of An Garda Síochána is undoubtedly challenging and we all owe thanks to those who choose a career as a Garda. I am committed to providing the resources needed to ensure Gardaí are fully supported in their work, and that staff wellbeing and retention is promoted.
In Budget 2023 my Department allocated an unprecedented €2.14 billion to ensuring Gardaí have the resources they need. This includes provision for the recruitment of up to 1,000 additional Garda members and 400 Garda staff.
I am informed that a number of important services and supports have been put in place by the Garda Commissioner in recent years. This includes increasing wellbeing supports such as the Employee Assistance Service, which is available to all Garda members, staff, retired members, trainees and probationers, and their families. There is also a 24/7, 365 day telephone helpline and counselling service, a wellbeing hub, peer supports, and the chaplaincy service.
It is also important to note the significant level of interest shown in the recruitment campaign earlier this year and that there will be another recruitment campaign in 2023. This will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, and I will continue to work with the Commissioner to ensure that members of An Garda Síochána are fully supported.
465. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who were hired in the years 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56226/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for all internal Garda HR matters. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions.
To be of assistance I contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that the table below shows the number of Probationer Gardaí allocated to training stations in 2021 and to date in 2022.
|
Year |
2021 |
2022* |
Total |
|
Number of Probationer Gardaí |
148 |
369 |
517 |
*Figure for 2022 does not include 25 trainees currently in Garda College, Templemore (not yet attested as Garda members).
For the Deputy's information, and in the interest of transparency, figures relating to the Garda workforce, including the breakdown of Probationer Gardaí allocated by Division, is available publicly at the following link and updated regularly by my Department:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/#gender-breakdown-garda-members-and-staff
466. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who retired in the years 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56227/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all matters relating to personnel within An Garda Síochána. As Minister I have no direct role in such matters.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the table below outlines the number of members of An Garda Síochána who retired in the year 2021 and to date in 2022, including voluntary, compulsory and cost neutral early retirements.
|
Year |
Number of Retirements |
|
2021 |
293 |
|
2022* |
338* |
|
Total |
631 |
* as of 09 November 2022, including applications on hand to the 31 December 2022.
467. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who left the force due to resignation rather than retirement in the years 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56228/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all matters relating to recruitment and personnel within An Garda Síochána. As Minister I have no direct role in such matters.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the table below outlines the number of members of An Garda Síochána who left the service due to resignation rather than retirement in the years 2021 and to date in 2022
|
Year |
Number of Resignations |
|
2021 |
95 |
|
2022* |
101 |
*as of 09/11/2022, including applications on hand to the 31 December, 2022.
468. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if the case of a person (details supplied) can be reviewed as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56235/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the person referred to was granted residence under EU Treaty Rights as the de-facto partner of an EU national on 4 November 2017. As the EU national and the applicant are no longer in a relationship it is now intended to withdraw the permission to remain granted to the applicant under EU Treaty Rights. A letter issued to the applicant from my Department on the 7 October 2022 advising them that there are other options available to them, based on being the parent of an EU Citizen.
On receipt of the application and supporting documents, the person’s application will be assessed. The person concerned may continue to remain in the State while the application is under consideration.
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.
469. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if she has been shown any evidence that MI5 is operating in the South of Ireland. [56262/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am sure the Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on security matters.
I can say that there is a long shared history between the authorities in both jurisdictions in preventing terrorism on the island and well established mechanisms are in place to support high levels of cooperation between both jurisdictions. An Garda Síochána maintains a close working relationship with the police and security services in Northern Ireland and Great Britain and, indeed, with their counterparts in the EU and other third countries in respect of ongoing international efforts to counter terrorism.
In its capacity as the State's security service, An Garda Síochána remains vigilant in relation to allegations of any activity by foreign security services in this jurisdiction.
I would also make clear to the Deputy that all persons in this jurisdiction are fully subject to our laws and any evidence of breach of the criminal law would be fully pursued in the normal way by the relevant authorities.
470. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of outstanding applications that have yet to be processed under the undocumented migrant scheme which closed in July 2022; and the cause of the delays in those outstanding applications. [56272/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.
My Department recorded 6,548 applications in respect of 8,311 people under the scheme.
As of 07 November 2022, the number of decisions that have issued to applicants is:
|
Total Decisions |
4,333 |
|
|
Positive |
4,221 |
97.4% |
|
Negative |
72 |
1.6% |
|
Withdrawn |
40 |
1% |
2,215 applications continue to be processed and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the application. Applications where there is an existing deportation order will require additional processing.
471. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda Síochána vehicles, by type, that were in operation nationally at the end of each year since 2013; the number that are in operation as of November 2022 and the number of vehicles that are in operation in the Clare Garda Division. [56332/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra475. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda vehicles in each division, by type of vehicle, currently and in each of the past ten years. [56410/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 475 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimum use in light of identified operational needs and emerging crime trends.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which I am informed that €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Fleet Management unit predict that 218 vehicles will reach end of life within the next 12 months. I am informed that the type and quantity of vehicles to be purchased in 2023 is currently under consideration.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 28 October 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 3,297 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of 37% since end December 2013 when there were 2,407 vehicles nationwide.
For the Deputy's information the attached spreadsheet sets out the number of vehicles by Division at end December 2012 up to end December 2021 and at 28 October 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. I am advised that An Garda Síochána does not provide vehicle allocations by Garda Station for security reasons.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
472. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of funding allocated to domestic abuse support organisations in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56333/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for the allocation of funding for domestic violence services continues to be channeled through Tusla.
As this will continue to be the case until services formally transfer to the new DSGBV agency I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.
