Written Answers Nos. 313-332
313. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update in respect of allowing persons studying in Ireland under a student visa to work more than 20 hours per week during term time in order to assist the hospitality and other sectors to fill job vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59937/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectoral stakeholders, in this area.
All applicants for permission to study in Ireland must show that they have sufficient funds to support their stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.
Although the primary purpose for being in the State is as a student, since April 2001, non-EEA nationals with permission to remain in the State as students, on a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work.
This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.
A Student permission is granted to qualifying students up to a maximum of 7 years and thereafter if the student wishes to remain in Ireland they can apply for the Third level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). A Stamp 1G permission allows legally resident Irish educated non-EEA graduates holding an award of a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies. The stamp 1G permission is granted for the purpose of seeking graduate level employment and applying for a general employment permit, a critical skills employment permit or research hosting agreement to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. The Stamp 1G is granted for 12 months or 24 months if a Masters Degree graduate.
The conditions attaching to all immigration permissions are kept under ongoing review by my Department in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.
314. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice the total funding awarded over the years 2020 to date through the Dormant Account Funds by funding amount, organisation, and location in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59956/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the funding allocated to my Department is being used to assist us in our work to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, roll out our Community Safety Partnerships, support victims of crime and support vulnerable young people.
As the Deputy will be aware, a number of functions in my Department transferred to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) in October 2020. Therefore it is important to note that some expenditure was made from my Department in 2020 for projects relating to integration and equality, however since the transfer of functions, these funding streams are now accounted for by DCEDIY.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the below table.
|
Organisation |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (end October) |
Grand total |
Location |
|
ADVIC |
€10,000 |
€10,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
AMAL WOMENS ASSOCIATION |
€10,000 |
€10,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
AMEN |
€18,000 |
€18,000 |
Meath |
||
|
ARCHWAYS |
€442,040 |
€442,040 |
Dublin |
||
|
ASSC |
€20,000 |
€20,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
BRADOG YOUTH SERVICE LTD |
€128,481 |
€116,311 |
€148,667 |
€393,459 |
Dublin |
|
BRIDGE INTERPRETING LTD |
€554 |
€554 |
Dublin |
||
|
BRU YOUTH SERVICE |
€40,673 |
€41,505 |
€44,846 |
€127,024 |
Dublin |
|
CABRA FOR YOUTH LTD |
€56,353 |
€76,219 |
€58,839 |
€191,411 |
Dublin |
|
CAWLEY NEA TBWA LIMITED |
€129,146 |
€129,146 |
Dublin |
||
|
CHERRY ORCHARD EQUINE |
€7,600 |
-€6,000 |
€1,600 |
Dublin |
|
|
CLONDALKIN COMMUNITY RECYCLING INITIATIVE |
€30,000 |
€30,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
COMMUNITY SERVICES NETWORK |
€70,000 |
€70,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
CONNECT FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE |
€15,000 |
€15,000 |
Louth |
||
|
COX'S DEMESNE YOUTH & COMMUNITY PROJECT |
€9,895 |
€7,181 |
€17,076 |
Louth |
|
|
COYNE RESEARCH ASSOCIATES |
€4,736 |
€4,736 |
Dublin |
||
|
CRANN SUPPORT GROUP LTD |
€94,795 |
€93,886 |
€47,111 |
€235,792 |
Meath |
|
CRIME VICTIM HELPLINE |
€25,000 |
€25,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
CROSSCARE |
€426,455 |
€434,113 |
€375,251 |
€1,235,819 |
Dublin and Wicklow |
|
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY |
€15,000 |
€15,000 |
Sligo |
||
|
DONNYCARNEY YOUTH PROJECT |
€103,705 |
€104,866 |
€112,781 |
€321,352 |
Dublin |
|
DORAS LUIMNI COMPANY |
€23,552 |
€23,552 |
Limerick |
||
|
DUBLIN RAPE CRISIS CENTRE LTD |
€150,000 |
€150,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
DUNDALK COUNSELLING CENTRE |
€10,000 |
€10,000 |
Louth |
||
|
EBIQUITY MARSH LTD |
€15,247 |
€15,247 |
Dublin |
||
|
EUROPUS |
€124 |
€124 |
Dublin |
||
|
EXTERN IRELAND |
€616,712 |
€817,020 |
€663,612 |
€2,097,344 |
Galway |
|
GALWAY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATAION CLG |
€151,200 |
€151,200 |
Dublin, Clare, Kildare and Limerick |
||
|
IASIO |
€55,000 |
€5,400 |
€60,400 |
Nationwide |
|
|
IMMIGRANT COUNCIL OF IRELAND |
€35,000 |
€30,000 |
€65,000 |
Galway |
|
|
IOM INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION |
€30,000 |
€30,000 |
Nationwide |
||
|
KERRY DIOCESAN YOUTH SERVICE |
€63,041 |
€52,559 |
€21,332 |
€136,932 |
Dublin |
|
KERRY WOMEN'S REFUGE |
€15,000 |
€15,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
KILMORE WEST YOUTH PROJECT |
€117,143 |
€175,194 |
€142,527 |
€434,864 |
Kerry |
|
LAOIS SUPPORT SERVICES |
€20,000 |
€20,000 |
Kerry |
||
|
LIFELINE (INISHOWEN) |
€15,000 |
€15,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL |
€147,903 |
€147,903 |
Laois |
||
|
LONGFORD WOMENS LINK LTD |
€20,000 |
€20,000 |
Donegal |
||
|
LOUTH & MEATH EDUCATIONAL TRAINING BOARD |
€151,095 |
€151,095 |
Longford |
||
|
MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE |
€40,000 |
€40,000 |
Longford |
||
|
MECPATHS |
€20,398 |
€20,398 |
Louth and Meath |
||
|
MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTRE IRELAND (MFRCI)) |
€28,754 |
€28,754 |
Dublin |
||
|
MONEYMORE CHILDCARE CENTRE |
€38,028 |
€9,854 |
€47,882 |
Dublin |
|
|
NATIONAL UNIV OF IRL MAYNOOTH |
€110,000 |
€110,000 |
Nationwide |
||
|
NAVAN TRAVELLERS WORKSHOP LTD |
€3,334 |
€3,334 |
Meath |
||
|
NORTH TIPPERARY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY |
€32,526 |
€47,988 |
€80,513 |
Tipperary |
|
|
OFFALY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
€32,000 |
€32,000 |
Offaly |
||
|
PALLS LIMERICK |
€22,500 |
€22,500 |
Limerick |
||
|
PARTAS |
€3,334 |
€3,334 |
Dublin |
||
|
PHD MEDIA (IRELAND) LIMITED |
€180,670 |
€180,670 |
Dublin |
||
|
PHD MEDIA (IRLEAND) LIMITED |
€143,250 |
€117,088 |
€260,338 |
Dublin |
|
|
POBAL |
€920,000 |
€625,000 |
€215,000 |
€1,760,000 |
Nationwide |
|
QUALITY MATTERS |
€7,500 |
€7,500 |
Dublin |
||
|
RAPE CRISIS NETWORK IRELAND |
€20,000 |
€20,000 |
Dublin |
||
|
ROSCOMMON SAFE LINK |
€15,000 |
€15,000 |
Roscommon |
||
|
RUHAMA WOMENS PROJECT |
€6,500 |
€6,500 |
Dublin |
||
|
SDC SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY PARTNERSHIP CLG |
€3,334 |
€3,334 |
Dublin |
||
|
SOLAS PROJECT |
€208,000 |
€188,415 |
€521,731 |
€918,147 |
Dublin |
|
SPHERE 17 REGIONAL YOUTH |
€36,602 |
€41,794 |
€46,660 |
€125,057 |
Dublin |
|
SWAN YOUTH SERVICE |
€256,149 |
€112,905 |
€369,054 |
Dublin |
|
|
TEARMANN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
€15,000 |
€15,000 |
Monaghan |
||
|
THE GROW DOME PROJECT |
€9,646 |
€2,704 |
€12,350 |
Dublin |
|
|
THE RED DOOR PROJECT |
€87,275 |
€26,094 |
€113,369 |
Louth |
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK |
€632,785 |
€884,046 |
€1,516,831 |
Limerick |
|
|
VICTIM SUPPORT AT COURT |
€59,240 |
€77,440 |
€136,680 |
Dublin |
|
|
WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY COUNCIL |
€110,427 |
€38,650 |
€149,077 |
Waterford |
|
|
WE HAVE A DREAM |
€30,000 |
€72,000 |
€102,000 |
Dublin |
|
|
WESTMEATH SUPPORT SERVICES |
€10,000 |
€10,000 |
Westmeath |
||
|
WSTCYS |
€69,289 |
€66,265 |
€29,499 |
€165,054 |
Waterford and Tipperary |
|
YOUTH WORK IRELAND |
€594,012 |
€640,697 |
€474,587 |
€1,709,296 |
Nationwide |
|
YOUTH WORK IRELAND MIDLANDS |
€66,000 |
€70,694 |
€85,765 |
€222,459 |
Nationwide |
|
Foróige |
€1,874,902 |
€2,358,410 |
€1,828,426 |
€6,061,739 |
Nationwide |
|
Total |
€6,739,440 |
€8,788,983 |
€5,596,412 |
€21,124,835 |
315. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice if property seized by gardaí and authorised for disposal by the courts can be made available to community groups through the Community Safety Innovation Fund Scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59959/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Community Safety Innovation Fund awards funding from the Exchequer to successful applicants that have innovative and novel approaches to community safety. The Fund provides funding to these applicants to reflect the success of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) that would not be available through other existing funding streams.
The disposal of assets seized by CAB is set out under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Acts. All assets, including property, seized under the Acts are disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer with such funds returned to the Minister for Public Expenditure who is responsible for management of the Central Fund of the Exchequer.
Assets seized under the Acts currently may not be disposed of for a period at least seven years. This seven-year period may only be waived if all relevant parties consent.
Disposal of any asset under the Act may only be carried out in accordance with a Court Order. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Judiciary are independent in the exercise of their functions.
Minister McEntee announced her intention to review the seven year period and a reduction in the statutory timeframe will be considered in consultation with relevant stakeholders and the Office of the Attorney General.
In 2022, 22 applicants were successful in their applications for funding totalling €2 million under the Community Safety Innovation Fund. The Community Safety Innovation Fund has increased in Budget 2023 to €3 million. A call for applications to the 2023 fund will issue in the New Year.
316. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the Working Group to Examine the Disregard of Convictions for Certain Qualifying Offences Related to Consensual Sexual Activity between Men; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59960/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, a progress report from the Working Group to Examine the Disregard of Convictions for Certain Qualifying Offences Related to Consensual Sexual Activity between Men was published on Thursday, 5 May by Minister Helen McEntee .
The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatising them simply because of their sexual orientation.
I am conscious that nearly 30 years later, the damage that was caused by these laws continues to impact negatively on too many people’s lives. While this harm can never be fully undone, I am strongly committed to bringing to Government and publishing a scheme to disregard convictions for qualifying offences prior to decriminalisation in 1993.
Since the publication of the Progress Report in May, work has been ongoing to progress all of the next steps in the report including the development of resources to enable an effective and accessible public consultation. This public consultation was launched on 4 November 2022 by Minister Helen McEntee.
We want to ensure that any potential scheme is as effective and accessible as possible so that we can exonerate those impacted by these outdated laws and address some of the lingering harms of the past.
As part of the consultation, affected persons and representative organisations are being asked to provide input on a number of key issues, based on their lived experience. Their responses will inform the final recommendations of the Working Group who are examining the development of a scheme of disregard convictions for consensual sexual activity between men prior to decriminalisation in 1993.
Following the close of the consultation, the Working Group will prepare a summary report which will give an overview of the submissions received, identifying key themes that will inform the final recommendations of the Working Group.
The deadline for completion of the survey is 5pm on Friday 9 December 2022 and I would encourage any of the affected men, their families, loved ones and the wider LGBTQ+ community to engage with this consultation before the closing date.
317. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the discussions that she has had to date with unions representing civilian staff working with An Garda Síochána in advance of drafting of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill; if it is intended to change the terms and conditions of such staff; if she will meet the unions to discuss this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59975/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill was approved for publication by Government on 22 November 2022.
The Bill, as part of a suite of proposals to empower the Garda Commissioner as a “true CEO” to lead the organisation and drive change, provides for the Garda Commissioner to recruit Garda staff directly to An Garda Síochána as public servants, as he does with respect to sworn Garda members, thereby creating an integrated single workforce. At present Garda staff are recruited into the general civil service and then assigned to work in An Garda Síochána.
This change was recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI), who considered that the current arrangements were not conducive to developing a common mission within the organisation or a framework for career progression for Garda staff. A single workforce, supported by tailored training, will enable the different skills and perspectives of Garda members and staff alike to be leveraged in order to enhance the capacity of the organisation to deliver better policing outcomes. It will promote and foster the idea of a career in An Garda Síochána for all Garda personnel, and attract candidates interested specifically in such a career, and the opportunity to contribute to its mission and service to the community.
CoFPI’s report and recommendations were informed by extensive consultations including with trade unions and representative bodies representing members and staff.
It is important to note that no changes to the terms and conditions of existing staff will take place solely as a result of the commencement of this legislation. The Bill, which is expected to become law next year with commencement in January 2024, sets out clearly that their terms and conditions are fully protected. Any change in their Civil Service status is subject to the Minister engaging with the trade unions and staff associations concerned and considering any representations made by them prior to making an order altering their status.
Preliminary dialogue has taken place between my Department, Garda management and staff trade unions and associations in relation to these changes. My Department is available to engage further with the staff representatives on these important matters and fully expects to do so as this process develops.
318. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in County Kildare who have received additional training to deal with domestic violence; the stations these gardaí are based at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59989/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand.
319. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Justice the arrangements that have been put in place for persons who want to open a bank account who do not have a passport or driving licence, who before October 2022, were able to get a Garda form ML10 stamped by a member of An Garda Síochána on production of other forms of proof of identity, and it was accepted as proof of identity for financial institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59997/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs background for the Deputy, the ML10 form was rescinded by An Garda Síochána on 5 August 2022. The forms had originally been introduced to support provisions under Section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 which were repealed when the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 was introduced. The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) formed the view that there was insufficient legal basis to support continued use of the forms.
The Deputy may be aware that the identity management framework in the State is spread across several Departments and bodies including Social Protection, Foreign Affairs and Transport.
I am advised that the Financial Intelligence Unit engaged on plans of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau to rescind the ML10 with the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland and engaged separately with the Irish League of Credit Unions, Credit Union Development Association, Credit Union Managers Association and PAYAC.
The 2010 Act does not specify the types of documentation to be used by designated businesses (either financial or non-financial) for customer due diligence (including identification and verification) purposes.
The Central Bank of Ireland has issued Anti-Money Laundering guidelines which are available on their website – www.centralbank.ie/docs/default-source/regulation/amld-/guidance/anti-money-laundering-and-countering-the-financing-of-terrorism-guidelines-for-the-financial-sector.pdf?sfvrsn=9.
The Central Bank is the competent authority responsible for supervising financial institutions under the 2010 Act.
The Central Bank has not included prescriptive / definitive examples of documentation that it considers would satisfy customer identification and verification requirements. It says that firms, in applying a risk-based approach, should maintain their own lists of documents, which they will accept, in satisfaction of this obligation and in accordance with relevant sections 33 to 39 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, as amended, that set out obligations on customer due diligence.
Firms that are subject to regulation for money laundering purposes should set out in their written policies and procedures (which each designated business must have under section 54 of the Act) the documents and information which they are willing to accept and the circumstances under which they are willing to accept them in order to identify and verify the identity of their customer in circumstances where due diligence purposes must be carried out. Firms should retain records evidencing identity in either paper or electronic format. It is a matter for designated businesses to set out their policies and procedures in relation to identification and verification of their customers and to satisfy their supervisory body (in the case of credit and financial institutions this is the Central Bank) as to the adequacy of the arrangements.
The Banking Payments Federation of Ireland also publish guidance on documents that may be acceptable for the purposes of identification and verification in the context of customer due diligence. The guidance is available on their website - bpfi.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Final-BPFI-Guide-to-Opening-Bank-Accounts-in-Ireland-for-Protection-Applicants-Final.pdf.
This guidance indicates that while passport and EU or Irish driving licence are accepted as standard forms of proof of identity, a bank will accept alternative documents as proof of identity, if the applicant does not have either a passport or a driving licence. These include, for example: Irish Residence Permit; Temporary Residence Certificate or Irish Government Travel Document (UN Issued.)
320. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify the position of a person on a graduate visa 1G; if any restrictions are placed on such a visa holder when applying for jobs in the State; if they can seek an extension of the visa; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Stamp 1G is granted or renewed under the Third Level Graduate Programme where the graduate satisfies the immigration authorities that he or she has taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment, for example, attendance at job interviews, signing up with graduate employment agencies etc.
The Third Level Graduate Programme provides that when an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may qualify for a Stamp 1G for 12 months. Where an individual receives an award at Level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a Stamp 1G for up to 24 months subject to the overall limit of 8 years on student conditions that applies.
Graduates at level 9 NFQ or above who qualify for a Stamp 1G permission will be granted the permission for 12 months initially. This can be renewed for a further period of twelve months, subject to the overall eight year limit on student conditions not being exceeded.
It is open to a prospective employer to make an application for an employment permit on behalf of the Stamp 1G graduate, and where the employment permit is granted they can register the permit at their local registration office where they will be issued with a stamp 1 immigration permission.
321. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 293 of 24 November 2022, if a person (details supplied) who has refugee status can avail of an alternative process in order to have their married name reflected on their permission and other documents due to safety issues relating to them contacting their country of origin for an updated passport. [60035/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by my Department that the person concerned made an email based request on 15 July, 2022 to have the name reflected in their refugee declaration amended in line with their married name. In an email response of the same date, the person concerned was advised that it was not the practice of my Department to amend a refugee declaration in such a manner.
I can also advise the Deputy that my Department’s response of 15 July, 2022 made no reference to the person concerned being required to engage with the consular authorities of their country of origin for the purposes of procuring an updated passport.
In circumstances such as those outlined by the Deputy, the person should provide the details in their marriage certificate along with the details contained in their refugee declaration to interested State parties.
322. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and nature of the work involved; the qualifying criteria that was applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60086/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department procures goods and services in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and in line with Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).
Information regarding contracts without a current competitive process and deemed non-compliant is published in the annual Appropriation Accounts in 2020 and 2021, extracts of which are set out below.
2020
The Department is compliant with the exception of nineteen contracts in excess of €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) undertaken without competitive process, totalling €4,685,469 as set out below. These contracts are considered non-compliant as they were extended beyond the original contract date without a new competitive process or project. The situation in respect of those contracts at the time of the Appropriation Account was as follows:
- Three contracts with a value of €429,943 have now been awarded.
- Thirteen contracts with a value of €3,789,017 are already in the tender process or making the necessary preparations to go to the market as soon as possible.
- Three contracts with a value of €466,509 were extended to allow for transition to new systems.
Further details of these contracts are set out in the table below.
|
Supplier |
Nature of Contract |
|
Word Perfect |
Translation and interpretation services |
|
Vodafone |
Mobile telephone services |
|
Atos IT Solutions & Services Ltd. |
Support and maintenance of immigration service IT systems |
|
Accenture |
Support and maintenance of Department’s IT systems |
|
Accenture |
Support and maintenance of immigration service IT systems |
|
Eir |
Telephonists services |
|
Arkphire Security Ltd. |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems |
|
Grosvenor |
Commercial cleaning |
|
Deloitte Ireland LLP |
Support and maintenance of immigration service IT systems |
|
Kantar Media |
Evidence based media analysis |
|
Virgin Media Ireland Ltd. |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Derrycourt |
Commercial cleaning |
|
Eir |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Codex Ltd. |
Office stationery supplies |
|
Capita |
Provision of managed services for the Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Momentum Support |
Commercial cleaning |
|
Vodafone |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Eurotext |
Translation services |
|
Shepherds Funeral Supplies |
Mortuary services for Office of the State Pathologist |
2021
The Department is compliant with the exception of eighteen contracts in excess of €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) undertaken without a competitive process, totalling €8,081,078 (exclusive of VAT) as set out below. These contracts are considered non-compliant as they were extended beyond the original contract date without a new competitive process or project. The situation in respect of those contracts at the time of the Appropriation Account was as follows:
- Three contracts with a combined value of €4.2 million have been replaced by new contracts that were competitively procured.
- Competitions to replace eleven contracts with a combined value of €3 million are already in the tender process or the necessary preparations are being made to go to the market as soon as possible.
- Three contracts with a combined value of €788,000 were extended to allow for transition to new systems and
- One contract with a value of €64,000 was extended to facilitate a move to a new site.
Further details of these contracts are set out in the table below.
|
Supplier |
Nature of Contract |
|
Capita |
Provision of managed services for the Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Accenture |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems |
|
Arkphire Security Ltd. |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems |
|
Atos IT Solutions & Services Ltd. |
Support and maintenance of immigration service IT systems |
|
Grosvenor |
Commercial cleaning |
|
Eir |
Telephonists services |
|
Derrycourt |
Commercial cleaning |
|
Virgin Media Ireland Ltd. |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Word Perfect |
Translation and interpretation services |
|
Eir |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Vodafone |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Glenbeigh Records Management |
File storage services |
|
Accenture |
Support and maintenance of immigration service IT systems |
|
Shepherds Funeral Supplies |
Mortuary services for Office of the State Pathologist |
|
Bidvest Noonan (ROI) LTD. |
Security Services |
|
Vodafone |
Support and maintenance of Department's IT systems and networks |
|
Kantar Media |
Evidence based media analysis |
|
Eurotext |
Translation Services |
2022
Information for 2022 is collated after year-end as part of the preparation of the 2022 Appropriation Account and is not yet available.
323. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of incidents of fraudulent insurance claims reported by the insurance industry to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, by the insurance industry. [60105/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Fraudulent Claims |
74 |
61 |
51 |
59 |
324. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when the retirement age for gardaí at Garda and Sergeant rank will be increased taking into account the need to retain Members in view of the slowdown in recruitment and the urgent need to increase Garda numbers in Garda Divisions throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of the Garda retirement age is ongoing and it is hoped it will be finalised shortly. As Garda retirement ages are governed by both primary and secondary legislation, any proposals to amend such legislation would require Government approval.
325. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the recruitment targets for An Garda Síochána set for 2022 and the intake to date; the recruitment target for 2023; if any particular measures will be implemented to increase numbers entering An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60111/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with record funding of more than €2.14 billion allocated to the Garda Vote in budget 2023. This includes provision for the recruitment of up to 1,000 additional Garda members and 400 Garda staff in 2023 and will enable sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for management and administration of Garda business, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff.
While recruitment to An Garda Síochána has faced challenges in recent times, this has been due in the main to public health restrictions in place during the Covid-19 pandemic and in particular the closure of the Garda college during that time. I am, however, advised that 369 new Gardaí have been attested so far this year.
The Deputy will also be interested to know that there was significant interest in joining An Garda Síochána in the 2022 recruitment campaign. I am delighted that over 90 trainees from this recruitment campaign commenced training in the Garda College earlier this week, being the first group to enter on foot of this competition. Hundreds more candidates are progressing through the various stage and clearances under that competition and will enter the college over the course of next year. Furthermore, I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that a new Garda recruitment campaign will be launched in early 2023 and this will ensure a steady flow of recruits into the Garda College over the course of 2023.
326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which legally held gun club licence holders are likely to not be impeded by legislation now being considered; if recognition is given to the excellent records of such operators in ensuring the safety and compliance with legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the Deputy is referring to the proposed new section 3DA of the Firearms Act 1925, which was approved as a new section 10 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 at Committee Stage in the Dáil on 8 November 2022.The proposed new section 3DA (2) of the Firearms Act 1925 provides that three months after the section comes into operation, any firearm certificate for a semi-automatic centre-fire rifle that was first granted after 18 September 2015, shall stand revoked. Persons who held a firearms certificate for these types of rifles before 18 September 2015 will continue to be able to renew their certificates. This section is proposed on public safety grounds, in line with a previous public announcement by the then Minister on 18 September 2015. The cap on new licences for semi-automatic centre fire rifles was among a number of measures identified during the substantial review of firearms licensing undertaken between 2014 and 2015; this included consultation with the public, stakeholders and the relevant Oireachtas Committee. This measure has also been a long standing recommendation of An Garda Síochána.
I acknowledge the dedication and responsibility of the owners of legally held firearms in the State, however, I share the concerns of An Garda Síochána in relation to public safety. Firearms certificate holders who obtained firearms certificates in respect of semi-automatic centre fire rifles after 18 September 2015, will have their certificate revoked. The intention to revoke such certificates has been public since the Minister’s announcement in 2015, and in the intervening period steps were taken to raise awareness that any new certificates for these firearms stood to be revoked when the cap was introduced. The Commissioner’s Guidelines on the Practical Application and Operation of the Firearms Acts, which are publicly available, directs licencing officers and applicants to consider the upcoming restriction when an application to be licenced for one of these rifles is made. My Department has also advised Registered Firearms Dealers seeking to import these rifles that they would become unlicensable when the new legislation was enacted.
I believe that this is an appropriate and balanced measure given that it is forward looking from the then Minister’s public announcement in 2015 and not retrospective from before that date.
327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if stamp 4 status will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60131/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectorial stakeholders, in this area.
A student's primary purpose for being in the State is to study. However, since April 2001, non-EEA students with an immigration Stamp 2 permission, and who are enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work.
This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.
The Stamp 2 permission will typical expire shortly after the conclusion of the course. The person will then need to apply for an employment permit, leave the state or seek a change of permission to a Stamp 1G.
A Stamp 1G indicates that a person has permission to look for employment in the State under the Third Level Graduate Programme. When an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may qualify for a Stamp 1G for 12 months. Where an individual receives an award at Level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a Stamp 1G for up to 24 months subject to the overall limit of 8 years on student conditions that applies. Graduates at level 9 NFQ or above who qualify for a Stamp 1G permission will be granted the permission for 12 months initially, further details are available on my Department's website at www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/.
Where an individual has obtained employment and prior to the expiry of their Stamp 1G permission, it is open to the employer to submit an application for an employment permit subject to meeting the criteria. Further details available are available at: www.enterprise.gov.ie. A person must hold a critical skills employment permit for 2 years or a general employment permit for 5 years before eligibility for a Stamp 4 immigration permission arises.
328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) will be granted naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60136/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously advised to the Deputy in Dáil question number 337 on 6 October 2022, there is no record of a current application for naturalisation for the person cited by the Deputy.
The person concerned previously applied for naturalisation in 2018 however that was refused on the grounds of not meeting the criteria. Citizenship division wrote to the person on 22 October 2022 explaining the refusal.
The statutory conditions for naturalisation set out in the Irish Nationality & Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, require, among other criteria, that an applicant have a period of 1 year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of application. In addition, an applicant must have four years residence in the State during the 8 years immediately preceding that period. In the case of an application based on being the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen the Act reduces this further period to 2 years during the preceding 4 years.
If the person cited by the Deputy wishes to be granted citizenship then they will need to make a further application for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation.
To maintain the integrity of the file on record, Citizenship division do not return documentation submitted. However, the person concerned may request all relevant documents previously submitted to be associated with their new application.
If the Deputy has further information I would encourage him to correspondent with 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 speedily without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
329. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Insurance Authority makes comparisons between valid, existing, to be discontinued policies and other policies available on its website where currently it only presents comparisons between policies which may be purchased for the year ahead but does not provide a comparison tool against a customer's existing policy where that policy has been discontinued in the next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60094/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market in Ireland. Their functions include the provision of information to consumers regarding their rights and health insurance plans and benefits.
The HIA provides a free to use service for people looking to take out or renew health insurance. A key part of their service is an online comparison tool which allows any health insurance customer to assess what plans are currently active in the market. They also provide a customer phone line where people can call with specific queries.
From time to time, insurers retire plans from the market. Once a plan is retired by an insurance company, it is removed from the HIA’s comparison tool, to avoid customer confusion and frustration if they are offered information on health insurance plans that are not available to purchase. Currently there are 326 active plans on the market.
After a plan is retired, the HIA continue to hold the information of retired plans and can manually compare any retired plan to possible current alternative plans across all three open market insurance providers. They are, therefore in a position to compare plans over the phone or send a link of possible plans via email, to anyone that contacts their service, to support the choice of an alternative plan.
330. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will set up a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO-5 given that at present only 15% of the entire area of CHO5 has access to neuro-rehabilitation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60104/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if emergency status will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); if a full medical card will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60135/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
332. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the plans if any he has to review the income guidelines for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59895/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account, i.e. mortgage payments, which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. It should be noted that in November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. This increase helps to ensure that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over qualify for a medical card.
I can advise the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues, such as the current medical card income thresholds under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
