Written Answers Nos. 163-186
163. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the number of people currently in Gaza who have permission to remain in Ireland, or who have visas to live, study or work in Ireland; the steps being taken by her Department to assist them in exiting Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55519/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. Since the start of the current crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, that have expressed a wish to leave. To date 56 Irish citizens and their dependants have been assisted to leave Gaza.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and many of those living in Gaza are seeking to leave. Any decision on clearance for these individuals to leave Gaza will be made by the relevant local authorities.
Where a person has a current permission to remain in Ireland and an in date Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card they are entitled in Irish law to leave and return to the State without having to secure a new travel visa.
Information is not available on the number of people currently outside of the State and present in Gaza who hold an Irish immigration permission.
164. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of ongoing missing persons cases in the State. [55542/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons reported missing in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [55543/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of children reported missing in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [55544/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 166, inclusive, together.
I am deeply conscious of the ongoing distress for the families and friends of persons who go missing. The disappearance of any person is traumatic for their family and friends. My Department is committed to working with all relevant state bodies to help more families find their missing relatives.
Last week, my Department hosted a ceremony at Croke Park to mark Ireland’s National Missing Persons Day. Missing Persons Day is one of the most important days in the Department of Justice Calendar. It is an annual day of commemoration and takes place on the first Wednesday in December each year. The objective of Missing Persons Day is to commemorate all those who have gone missing and recognise the lasting trauma for their families and friends. Missing Persons Day also draws attention to open or unsolved missing persons cases, and creates an opportunity to provide information on available support services.
Last week's ceremony was attended by families and friends of missing persons, as well as a number of state bodies such as An Garda Síochána, Forensic Science Ireland, Office of the State Pathologist along with colleagues from the PSNI as well as a number of charitable organisations.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 1 December 2023, there were 834 people associated with missing persons incidents that are still recorded as missing.
A missing person investigation commences when the incident is reported to An Garda Síochána and is constantly reviewed at Superintendent level in the relevant Garda district at specific junctures within the investigation to ensure that all actions appropriate to the investigation are being pursued and that the appropriate resources have been assigned to the investigation. It should be noted that all missing person investigations remain open until the missing person is located.
The table below, provided by the Garda authorities shows the breakdown of individuals reported missing by year 2014 – 2023.
|
Year Reported |
Individuals |
|
2014 |
3560 |
|
2015 |
3669 |
|
2016 |
3549 |
|
2017 |
3713 |
|
2018 |
3909 |
|
2019 |
4094 |
|
2020 |
3336 |
|
2021 |
3503 |
|
2022 |
4262 |
|
2023* |
4278 |
** As of 1 December 2023, this number of people were associated with missing persons incidents that are still recorded as missing.
While already included in the overall figure, the table below provided by the Garda authorities shows a 2014 – 2023 subset of individuals where the age of the missing person was between 0 and 17 years old on the day they were reported to have gone missing.
|
Year Reported |
Individuals aged between 0-17 |
|
2014 |
1669 |
|
2015 |
1685 |
|
2016 |
1606 |
|
2017 |
1654 |
|
2018 |
1656 |
|
2019 |
1664 |
|
2020 |
1357 |
|
2021 |
1431 |
|
2022 |
1645 |
|
2023** |
1731 |
** Incidents reported 1 January – 30 November only
Figures were collated based on PULSE data as of 1:30am on 11 December 2023. Individuals may have been reported missing more than once in the year indicated. Counts are regardless of the current Missing Person Status (Missing/Found) of the individual. Figures are operational and liable to change.
167. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of prison officers retired from the Irish Prison Service in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [55584/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Prison Service continually monitors the staffing requirements of, and vacancies that arise in, the organisation and recruitment or promotion campaigns are put in place as required.
The recruitment of Recruit Prison Officers by the Irish Prison Service has been ongoing since 2017 and has regard to such factors as organisational needs and exit levels, with more than 1,000 Recruit Prison Officers recruited during the period 2017 to 2023.
To support the operation of the prison estate and ensure that the organisation can continue to provide important rehabilitative services to those in their care in a safe and secure manner, the Irish Prison Service was allocated an additional staffing package of a €6.5m under Budget 2023.
I can inform the Deputy that a total of 194 Recruit Prison Officers joined the organisation in 2023 via nine classes over the course of the year.
I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is provided in table below.
|
Year Reported |
Individuals aged between 0-17 |
|
2014 |
1669 |
|
2015 |
1685 |
|
2016 |
1606 |
|
2017 |
1654 |
|
2018 |
1656 |
|
2019 |
1664 |
|
2020 |
1357 |
|
2021 |
1431 |
|
2022 |
1645 |
|
2023** |
1731 |
|
Retirement Type* |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Compulsory Age 60 |
31 |
26 |
|
Ill Health Retirement |
10 |
12 |
|
Normal Age 50-59 |
57 |
66 |
|
Total |
98 |
104 |
* The following information should be noted.
• Prison Officers who have 30 years of actual service can retire between the age of 50 and up to before their 55th birthday.
• Prison Officers may retire at any time from their 55th birthday and up to before their 60th birthday regardless of service.
• Prison Officers must retire on their 60th birthday, the age of compulsory retirement for Prison Officers.
• Prison Officers can retire due to ill health retirement at any stage of their service. Ill health retirement is only granted on foot of a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer.
168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she expects the recently announced additional 40 unmarked Garda cars and 38 additional marked Garda cars to be in the Garda fleet before end of 2023. [55599/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
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 role in such matters.
However, I can inform the Deputy that as of 30 November there were 3,447 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet which represents an increase of almost 11% since the end of 2020, and is the highest number of vehicles attached to the Garda fleet ever.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that some additional vehicles will come into the fleet before the end of 2023. I am further advised that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. The allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.
169. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice for an overview of the main law reforms initiated by her Department since 27 June 2020. [55612/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince my appointment as Minister for Justice I have led a programme of reform which is set out in the Programme for Government and in each annual Justice Plan since my appointment.
I have increased investment into An Garda Síochána to the highest ever level. This has allowed for sustained, ongoing investment into Garda Recruitment after the forced closure of the Garda College during Covid-19.
On recruitment, numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with attestations every 3 months - 135 trainees entered the training college in February, 154 entered in May, 174 entered in July, and another 177 entered the college In October, the largest intake since Covid. This means that nearly 500 trainees are currently in the system, with one more class due into Templemore in late December. We are on track to have between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college in 2023. We are now seeing an acceleration in the numbers entering the Garda College following its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic, with almost 5,000 applications to join the Gardaí this year. 237 new Gardaí have attested so far this year. The next Attestation is scheduled for 15 December, which will see a further 151 Gardaí attested. The significant increase in Garda staff has also freed up 900 Garda members to be redeployed to frontline duties. A new Garda Recruitment Competition will open again in the coming weeks.
To support recruitment we are:
• Increasing the Garda training allowance by 66% (to €305 per week)
• Increasing the age of entry into the Gardaí to from 35 to 50
• Providing €6m for Garda wellbeing initiatives, additional medical costs and over 2,500 units of body armour.
• This investment has enabled:
• Over 13,000 mobility devices- the highest ever – allowing Gardaí to conduct policing tasks outside of the station
• Over 3,400 Garda vehicles – the largest fleet of vehicles in the organisation’s history and a 31% increase since 2015
• Increased welfare and mental health supports
• Major investment in new and refurbished stations
• And a new, more practical operational uniform.
• Budget 2024 provided funding for:
• 800-1000 Garda recruits
• A 25% increase in the overtime budget
• A 66% increase in the training allowance (to €305 per week) to support recruitment€6m provided for Garda wellbeing initiatives, additional medical costs and over 2,500 units of body armour.
• A new national centre of excellence in Dublin for the Garda Dog Unit, with the planned expansion to all Garda regions on a phased basis involving 50 handlers with access to 100 dogs of different capabilities.
• As part of the government’s plan to modernise and strengthen An Garda Síochána, A Policing Service for our Future, the Garda Commissioner has developed a Garda Reserve Strategy 2021-202, which provides a roadmap for the development of this important service. A priority is a new recruitment campaign, which An Garda Síochána advise is expected to be held around Easter time 2024. The Department of Justice is currently engaging with An Garda Síochána on revisions to the regulations governing the Reserve ahead of the commencement of this recruitment process.
• I published the Government’s Zero Tolerance plan to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence in June 2022. The Strategy is an ambitious, five-year, whole-of-Government programme of reform and its publication was accompanied by a detailed implementation plan covering the first 18 months, with yearly implementation plans thereafter. This will ensure the strategy is a living document and emerging issues can be incorporated.
• There is a huge body of work underway. Key elements include a range of policies and legislation, as well as increases in budgetary allocations:
• Key to delivering on its ambition is the establishment of the new statutory based DSGBV Agency will bring the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue, which will be operational early next year.
• Under Budget 2024, an additional €10m in funding for combatting DSGBV has been allocated which will support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance plan - including by facilitating the establishment of the new agency. It will also assist the agency in meeting the acute needs for services throughout the country.
• The doubling of the overall number of refuge units over the lifetime of the Strategy. To achieve this we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year. Development of up to 36 refuge units is underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. There will be 98 refuge units in priority locations delivered by end 2025 along with a further 19 additional and upgraded units by the end of the strategy.
• Under the current implementation plan there are 144 actions assigned to various Departments, the majority of which have, or are, progressing in line with the specified timeframes.
• For example, legislation to establish the new domestic, sexual and gender based violence agency has been recently enacted.
• The Family Courts Bill 2022, published on 1 December 2022, provides for the creation of new dedicated Family Courts as divisions within the existing court structure - so we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work.
• The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 5th April 2023 and provides for stronger supervision of sex offender post release.
• Legislation has been enacted to double to maximum sentence for assault causing harm to 10 years
• The Sexual Violence Survey 2022 was published by the CSO providing high quality national prevalence data on sexual violence.
• Awareness campaigns on intimate image abuse and victims of crime have been produced, with another on consent campaign currently underway. Many of the actions in the Strategy are focused enhanced support for victims. The provision of legal aid and legal advice, trauma-informed training, and national awareness campaigns are all provided for.
• I have introduce and enacted a number of important reforms, including:
• Enacted the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency Bill which will establish a statutory agency under the remit of the Department of Justice dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and supporting victims and survivors.
• Enacted the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which contains measures targeting violent and organised crime, violence against Gardaí and also has a particular focus on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence:
• increasing the maximum penalty for assault causing harm – one of the most commonly prosecuted violent offences – from 5 years to 10 years
• introducing a new standalone offence of non-fatal strangulation, which can be a precursor to murder in domestic abuse situations. These changes will give judges a wider range of sentencing options to consider when addressing the more serious of assault causing harm and domestic abuse cases
• introducing a standalone offence of stalking and strengthening the law around harassment. While any person can be a victim of stalking or harassment, they are again common behaviours in domestic abuse situations. It introduces a new stalking offence defined in terms of causing either a fear of violence, or serious alarm and distress that has a substantial impact on a person’s day-to-day activities
• the Bill also provides for the making of civil orders restraining stalking conduct. These orders form an important first step in addressing stalking behaviour as they do not require the level of proof associated with the criminal offences. Not only are they easier to get than a criminal conviction, they provide a means for victims who don’t want to criminalise the stalker, and encourages engagement with Gardaí at an early stage
• it will also ensure the protection of the identity of alleged victims of harassment and stalking in court proceedings. The background to this provision is that offences like harassment and stalking already impinge on a person’s privacy and personal life. Preventing public identification of victims online or in the media (unless they choose to waive their right to anonymity) is to prevent putting victims at further risk of invasion of their privacy, re-traumatisation or causing them further harm
• the Bill will extend the restriction on alleged perpetrators carrying out their own cross-examinations of victims to a wider range of offences than at present (sexual offences), including those including violence, coercive control, stalking and harassment
• Enacted the Judicial Appointments Act 2023 to reform the way judges are appointed
• Enacted the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 to improve post release supervision of sex offenders and to provide for electronic tagging
• Enacted Coco’s Law to criminalise distribution of intimate images without consent.
• Enacted the Civil Law Miscellaneous Provisions Act to rebalance the duty of care and increase personal responsibility for trips and falls, in order to lower insurance premiums
• Enacted the Perjury Bill to establish a statutory criminal offence for perjury as part of our plan to lower insurance premiums
• Enacted a law to remove reporting restrictions which prevented parents from speaking publicly about their deceased child in cases where the child was unlawfully killed.
• Enacted measures to introduce pre-trial hearing to ensure that victims are less likely to face stressful unexpected delays and adjournments to trial start dates.
• Enacted a new law on Garda operating model to more front-line Gardaí, increased visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.
• Enacted new regulations to provide for legal aid to the families of the 48 victims and new legislation for a revised jury selection process for the Dublin Coroner,in relation to the new inquests into the Stardust fire tragedy.
• Enacted and commenced the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 which will facilitate necessary access to certain communications data to protect national security and tackle serious crime.
• Enacted and commenced the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2022, the legislation has clarified the legal basis of the court presenter system and avoided a potential backlog of cases in District Courts across the State.
• Amended the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) with the (Amendment) Regulations 2023, to provide for the participation in and attendance of authorised officers of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) at Garda interviews.
• Enacted the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 to replace the existing Garda compensation scheme with a new statutory scheme that will reduce the waiting times and costs associated with claims for malicious injury to Gardaí or their family members.
• Enacted the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 on the mutual recognition of custodial sentences, which provides for the transfer of sentenced persons between EU member states. The Act also amends and updates the existing legislation underpinning transfers for non-EU states,including the United Kingdom.
• Enacted the Smuggling of Persons Act on 15 December 2021 to prevent and combat the smuggling of persons and, for those purposes, to facilitate cooperation with other states.
• Enacted the Recording Devices Bill to provide for Body worn cameras to protect Garda members, Automatic Number Plate Recognition to detect crime and greater use of CCTV
As Part of the Justice Plan, I am also progressing a number of legislative measures. These include:
• Enacting the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill to overhaul of structures and oversight of the Gardaí, and to provide for the establishment of a community safety partnership in every part of the country – each of which will produce a community safety plan
• Enacting the Family Courts Bill 2022 to establish new dedicated Family Courts within the existing court structures and to put families at the centre of the family justice system (Completed second stage in Seanad)
• Enacting the Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity Bill to criminalise adults who groom children into a life of crime (the Bill was published on 23 January 2023.Dáil Second Stage completed on 31 May and 1 June. Committee Stage to be scheduled.)
• Modernising and updating 200 year old licensing law with a new Sale of Alcohol Bill
• Enacting the sexual offences bill to implement changes to make the courts more victim centred in line with our plan, and to introduce a revised National Referral Mechanism to identify the victims and perpetrators of human trafficking
• Enacting the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill to provide for national and international inspections of all types of places of detention in the state and to allow Ireland to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Prevention of Torture.
• Introducing amendments to the Children Act 2001 to provide a broader range of sentencing options to the courts in certain proceedings involving children.
• Enacting the Irish Prison Service Bill to put the IPS on a statutory basis with enhanced governance structures
• Publishing Police Powers bill to improve effectiveness of police powers with new fundamental rights provisions
• Enacting the new Hate Crime and Hate Speech Bill to reform and modernise the law through the introduction of new, specific hate aggravated offences for crimes motivated by prejudice against protected characteristics (e.g. assault motivated by hate), and up update the 1989 Act in relation to existing hate speech offences
• Introducing a new Proceeds of Crime legislation to reduce the period from seven years to two years, before criminal proceeds may be confiscated and to increase the tools we have available to combat organised crime.
• Enacting the Defamation (Amendment) Bill to reform the law on defamation
I have also sought to implement a number of other reforms, including:
• Domestic violence refuge accommodation was brought under the Minister for Justice for the first time and considerable progress has been made to date towards establishing a new DSGBV Agency, which will be up and running in January 2024. The new Agency will commission and fund DSGBV services, put in place national service standards, lead on research and awareness-raising, and coordinate all Government actions set out in the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The Government’s target is to double the number of refuge spaces in the lifetime of the Third National Strategy.
• A once in a generation scheme to regularise the status of long term undocumented migrant was successfully introduced.
• The development of a new Immigration Services Website that is customer orientated with information available in video format and in various languages.
• The report on the International Protection Modernisation Programme for 2023 and 2024 was published. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as improving the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants seeking international protection. This will give status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria.
• Reforms to the international protection process will continue in 2024. Approximately €34m was allocated in budget 2024 to the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) to continue to scale up processing.
• The IPO expects to have approximately 400 staff by the end of 2023, an increase of 95% over 2022, and will make approximately 9,000 decisions this year, more than double that made last year. This increase in processing capacity is aimed at ensuring that those in need of protection receive that status without undue delay, while those that do not qualify are advised of this in good time.
• Introduced a new accelerated decision process for applicants from recognised ‘safe countries of origin’ in November 2022. Since its introduction most applicants from safe countries of origin have received a first instance decision in less than 3 months, which is a significant reduction from a norm of 17 to 24 months in previous years. All applications are examined fully and individually on their merits, including those from countries which are designated as safe countries of origin.
• The processing time for each case is different as case types and circumstances vary considerably. In addition nearly 14% of cases at the IPO this year relate to applicants from designated safe countries of origin. These particular first-instance decisions are made in under three months under an accelerated process. The IPO also works with UNHCR to expedite applications from a number of countries experiencing conflict such as Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.
• Continue to participate in the negotiation of EU measures related to asylum and migration in particular, the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration.
• Published the Review of Policy options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 which aims to make Ireland a safer place by ensuring appropriate and proportionate use of imprisonment and community sanctions in a manner which best facilitates rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Published the High Level Task Force on mental health and addiction - established in April 2021 to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of people who come into contact with the criminal justice sector. The final report and recommendations of the Task Force were published in September 2022 by the Ministers for Justice and Health.
• The Report of the Judicial Planning Working Group was published which recommended a substantial increase in judicial numbers, with 44 additional judges to be appointed in two phases. There is a current legislative provision for 198 judicial posts. These include a first tranche of 24 additional judges, which were approved by Government on 21 February, with a further 20 planned following an assessment of impact of the first tranche of judges. As of 1 November 2023, 22 of the 24 additional judges have been appointed. The remaining two have been nominated and are expected to be appointed in the coming weeks. The Report outlines that the indicators monitored as part of the impact assessment should be capable of capturing improvements in efficiency and effectiveness and have regard to increased caseloads, changing demographics, economic conditions, and the impact of new legislation as well as improvements from the implementation of modernisation measures. The Department is in the process of establishing and implementation programme, to conduct that assessment.
170. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice when the next phase of Garda recruitment will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55613/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the recruitment and retention of Garda members.
The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings.
Budget 2024 provides €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána. This is a 23% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff and includes a significant increase in the training allowance paid to trainee Gardaí which is now €305 per week.
Nothing is off the table when it comes to ways to improve recruitment and retention and the decision to increase the maximum age of recruitment from 35 to 50 was approved by Government last week.
Recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Garda College due to Covid-19, and we are now seeing Garda recruits regularly enter Templemore.
Numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with attestations every 3 months. A total of 637 trainees entered the training college in 2023. Another class is due to enter Templemore this month putting An Garda Síochána on track for between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college this year.
237 new Gardaí have attested so far this year. The next Attestation which was scheduled for 12 January has been brought forward to 15 December. Over 150 trainees are due to attest on this date and will be deployed for policing duties over the Christmas period. They will return to the college to complete their studies at a later date.
Interest in a career with An Garda Síochána is as strong as ever and round 5,000 applications were received in the most recent Garda competition. A new competition will open again in the coming weeks.
171. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice if she can advise if an issue can be expedited (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55630/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra174. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice if she can advise if an issue can be expedited (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55657/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 174 together.
The person referred to by the Deputy created an on-line Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner) Preclearance application on 11 October 2023. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were applied on 6 November 2023 in the Ottawa office. This visa application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 17 November 2023.
The application is currently awaiting comprehensive examination. As each application is examined under its own merits, I am unable to give an exact time-frame for completion. However, the applicant can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in finalising their application.
The Dublin Visa Office are currently processing applications of this type received on the 20 September 2023. Applicants can keep up-to-date with the dates the Visa Office in Dublin are processing by checking the following page; which is updated each Tuesday; irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The person referred to by the Deputy will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
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.
172. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice with respect to 2022 the number of passengers at all ports of entry refused leave to land; the number of passengers returned at all ports of entry; of those who were not returned at the port of entry, the number who applied for international protection; the other legal bases upon which passengers initially refused leave to land subsequently enter the country; and for a breakdown of these numbers, in tabular form. [55631/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.
The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
I have sought the additional information required to respond to the Deputy's query from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
173. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice to review extenuating circumstances being cited in visa renewal (details supplied) and if she will provide an update on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55652/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that a letter issued, dated 01 December 2023, granting the person concerned, as an exceptional measure, an extension of their visitor permission on Stamp 3 conditions until 16 March 2024.
The person concerned should make arrangements to register this permission with their local registration office as soon as possible, if they have not already done so.
Detailed information on how to register an immigration permission is available on the Immigration Service website at Registering your immigration permission - Immigration Service Delivery (irishimmigration.ie)
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email 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 email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
175. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on a query (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55685/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. A person subject to a Deportation Order has no legal basis to remain in the State. Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and all available appeals processes have been exhausted.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations. However, the Deputy will be aware that the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take account of individuals who have left the State without informing my Department. It is the case that many individuals who are subject to Deportation Orders leave the State without notifying the relevant authorities and this particular category of individual is difficult to quantify.
The table below shows the number of international protection applicants who have received deportation orders, and of those, the number deported by year from 2019 to date in 2023.
|
Year Issued |
Total IP Deportation Orders Signed* |
Numbers Deported** |
|
2019 |
835 |
183 |
|
2020 |
291 |
63 |
|
2021 |
0 |
17 |
|
2022 |
539 |
55 |
|
2023 YTD |
765 |
37 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
**Numbers deported may relate to deportation orders issued in previous years.
176. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice when she expects to publish the final evaluation report on the Local Community Safety Partnership Pilots; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55741/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own community.
I have provided funding of €7.9 million in 2024 for the creation of a new National Office for Community Safety and to roll out Local Community Safety Partnerships nationwide.
The Local Community Safety Partnerships are provided for in Part 3 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023, which is currently progressing through the Seanad. They will serve as a forum for discussion and targeted action on community concerns.
As the Deputy will be aware, pilot partnerships are currently running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin North Inner City. All three pilot partnerships have now also published their respective Community Safety Plans.
The partnership approach is a new approach to community safety and is centred on the premise that responding to the problems and issues related to community safety requires a range of inputs from across government, local services, voluntary sector and, very importantly, the community itself. These Partnerships will build upon and replace the existing Joint Policing Committees, bringing together Gardaí, local representatives, community organisations and State bodies. Pilot partnerships have been in operation for the last two years, in Longford, Waterford and Dublin North Inner City. There are significant benefits to the involvement of outside agencies in developing a community safety plan in each local authority area. It will allow each partnership to deal with issues of safety which are not strictly within the criminal justice system (e.g. drugs, youth services, public lighting, integration and diversity issues).
An independent evaluation had been undertaken since the pilot partnerships commenced, and the final report of the evaluation is almost complete. Once the independent evaluation has been completed, work will commence on an all of Government national strategy for community safety partnerships.
As the Deputy may be aware, an interim evaluation report of the LCSP pilots was published in April 2023 and is available on my Department's website at the following link: gov.ie/en/collection/b659d-policies-legislation-and-next-steps/
The evaluation has employed a mixed methods approach, replicated across the three set time points over the course of the two-year pilot. The methods include focus groups with pilot partnership members, interviews with their stakeholders (local and national), an online survey of partnership members and an analysis of a range of relevant documents and data gathered by each pilot.
The lessons learned will enhance our ability to develop a national strategy and put in place structures that support our shared aim to support and enable state and civic society to work together effectively to create safe communities.
177. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a matter (details suppled); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55486/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to farmers in the agri-climate rural environment scheme for the cooperation project stream considering that participants believed they would be paid in late November; the reason for the delay in payments issuing; how many participants are impacted by his Department's delay and provide figures for same, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55496/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a flagship environmental scheme, namely, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), was launched last year. There was exceptional demand for entry into the Scheme, which demonstrates the interest of farmers to take on actions to address climate, biodiversity and environmental issues.
While it was initially planned to take in applicants in two Tranches, with 30,000 in Tranche 1, a decision was made by the Government to accept all valid applications submitted, and there are now just under 46,000 farmers actively involved in the Scheme.
The burden of developing brand new administration and IT systems to accept all 46,000 applicants has put significant pressure on the ability to pay all participants in 2023.
Officials have been working to expedite payments, but with the unprecedented numbers, it has not been possible to get all participants paid in ACRES by the year end. Payments will commence on December 18th with two thirds of all ACRES General participants in the final stages of being processed for payment in the initial payment run. Due to the additional complexity associated with the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, payments for ACRES CP participants are being progressed and will begin to issue in February 2024.
Everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks.
178. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the situation regarding TAMS applications; the number of tranches that have been opened under the new CAP; the number of approvals that have issued; the funding available under the TAMS scheme, delays in processing and issuing approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55493/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.
Overall, the scheme has proved very popular. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023, with 8,241 applications received across ten separate investment measures (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2). Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 are currently being processed. Once the initial processing is completed, all applications are subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications.
To assist farmers that required the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities, or urgent animal welfare-related investments for the winter of 2023/2024, I provided a priority access facility, and all applications received under this facility have now been assessed. Approvals have now issued to 252 of these eligible priority access cases, and my Department has also been in contact with farmers where there is a query on their application in order to resolve the query before approval can issue.
Non-priority approval letters for Tranche 1 applications have now commenced, starting with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme. It is anticipated that the majority of approvals under Tranche 1 will issue by April 2024.
To address the issue where approval is required urgently, my Department is putting in place a mechanism that will allow applicants or their advisors who have an urgent need to commence works to contact their Department of Agriculture local office. Their application will then be assessed to determine if there is an urgent need to issue approval, and prioritised accordingly.
More than 50% of all investments under Tranche 1 are in respect of mobile equipment. Applicants may purchase the mobile equipment, at their own risk, subject to verification of eligibility in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the relevant schemes.
I also announced previously that 100% of eligible applications under tranche 1 of TAMS 3 will be approved for funding, which is in keeping with my commitment to assist farmers to address animal welfare, climate and sustainability targets.
Finally, I can confirm that, as announced earlier this week, Tranche 2 of TAMS 3 will close on Friday 15 December at 5pm. Tranche 3 of the scheme will open on Monday 18 December and close Friday 12 April 2024 at close of business. This will ensure that applications received since the tranche opened in July can be proceeded with as efficiently as possible, and to ensure that those who need to carry out works in a timely manner in 2024 can be processed, including by according them the necessary priority.
180. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will note the issue is resolved now; the reason this delay occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55501/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for participation in the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and ECO schemes was received from the above named applicant on the 19th of April, 2023.
The applicant requested an increase in the eligible area of a land parcel at application time and confirmed this via the preliminary check response they submitted on the 21st of June 2023. Geotag photos were supplied by the applicant in support of the request to change. The appeal was successful and the required mapping updates were completed on the 2nd of November. The advance payment issued on the 8th of November, with balancing payment issuing in the first run on December 4th.
181. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that recommendation 10(d) in the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs that recommends a ban on surgical artificial insemination of canines includes greyhounds. [55535/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecommendation 10(d) of the report of the Working Group on the Control of Dogs is "Prohibit surgical artificial insemination in canines". The word canine encompasses all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds.
182. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers participating in the sheep improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55570/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), which has now come to an end.
The first year of this 5-year scheme will run from the 1st February 2023 to the 31st of December 2023. With effect from Year 2 of the scheme, the scheme year will run from the 1st of January to the 31st of December annually.
The scheme closed to applicants on 9th January 2023. The number of farmers currently participating in year 1 of the scheme is 18,523. Advance payments commenced to all eligible applicants from 20th November 2023. Payments will continue to issue as applicants meet scheme requirements.
183. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 5 December 2023, if he will provide a county-by-county breakdown of the advance payments issued under the sheep improvement scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55571/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), which has now come to an end.
The Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) complements some of the elements provided for in the Sheep Welfare Scheme, by providing increased support, while also building on other actions beneficial to sheep health and welfare, including the targeted application of genomic technologies in the sheep sector.
The number of farmers that have been paid the advance payment for the SIS nationally is 16,847. Payments will continue to issue as applicants meet the scheme requirements. Balancing payments are planned to issue in May 2024. Below is the numbers of farmers and amounts paid the SIS advance payment per county.
|
County Description |
No Of Applications |
Total Payments (€) |
|
CARLOW |
343 |
€ 514,100 |
|
CAVAN |
406 |
€ 371,015 |
|
CLARE |
156 |
€ 95,605 |
|
CORK |
771 |
€ 880,148 |
|
DONEGAL |
3,298 |
€ 2,615,331 |
|
DUBLIN |
101 |
€ 140,556 |
|
GALWAY |
1,953 |
€ 1,975,791 |
|
KERRY |
1,497 |
€ 2,035,747 |
|
KILDARE |
287 |
€ 507,542 |
|
KILKENNY |
195 |
€ 286,712 |
|
LAOIS |
160 |
€ 191,168 |
|
LEITRIM |
610 |
€ 674,393 |
|
LIMERICK |
56 |
€ 86,975 |
|
LONGFORD |
181 |
€ 182,845 |
|
LOUTH |
197 |
€ 291,230 |
|
MAYO |
2,379 |
€ 2,249,039 |
|
MEATH |
420 |
€ 699,159 |
|
MONAGHAN |
187 |
€ 183,682 |
|
OFFALY |
216 |
€ 281,326 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
799 |
€ 848,507 |
|
SLIGO |
714 |
€ 747,599 |
|
TIPPERARY |
320 |
€ 520,669 |
|
WATERFORD |
188 |
€ 347,463 |
|
WESTMEATH |
315 |
€ 377,920 |
|
WEXFORD |
383 |
€ 568,069 |
|
WICKLOW |
715 |
€ 1,211,740 |
|
Total |
16,847 |
€18,884,331 |
184. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55572/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd.
The programme, which runs for five years from 2023 to 2027, has a budget of €256 million over the five year term, which equates to €51.2 million in each year of the programme. SCEP is co-funded by the National Exchequer and the European Union.
185. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme Sucklers and Beef Data and Genomics Programme schemes in their final year respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55573/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBeef Environmental Efficiency– Suckler (BEEP-S) 2020, 2021 & 2022
Following on from the success of the BEEP pilot program in 2019, BEEP-S was devised to further increase the economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance supporting decision making on farm. The scheme provided support and payment for weight recording and additional animal welfare measures such as vaccination, meal feeding and faecal testing. Successive schemes followed in 2021 and 2022.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP)
BDGP formed part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It targeted improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd, reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production, and improving farmer profitability. In December 2020, approval was received for the continuity of BDGP in 2021 for eligible participants who wished to continue in the Programme. A further annual extension of the 2021 BDGP contract was offered to all 2021 BDGP participants for the 2022 year.
|
Year |
Scheme |
Payout |
|
2022 |
Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme BEEP-S |
€39.2m |
|
2022 |
Beef Data and Genomics Programme BDGP |
€29.1m |
186. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department can take to address the recent EuroStar evaluation changes affecting suckler farmers which has led to many withdrawing from the SCEP scheme and a significant drop in animal values for breeders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55594/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), the body approved in Ireland in accordance with relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle have recently updated beef breeding indexes.
This was the first major update since 2015, based predominately on changing economic drivers such as feed costs and beef prices. A modest adjustment also took place based on earlier slaughter of animals, tuberculosis resistance, carcass specifications and lower methane output.
I understand that prior to the updates, Continentals (Charolais, Limousin and Belgian Blue) were the most desirable Terminal cattle breeds and they continue to be the most desirable after the changes. With regard to the Replacement Index, the top three most desirable replacement breeds (Aberdeen Angus, Limousin and Simmental) remain as the top three after the changes. I am advised by ICBF that 84% of four or five Star animals prior to the changes will retain their four or five Star status after the changes.
ICBF have communicated extensively on changes to the beef indexes, including with breed societies, since the changes were announced. ICBF has recently committed to convening an industry stakeholder forum to address issues and concerns raised by suckler farmers and pedigree breeders and I welcome this engagement.
The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme aims to provide support to suckler farmers to improve the profitability and environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. I understand that animals in the SCEP herds whose Index falls will not be impacted by the changes until the SCEP participant sells an animal that has gone down in rating. It is only when this animal moves out of this herd, that it will no longer meet the 4 and 5 Star eligibility criteria. There is currently no evidence that the changes in indexes has led to many withdrawing from SCEP.
I am confident that the amended indexes will contribute to the overall profitability and sustainability of beef production at farm level and my Department will continue to monitor the impact of the amended indexes on SCEP participants.
