Written Answers Nos. 431-442
431. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of sergeants, inspectors and superintendents within Dublin that are trained in public order, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2503/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 all matters relating to recruitment and training. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.
However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested from the Garda authorities and have been informed that there are 180 Sergeants, 44 Inspectors and less than 10 Superintendents, trained in public order within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR).
I am advised that the table below sets out this information in more detail. I am also advised that the Garda authorities will not report on numbers that are less than 10 for operational reasons.
|
Training Completed |
Superintendents |
Inspectors |
Sergeants |
|
Public Order Commander - Silver |
* |
* |
* |
|
Public Order Instructor/Operator |
* |
* |
19 |
|
Public Order Operator |
* |
40 |
154 |
|
Public Order Supervisor |
* |
* |
* |
|
Public Order Tactical Advisor |
* |
* |
* |
|
TOTAL |
* |
44 |
180 |
* denotes less than 10
432. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases that the Garda National Immigration Bureau dealt with in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2504/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is enquiring about the number of immigration permissions registered by my Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay. The Registration Office is responsible for registering and renewing immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Registrations and renewals for persons resident outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network.
In 2023, 190,045 Irish immigration residence permissions were registered in Dublin. Of these, 69,652 were to first time applicants and 120,393 were renewals.
433. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district within the DMR as of 8 January 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2505/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The tables below, which were provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of vehicles assigned to the Divisions within the DMR by district as of 31 December 2023 (the latest date for when figures are available).
|
Garda Fleet DMR at 31/12/2023 |
Cars |
Vans |
Motorcycles |
4 x 4 |
*Others |
Total |
|
DMR EAST |
63 |
16 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
82 |
|
DMR NORTH |
99 |
14 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
115 |
|
DMR NORTH CENTRAL |
68 |
14 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
86 |
|
DMR SOUTH |
72 |
15 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
90 |
|
DMR SOUTH CENTRAL |
65 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
86 |
|
DMR TRAFFIC |
16 |
3 |
41 |
2 |
0 |
62 |
*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles
434. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to the divisional drugs unit as of 9 January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2506/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. Budget 2024 provides a budget of €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 23% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015. 388 new Gardaí attested in 2023 and were allocated to Garda stations nationwide. The Deputy may also be interested to know that 746 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number to enter Templemore since 2018.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 326 Garda members assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, this includes 278 Gardaí, 42 Sergeants and 6 Inspectors. This represents an increase of 41% since the end of December 2019 when there were 231 Garda members assigned to these units.
For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
435. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases dealt with by the Dublin north divisional protective services bureau in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2507/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the nationwide roll-out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed.
In July of 2022 I published the whole of Government Zero Tolerance Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV). This is our most ambitious Strategy to date and its overall aim is clear - zero tolerance for all forms of DSGBV and the attitudes which underpin it across all of society. The strategy itself is built around the 4 pillars of the Istanbul Convention - Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination.
An important part of delivering on the ambition of the strategy is ensuring victims have access to the full range of supports and services they need and that they have confidence to reach out for help, report what has happened to them and seek the justice they deserve.
Part of doing this is making sure that victims are supported at every stage of their journey through the criminal justice system and there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.
This will ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes, such as domestic and sexual violence, present to Gardaí they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.
In relation to the specific information sought by the Deputy, I am informed that the Dublin North Divisional Protective Services Unit dealt with a total of 423 cases in 2023.
436. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of new marked Garda cars and vans that joined the Garda dog unit in 2023; the number of those vehicles that withdrew from the dog unit during 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2508/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.
437. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice when each of the boats currently in the Garda water unit are next scheduled to be replaced, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2509/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 boats or specialist equipment for the Garda Water Unit. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
The Garda Water Unit is a national resource based at Santry Garda Station, Dublin Metropolitan Region and Garycastle, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 18 January 2024 the Garda Water Unit has two patrol boats, four rigid inflatable boats (RIB’s) and six inflatable boats.
I am advised that these boats meet the current requirements of the Unit and that the equipment fitted is regularly serviced and upgraded when necessary. I am further advised that there are currently no plans to replace these boats.
438. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-time civilian staff working in the Garda mounted unit as of 9 January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2510/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. An Garda Síochána’s 2024 allocation provides funding of over €2.3 billion, which includes funding for between 800 to 1,000 new Gardaí and 250 additional 250 Garda staff.
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 decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. This ensures that optimum use is made of resources and the best possible policing service is provided to the public.
To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that on 9 January 2024 there was less than 10 full time civilian staff attached to the Mounted Unit. As the Deputy may already be aware, data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10 for data protection reasons.
439. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to difficulties with the application of court orders in divorce cases by banks where issues arise with mortgages post-divorce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2517/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Court Order is a written document recording an official decision of the court on the issues raised by the parties to the court proceedings. It can be final (at the end of a hearing) or interim (which is in place until a final order can be made). A court order is legally binding, and must be honoured by any party to whom it is addressed.
On granting a decree of divorce or at any time after the divorce is granted, a court may make ancillary orders under the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 to ensure that proper provision is made for the spouses and any children of either or both of them, as required by Article 41.3.2 of the Constitution. Such orders may include property adjustment orders, which may require the transfer of an interest in property to a spouse or a dependent member of the family, and other orders dealing with financial matters, such as adjustments in the division of responsibilities between the parties regarding mortgage repayments.
I understand the Deputy is referring to issues that arise regarding the enforcement of court orders concerning mortgage repayments and the respective responsibilities of the spouses to a third party financial lender. These matters concern a particularly complex area at the intersection of family law and financial services regulation and will require careful analysis. I intend to engage with my colleague the Minister for Finance to consider how such an analysis might be undertaken.
440. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to introduce regulations to allow for persons serving determinate sentences to become eligible for parole review by the Parole Board as per section 24(3) of the Parole Act 2019; the status of the policy review for the potential introduction of these regulations, as detailed under action 15 in the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024; whether additional staffing and resources will be provided to the Parole Board for the operation of these regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2550/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present, the provisions of the Parole Act 2019 apply to those serving a sentence of imprisonment for life. Section 24(3) of the Parole Act 2019 provides that the Minister may introduce regulations prescribing eligibility criteria for applications for parole for those serving long-term fixed sentences. To date, no such regulations have been made.
The Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 contains a commitment to examine the policy base to allow for the introduction of the regulations necessary to determine eligibility for parole for those serving long-term fixed sentences under the statutory Parole Board.
Policy work on these regulations commenced in Quarter 4 of 2023. In advance of the regulations being developed, it should be noted that all those serving sentences of 8 years will not necessarily become eligible to apply for parole (subject to serving a portion of the sentence yet to be set). The Parole Act 2019 makes clear that the regulations will prescribe a term regarding eligibility that can be no lower than 8 years, but this is a minimum point provided for under this legislation, and the Minister is under no obligation to set this as the point of eligibility. The minimum sentence length could be considerably longer, and will be subject to policy analysis.
This policy work is at an early stage but I can assure the Deputy that matters relating to the staff and resource implications of any changes will be examined in the course of this process.
441. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice for information on the total number of decisions for release made by the former Interim Parole Board relating specifically to determinate sentence prisoners in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2551/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Interim Parole Board was to review the cases of long term sentenced prisoners and make recommendations to the Minister in relation to the administration of those sentences; for the sake of clarity, it is worth emphasising that it was the Minister who made decisions in relation to such matters, rather than the Interim Parole Board.
The interim Parole Board commenced operations in 2001; it concluded operations in July 2021 due to the establishment of the statutory Parole Board.
I regret that it is not possible to provide the figures requested by the Deputy as to do so would involve a manual review of the files reviewed by the Interim Parole Board during this period; however, I have asked my officials to write to you separately on this issue.
I can further advise the Deputy that the Annual Reports of the Interim Parole Board are available on Gov.ie and contain further detailed information on the work of the Board, including statistical data, which may be helpful.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/2e75e-parole-board-annual-reports/
442. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice for clarification on concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to recommendations by the Firearms Expert Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2588/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs background, I established the Firearms Expert Committee (FEC) with representation from firearms users, the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána, under an independent chairperson, to advise on a range of firearms matters. The Committee’s terms of reference were made publicly available.
The FEC held nine in-person meetings, in addition to one videoconference with representatives of the PSNI firearms licensing branch and one final videoconference Committee meeting concerning the finalisation of the reports, over a period of nine months.
The FEC reports were published on 31 March 2023 on Gov.ie, alongside the minutes of each in-person meeting and a summary of each in-person meeting.
Following the delivery of the reports, a consultation process was launched. So far, that process has included an online survey on Gov.ie, which resulted in 1,945 responses, and the gathering of written submissions from a range of stakeholder organisations, including the Firearms Users Representative Group and the NARGC.
The Department held meetings with a number of such groups so that they can feed in the views of their members, and this process continues. This includes a meeting with the Firearms Users Representative Group, including a representative of the NARGC.
At that meeting I underlined the Departments commitment that any proposed changes to policy or legislation arising from any of the recommendations of the FEC would be subject to such prior consultation with firearms stakeholders. Assurances were also given that no policy or legal changes had been made as a result of the report prepared by the FEC and that the Department continued to consult with stakeholder bodies on the reports of the FEC.
The concerns referred to by the Deputy (as well as a number of FEC recommendations that were welcomed by the NARGC), were discussed and noted by the Department. This included the wish for a more structured ongoing dialogue between Government and firearms stakeholders in relation to issues that arise in connection with legally held firearms, and that is something I agreed should be considered further.
