Written Answers Nos. 284-291
284. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda cars and motorcycles attached to the Dublin metropolitan region west roads policing unit as of February 2025; and if he will provide the corresponding figure as of 31 December 2021, in tabular form. [6851/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.
The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, at the end of January 2025, there were 3,628 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet, the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána. This represents an increase of over 16% since the end of December 2020.
I am also advised that as of the same date, there were 120 vehicles attached to the DMR West, which includes 98 cars, 15 vans, 2 motorcycles and 5 others (The category others refers to vehicles not classified as cars, vans, motorcycles or 4x4, such as prisoner conveyance vehicles).
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of cars and motorbikes attached to the Roads Policing Unit in the DMR West at the end of December 2021 and on the 31 January 2025.
|
Date |
Cars |
Motorbikes |
Total |
|
31 December 2021 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
31 January 2025 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
An Garda Síochána publishes information on the Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.
285. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda mountain bikes attached to the Garda K district as of 31 January 2025. [6852/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda equipment. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
Garda Management was unable to furnish me with the requested figures in the allowed timeframe. However, my Department has been advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of mountain bikes allocated to each Garda division in 2024. Please be advised that this information is operational and may be subject to change.
|
Division |
Total |
|
Meath |
19 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
|
Waterford Kilkenny/Carlow |
29 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
14 |
|
Wicklow / Wexford |
22 |
|
Kildare |
12 |
|
Cork City |
24 |
|
Cork County |
20 |
|
Clare/Tipp |
21 |
|
Limerick |
19 |
|
Kerry |
14 |
|
Donegal |
17 |
|
Louth/ Cavan/ Monaghan |
20 |
|
Galway |
25 |
|
Mayo / Roscommon/ Longford |
27 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
11 |
|
DMR West |
46 |
|
DMR East |
20 |
|
DMR South |
36 |
|
DMR North |
60 |
|
DMR South Central |
44 |
|
DMR North Central |
28 |
|
Total |
537 |
I am further advised that the purchase and allocation of bicycles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.
286. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on a visa application (details supplied) for a person who was granted a work permit five months ago under critical skills class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6858/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 16 October 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa Office on 19 November 2024.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Deliveryfunction of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions.
It should also be noted that the granting of a work permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not guarantee that a visa will subsequently be granted. There are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at:https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
.As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@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.
287. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if his Department is aware of and if it has concerns regarding covert listening devices being present in public places nationwide and the legality of same. [6917/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department is not aware of covert listening devices being unlawfully present in public places nationwide.
I would encourage anyone with any information in relation to any such activity to bring this to the attention of An Garda Síochána.
288. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice his plans to streamline the process of Garda vetting in order that applicants need only apply once and not multiple times for different organisations. [6931/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I know the Deputy appreciates the importance of this task and I am sure he agrees with the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly.
I believe the many organisations concerned with the safety, enjoyment and comfort of children and vulnerable people understand that they must take all reasonable steps to ensure that only suitable people are recruited and employed, and take this responsibility very seriously. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, parents in particular, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.
I am advised by Garda management that, while more complex cases can take some time, there is currently no delay or backlog in the standard vetting process. The current turnaround time for the vast majority of applications is five to six working days from the date of receipt, well within their target of five to ten working days.
A review is currently underway by the Garda Vetting Review Group which was tasked with ensuring that any amendments to the vetting process ensure it remains robust, efficient and effective while improving the service to customers. The membership of the group includes the Gardaí and officials from the Department of Justice, from Tusla, and from other relevant stakeholders.
I can assure the Deputy that the Group’s primary focus has been to examine the means of strengthening the vetting legislation in a workable and effective manner. I am informed that the Group’s report on arrangements for Garda Vetting is nearing completion and I expect it to deal with issues that have arisen around the re-vetting period and the transfer of vetting across other similar activities, for example with sports teams.
I can also assure the Deputy that there will be no delay in responding to any recommendations made to me and I look forward to receiving the report in the near future.
289. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people that have been given the maximum sentence under revised knife crime legislation since it came into effect. [6932/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister I have role in these matters. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
To be of assistance to the Deputy I have referred this question to the Courts Service for a direct response.
290. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the reason an allegation of corruption by an individual (detail supplied) against the Irish Prison Service (IPS) was referred back to the IPS by his Department; and the reason the findings of this allegation have not been released even though a commitment was made by his Department to do so. [6938/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the policy in relation to dealing with such matters has been followed and the outcome of an external evaluationis being considered by my Department.
Following completion of this process, officials will be in contact with the individual concerned.
