James Lawless
Question:227. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice the fees for citizenship applications for persons (details supplied); and the process and path to citizenship in each case. [23481/24]
View answerCitizenship Applications
Questions (227)
Written answers
The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee is €175.
A certification fee of €950 is then required following a positive decision being reached on the naturalisation application.
The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of recognised refugees and stateless persons, there is no certification fee.
The State has not increased the fees for naturalisation applications since 2011.
There is no provision in the Regulations for a discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities, or based on the length of residency in the State.
All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are no current plans to amend the fees.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals and people granted International Protection where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation will be made.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
Visa Applications
Questions (228)
Bernard Durkan
Question:228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which work permit-related visas continue to be issued in line with the requirements of those seeking such visas; if a quick turnaround can be managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23498/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs process certain visa applications, including employment visa applications, in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.
Following the issuing of an Employment Permit by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a visa required national can apply for a employment permit visa up to 3 months before they intend to travel to Ireland. Further information about how to apply for this type of visa is available on my Department’s website, at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-work-visa-options/applying-for-a-long-stay-employment-visa/employment-visa/
The visa process has a crucial role to play in supporting economic activity in the State through facilitation of tourism from emerging markets, promotion of Ireland as a destination for international education, facilitating those coming here for business and work, etc. As with all visa services worldwide, the central concern in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time not placing unnecessary or unreasonable obstacles in the way of intending visitors.
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 Delivery (ISD) function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
I can advise that the Dublin Visa Office are currently processing employment visas received, in Dublin, on 20 April 2024.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions
I can further advise the Deputy, the Government has approved that a single permit for work and immigration permissions should be developed and implemented, following the consideration by the Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG). This group was established to examine the implications of a single permit; and to develop an implementation plan which would allow for the possibility of opting in to the EU Single Permit Directive.
The IDWG has now reported back to Government that it is feasible to begin implementation of the single permit and to opt-in to the Directive. On foot of this, the Government has recently agreed that implementation of the single permit should begin and that, in principle, Ireland should opt-in to the Directive. The opt-in will be subject to a further Government decision at the appropriate time.
The adoption of the Single Permit is expected to be completed over the course of the next three years. A programme management team is now being established between the Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to commence implementation of the Single Permit. The programme is expected to be delivered on a phased basis, which will aim to streamline existing processes as a new application platform is developed with customer benefits in the shorter term, such as developing a single payment. Short term actions include establishing data sharing agreements and enhancing communications between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my Department, such as alignment of online information.
Prison Service
Questions (229)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:229. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the plans to alleviate the crisis of prisoner overcrowding for prisoners and staff where there has been a substantial increase in the prison population in all prisons countrywide, and in view of the plans for Thornton Hall to be used for IPAS, which was originally intended as a site for a new prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23343/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and appropriate use of structured Temporary Release.
The criteria for participation in the Community Return and Community Support Schemes were reviewed last year and additional prisoners are now eligible for assessment for suitability to participate on these structured and supported schemes.
In this regard I can assure the Deputy that decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.
While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, we are continuing to invest in our prison estate, to ensure that it is modern, fit-for-purpose and has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity.
In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 200 new spaces through the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.
Plans have also been outlined for 4 capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons which can accommodate up to 670 prisoners.
I recently secured additional capital funding of €49.5m to commence the delivery of these very significant capital commitments to allow the Irish Prison Service to address current capacity issues within our prison system and ensure it is fit-for-purpose for a growing population in the years to come.
Preparatory work will commence this year on these 4 key projects as part of an accelerated capital construction programme.
The additional capital funding will also be used to advance short term projects currently being pursued by the Prison Service that are expected to deliver over 150 spaces this year.
I can assure the Deputy that I am also committed to looking at all potential options to meet current and future needs.
The Irish Prison Service retains a strong strategic interest in the Thornton Hall site for the possible future expansion of the prison estate. While retaining a proportion of the site for any future prison needs, the Department of Justice has made the Thornton Hall site at North County Dublin available to other agencies.
I am establishing a working group on future prison capacity to make recommendations on future developments, including at Thornton Hall.
In developing future solutions, the working group will review the previous plans to develop a prison at Thornton Hall and consider the part that this available site can play in meeting the future accommodation requirements of the prison system. It will also have regard to international best practice in effective sanctions and rehabilitative practice and effective alternatives to imprisonment.
Prison Service
Questions (230)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:230. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of male and female prisoners in each prison; the number of prison rooms per each prison; and the number occupying each prison room in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [23344/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that figures in relation to prison and cell occupancy levels are collated by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit for publication on its website.
This information is on the Irish Prison Service website, in the Information Centre, under "Statistics and Information" at www.irishprisons.ie.
The information requested by the Deputy on the number of people in custody, prison rooms and occupancy is set out in the below tables.
|
Institution |
Number of Prison Rooms/Cells |
Prison Population on Friday 17th May 2024 |
|
Arbour Hill |
117 |
133 |
|
Cloverhill |
210 |
474 |
|
Castlerea |
214 |
379 |
|
Cork |
163 |
344 |
|
Dochas |
96 |
167 |
|
Limerick (Male) |
285 |
324 |
|
Limerick (Female) |
58 |
70 |
|
Loughan |
114 |
126 |
|
Midlands |
612 |
970 |
|
Mountjoy |
885 |
1,013 |
|
Portlaoise |
300 |
231 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
58 |
107 |
|
Wheatfield |
464 |
622 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
3,576 |
4,960 |
Prison Cell Occupancy
|
1 Person |
2 People |
3 People |
4 or more People |
Date |
|
|
Number of Cells |
1,943 |
1,076 |
132 |
68 |
Jan-24 |
|
2,065 |
898 |
120 |
30 |
Jan-23 |
|
|
2,030 |
729 |
81 |
11 |
Jan-22 |
|
|
2,048 |
708 |
62 |
14 |
Jan-21 |
|
|
2,107 |
717 |
128 |
19 |
Jan-20 |
An Garda Síochána
Questions (231)
Patrick Costello
Question:231. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications to join An Garda Síochána to date this year; the number of recruits currently in training; the number of recruitment offers made to date this year; the projected number of new gardaí to be recruited this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23395/24]
View answerWritten answers
It has not been possible to collate and examine all the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51:
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 23 May 2024 where you sought:
“To ask the Minister for Justice the number of fixed charge speeding notices issued and paid, by Garda division, by month, for 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
As you will recall, I sought the information from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the recording of traffic offences, collisions and seizures of vehicles.
As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
The Garda authorities have provided me with the below table, which provides a breakdown by Garda Division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued per month for speeding in 2023.
Road Traffic Offences
Questions (232)
Patrick Costello
Question:232. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed charge speeding notices issued and paid, by Garda division, by month, for 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23410/24]
View answerWritten answers
It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 23 May 2024 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice the number of fixed charge speeding notices issued and paid, by Garda division, by month, for 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
As you will recall, I sought the information from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the recording of traffic offences, collisions and seizures of vehicles.
As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
The Garda authorities have provided me with the below table, which provides a breakdown by Garda Division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued per month for speeding in 2023.
The table below provides a breakdown by Garda Division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued per month in 2023 for speeding which have a status of ‘paid’.
The table below provides a breakdown by Garda Division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued per month for speeding in 2024, up to 21 May.
The table below provides a breakdown by Garda Division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued per month in 2024, up to 21 May for speeding which have a status of ‘paid’.
Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2023 to 21 May 2024, inclusive.
All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 22 May 2024 and is liable to change.
Peace Commissioners
Questions (233)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the process involved in appointing peace commissioners, including the application process and the method by which these positions are advertised; the number of peace commissioners in the State, broken down by county; if it is intended to amend the law in relation to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23435/24]
View answerWritten answers
In line with the provisions of section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924, Peace Commissioners are appointed, and may be removed from that appointment, by me in my capacity as Minister for Justice. The office of Peace Commissioner is an honorary one for which there is no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services.
The process to appoint a Peace Commissioner is published on the Government’s website:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/003e0-peace-commissioners/
A person who wishes to be considered for such appointment may make an application to my Department. Alternatively, third parties (including, but not limited to, public representatives) may nominate individuals for consideration for appointment by writing to my Department. Applications/nominations may be sent to the Peace Commissioner Unit, Department of Justice, 51 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, or to Peacecommissioner@justice.ie.
Some individuals are appointed to the office of Peace Commissioner by virtue of the role/employment that they hold; such appointees are referred to as ex-officio Peace Commissioners.
My Department maintains the Roll of Peace Commissioners and, while efforts are made to keep the Roll up-to-date, it is acknowledged that the records do not always reflect the actual situation on the ground. This is because my Department currently relies on Peace Commissioners themselves, and other interested parties (including, for example, family members of Peace Commissioners), to update the Department with regard to changes in circumstances of individual Peace Commissioners since their appointment. It is, therefore, difficult to provide precise information on the total number currently serving as Peace Commissioners. With that caveat, and as of 21 May 2024, the Department’s records indicate that details of the following appear on the Roll; both numbers are broken down by county.
|
County |
Peace Commissioners |
Ex officio Peace Commissioners |
|
Carlow |
54 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
127 |
7 |
|
Clare |
160 |
12 |
|
Cork |
669 |
18 |
|
Donegal |
194 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
623 |
173 |
|
Galway |
277 |
4 |
|
Kerry |
242 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
123 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
100 |
1 |
|
Laois |
80 |
19 |
|
Leitrim |
43 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
278 |
21 |
|
Longford |
65 |
0 |
|
Louth |
73 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
275 |
2 |
|
Meath |
139 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
75 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
78 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
122 |
23 |
|
Sligo |
78 |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
257 |
6 |
|
Waterford |
144 |
6 |
|
Westmeath |
95 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
200 |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
101 |
3 |
|
Total |
4,672 |
301 |
The legislation underpinning the office of Peace Commissioner dates back a century. My Department is currently undertaking a review of the role, functions and appointment process related to the office of Peace Commissioner. Recommendations regarding any legislative amendments deemed appropriate will be brought forward in the context of a report on this review, which will be submitted to me in due course.
Prison Service
Questions (234)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:234. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when the enquiries into the death of a prisoner in custody (details supplied) will be completed; the nature of these enquiries; when she expects to receive a report on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23436/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware the Inspector of Prisons, established under the Prisons Act 2007, is independent in how he carries out his functions. One of those functions is to investigate all Deaths in Custody and deaths that occur within one month of temporary release from Prison.
The objective for investigation of deaths in custody is to establish the circumstances and events surrounding the death, including the care provided by the IPS, and to make recommendations for improvements where needed. It also provides an opportunity for the concerns of families to be considered.
I have yet to receive the Inspector's report into the death of the person referenced.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (235)
Carol Nolan
Question:235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the total costs incurred by her Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in online/digital media platforms; the names of the online platforms involved, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23450/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy that my Department has run a number of public awareness campaigns between 2019 and 2024, most of which have involved a substantial online element. These include:
No Excuses
in 2019 the Department launched a major national awareness campaign on sexual harassment and sexual violence. ‘No Excuses’ was a high impact media campaign designed to reach a national audience.
The campaign ads feature both male and female perpetrators and victims in various situations where sexual harassment and sexual violence can occur.
The Deputy may be pleased to learn that there are many similarities between the UK 'Enough' campaign and our own 'No Excuses' campaign. Both campaign websites are laid out in a similar manner and have a focus on informing bystanders about safe ways they can intervene if they witness incidences of DSGBV.
Still Here
The Still Here campaign was launched in April 2020 to reassure victims of domestic violence that front-line services and the full force of the Justice System were ‘still here’ for them during the pandemic, and that victims were being prioritised. The campaign highlighted a tragic reality that for many people in Ireland during the pandemic, their home is not a safe place, especially during lockdown periods that were necessary to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
We intend to run the Still Here campaign again over the Christmas period to let victims know support is still available to them during the festive period, a time when we know incidences of such violence increase.
Intimate Image Abuse
In September 2021, my Department launched a campaign to raise awareness of image-based sexual abuse and to better inform people of Coco's Law, which was introduced to combat it.
At its core, the campaign aims to educate wider Irish society that sharing intimate images without consent is socially unacceptable, has harmful consequences and there is legislation in place with appropriate punitive measures that will challenge these actions, regardless of a persons motivation for doing so.
This campaign is currently running on TV and across various mediums and will be further developed in 2023 to raise awareness of the fact that threatening to share intimate images without consent is also a criminal offence.
In advance of running national level campaigns, research is carried out to identify both the target audience and the online platforms and services they engage with. The use of different platforms ensures the campaign reaches the maximum target audience.
For the period requested the annual expenditure on digital advertising is:
|
Year |
Digital Spend |
|
2019 |
€ 60,048.27 |
|
2020 |
€ 194,282.13 |
|
2021 |
€ 375,242.92 |
|
2022 |
€ 445,473.38 |
|
2023 |
€ 495,047.87 |
|
2024 to Date |
€ 51,915.17 |
The full listing of online providers for digital advertisements in the relevant period is provided below:
|
Online Media Providers |
|
|
OMG PROGRAMMATIC OOH - ADTOWER |
|
|
ACAST T/A ACAST STORIES IRELAND LTD |
|
|
AUDIOXI |
|
|
META |
|
|
SPOTIFY LTD |
|
|
TIKTOK |
|
|
ALL4 |
|
|
OMG MARKETPLACE |
|
|
PHD PROGRAMMATIC |
|
|
SKY MEDIA - IRELAND |
|
|
YOUTUBE - DV360 |
|
|
LADBIBLE IRELAND LTD |
|
|
TWITTER INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED |
|
|
TINDER |
|
|
RTE |
|
|
VMS - PLAYER |
|
|
DAILY MAIL |
|
|
JOURNAL MEDIA LIMITED |
|
|
RTE - DISPLAY |
|
|
SKY MEDIA - ADSMART |
|
|
VMS - ADSMART |
|
|
|
|
|
SNAPCHAT |
|
|
GOOGLE IRELAND |
|
|
ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS IE EVOKE.IE |
|
|
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL |
|
|
MAXIMUM MEDIA NETWORK |
|
|
MEDIACENTRAL |
|
|
DAILY MIRROR |
|
|
COMSCORE BV |
|
|
AUDIOONE SOUND TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED |
|
|
TUAIRISC BHEO TEORANTA |
|
|
YOUTUBE - DIRECT |
Immigration Status
Questions (236, 237)
Bernard Durkan
Question:236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed in order to renew expired Stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23507/24]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed to regularise residency in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23508/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together.
The person referred to by the Deputy was issued a letter refusing permission to remain in the state on 12 February 2020. In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made. These cases are amongst many to be considered at present and, as such, it is not possible to provide a specific indication as to when the cases will be finalised.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: 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 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.
Question No. 237 answered with Question No. 236.
Family Reunification
Questions (238)
Bernard Durkan
Question:238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if and when the son of a person (details supplied) might be allowed to join them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23512/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 22 January 2024 outlines the reasons for this refusal.
The Visa Office have advised, that no original documents were submitted with this application. The applicant’s passport is still at the Embassy, waiting to be collected. The Embassy have emailed the applicant several times regarding this, but have yet to receive a response.
An appeals process is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.
Appeals must be in written form and sent, within two months of the date of the refusal, to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.
As no appeal has been received within the two-month timeframe this application cannot be considered any further.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
It should be noted that should any person, who has been refused a visa, wishes to make another application at a future point, their application will be assessed on its own merits taking all relevant information into consideration at that time. Their prior immigration history is a matter of record but does not preclude them from seeking a visa in the future.
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 (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 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.
Immigration Status
Questions (239)
Bernard Durkan
Question:239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23519/24]
View answerWritten answers
The person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State.
A Change of Status application from the person concerned was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division on 24 January 2024 and continues to be processed by my Department.
To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.
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 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. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Immigration Status
Questions (240)
Bernard Durkan
Question:240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the reason for refusal under the long-term undocumented migrant scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23524/24]
View answerWritten answers
The first instance decision issued to the person concerned under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was refused as they did not satisfy the required period of undocumented residence in the State. The person concerned held a valid immigration permission from 18 October 2021 until 18 October 2022. This was fully set out in their original first instance decision letter dated 05 September 2023. Their appeal is pending and should be issued shortly.
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 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. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Forestry Sector
Questions (241, 242)
Brendan Smith
Question:241. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if assistance will be given to farmers who do not have a forest plantation or are not availing of any forestry schemes to have ash dieback trees removed where such trees pose a danger to public safety due to their locations along public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23332/24]
View answer
Robert Troy
Question:242. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will urgently examine an expansion to the ash dieback scheme whereby all farmers and landowners would be eligible to receive support in removing dangerous roadside trees and replacing them with fresh plantings at alternative hedgerows away from the roadside. [23360/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.
My Department does not have responsibility for the removal or reconstitution of Ash trees for private homeowners and landowners with ash trees in their gardens or on individual holdings who did not plant under a Departmental ash scheme. My Department supported the Tree Council of Ireland in publishing guidelines for managing roadside trees. The document is available on the Tree Council of Ireland’s website www.treecouncil.ie and on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/gov.ie - A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees (www.gov.ie).