Written Answers Nos. 234-248
234. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice for an update on an application for citizenship a person (details supplied) which was submitted in July; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25906/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.
My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.
In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department continues to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed as to updates on processing times and arrangements.
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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
235. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if, in relation to recent Garda operations in collaboration with the PSNI which detected 157 people across 25 days of action between 1 October 2023 and 26 May 2024 who were "without the correct visas or identity papers" and who were refused leave to land, she will provide a breakdown of operations in terms of whether they took place at a ferry port, on a train, on a bus or at another location; the breakdown of nationalities of the 157 people refused leave to land; the number of people who were asked to produce visas or identity papers across these operations; the total number of people who successfully produced visas or identity papers when requested across these operations; the number of people returned to the UK by ferry as part of this operation; the number returned to Belfast; the number of people detained during these operations; the number of people who subsequently produced documents to verify their visa or identity, in tabular form. [25923/24]
View answerI have sought the information requested from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
236. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to roads policing units; if she will update her Department’s website with publication of figures for the month of April 2024, by Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25956/24]
View answerRoad safety is a shared responsibility, and while led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities after many years of progress in making our roads safer.
I continue to engage with colleagues across Government, in particular Minister Chambers, to ensure that every effort is made to increase safety on our roads.
Road traffic laws are enforced on an ongoing basis by both Roads Policing personnel and as part of the day-to-day duties of uniformed Gardaí nationwide. This includes a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies. The Commissioner has also recently directed that all uniform Garda members are to be deployed on high visibility roads policing operations, of 30 minutes duration, in each tour of duty.
Approximately 25% of all roads enforcement is undertaken by regular units and 75% of drug/drink driving checks are carried out by regular units.
Every frontline Garda member now has a mobility device, which is essentially a mobile phone that allows them to access a number of specialised Garda apps at the roadside. These include the ability to issue a Fixed Charge Notice, to check a vehicle's insurance status, if a vehicle is taxed and whether a driver is disqualified. These tasks can now be done within moments, without the need to return to the station. The Commissioner also stated he aims to have an additional 100 static road safety cameras in place by the end of next year.
I am advised that as of 30 April 2024, there were 630 Roads Policing Gardaí assigned across all Divisions. Funding provided by the Government under Budget 2024 will allow for the recruitment of 800-1000 new Gardaí, which will increase the number of frontline Gardaí available to the Garda Commissioner to allocate as he deems appropriate. It is expected that it will soon be possible to allocate more members to the roads policing unit.
The Commissioner has said that 150 members of the force will be added to the road policing units in the next two years in order to meet road safety targets, with the hope that the number would increase to 700 within a year.
The below table sets out the number of gardai assigned to roads policing units per division.
|
DIVISION |
Apr-24 |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
7 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
11 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
17 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
8 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
11 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
9 |
|
D.M.R. TRAFFIC/ROADS POLICING |
90 |
|
KILDARE |
25 |
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
24 |
|
MEATH/WESTMEATH |
34 |
|
WICKLOW |
16 |
|
DONEGAL |
23 |
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
16 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
19 |
|
WATERFORD |
15 |
|
WEXFORD |
21 |
|
CORK CITY |
28 |
|
CORK NORTH |
19 |
|
CORK WEST |
29 |
|
KERRY |
21 |
|
LIMERICK |
33 |
|
GALWAY |
37 |
|
CLARE/TIPPERARY |
41 |
|
MAYO/ROSCOMMON/LONGFORD |
40 |
|
LOUTH/CAVAN/MONAGHAN |
36 |
|
TOTAL |
630 |
The Deputy can appreciate that while the distribution of Garda resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner, I am assured the distribution is kept under continual review.
An Garda Síochána provide Garda HR figures to my Department which are subsequently published on the Department’s website in the interest of transparency. Information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí nationwide, including Roads Policing units, can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
237. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice for an update on her plans to increase airline and air carrier fines where they have been found to have not upheld their obligations by ensuring passengers have appropriate documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25962/24]
View answerEarlier this month, I updated the Government of my intention to reform the carrier liability provisions of the Immigration Act 2003.
I will shortly bring this legislation to the Oireachtas as part of a forthcoming Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, which is planned for enactment by the Summer recess.
I am proposing to increase the fines on carriers from the current maximum of €3,000 to €5,000 if they do not comply with their obligations to ensure passengers have appropriate travel documentation.
This is one element of an overall goal to reduce the number of people presenting at ports of entry without appropriate travel documentation.
My Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving at Dublin Airport without the correct documentation. Q1 in 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation. This is based on the work that the Department’s Border Management Unit is doing with GNIB.
The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding. This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation. BMU officials are also available 24/7 to assist airlines with any immigration queries.
BMU and GNIB also have an ongoing intelligence-led programme of operations at airplanes to detect passengers who destroyed documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers. BMU and GNIB carry out doorstop operations at airplanes to target those who destroyed documents inflight. These are intelligence led operations based on trends observed by immigration officials, who will conduct initial document checks as passengers disembark an aircraft in order to establish a person’s identity and nationality. Over 3,040 doorstep operations have been completed to end May 2024.
In addition, An Garda Síochána has prosecuted nearly 100 people in 2024 for arriving without appropriate documentation and a significant number have been imprisoned.
238. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the reason section 20 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interests Act 2017 has not yet been fully implemented and completed, in order that all reductions made in and to salaries and payments to a sector (details supplied) have not yet been unwound; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25982/24]
View answerThe coroners service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, are the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Coroners are independent office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department, has any function in the conduct of coronial business.
Remuneration rates for Coroners were reduced, in line with wider reductions in civil and public service remuneration on 29 April 2009.
Departmental officials, are currently working on the request of the Coroner Society of Ireland for their fees to be restored to their pre-April 2009 levels.
In this respect, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Authorities, which fund coroners outside of the Dublin district.
239. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Justice to outline the rules relating to cross-border movement under the IPAS system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25985/24]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has further clarified that the persons referred to have been granted Temporary Protection in the State.
EU Council Implementing Decision 2022/382 applied the provisions of the Temporary Protection Directive to persons displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including persons recognised as refugees in Ukraine. At a meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers on 13 June 2024, political agreement was reached to extend the Temporary Protection Directive until March 2026.
The provisions of the Temporary Protection Directive apply within the EU area. If a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection wishes to reside in a jurisdiction outside of the EU they would need to apply for immigration status in that jurisdiction and would no longer be entitled to Temporary Protection in this State while residing elsewhere.
240. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 14 May 2024, if, given the circumstances, she will ensure that this appeal is reviewed (details supplied) as soon as possible in order that the person can return to her family here in Ireland and leave Gaza. [26015/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the application referred to by the Deputy was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 18 March 2024 which outlined the reasons for this refusal.
The Dublin Visa Office have confirmed that a partial appeal was received on 7 May 2024, however, the appellant’s legal representative advised that further essential documentation, central to their client’s appeal, was yet to be submitted.
Some additional documentation was received on 17 May 2024 and on 20 May 2024, and importantly, the Visa Division was only in receipt of the applicant’s Birth Certificate on 10 June 2024.
It should be noted that, until all appeal documentation was received, the Dublin Visa Office was not in a position to launch and process the appeal until 10 June 2024, when it received all documentation in support of the appeal. The appeal in this case was deemed to have been made on 10 June 2024.
As requested by the applicant, the Visa Appeals Officer also considered their request for the appeal to be expedited and it will be prioritised for processing and that a decision should issue within the following eight working weeks of the appeal launch date (08 August 2024). On 17 June 2024, the Appeals Officer wrote to the applicant’s legal representative, advising them of the outcome of this decision.
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.
241. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to DMR west divisional protective services unit as of 11 June 2024. [26090/24]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based remains a priority for this Government, for my Department and for the Garda Commissioner.
'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), sets out an ambitious whole of government five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.
The Strategy, which was co-designed with the sector, also has a significant focus on improving the system for victims of these terrible crimes and on ensuring there is a full range of supports and services available nationwide to support and empower victims and survivors.
The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) - which ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance - was an action under both the 'Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland' and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’ and there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that when consideration is given to the allocation of resources, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’.
To ensure the continued level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment/assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level.
Also taken into account in the context of the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide, are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends, geographical area and size; transfer applications, including welfare/personnel issues and concerns.
The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at Divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda Resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.
The below table outlines the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the DMR west divisional protective services unit as of 17 June 2024.
|
Rank |
Number |
|
Inspector |
* |
|
Sergeant |
* |
|
Garda |
15 |
* Denotes less than 10
242. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update in relation to the operation of the neighbourhood watch scheme, particularly in DMR north and DMR north central; the current status of each neighbourhood watch scheme in the aforementioned divisions. [26091/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.
243. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 22 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [26092/24]
View answerParliamentary Question No.130 of 22 May 2024 refers to the Garda roads policing units (RPUs) that currently have a sheltered motorcycle shed; and if so, the capacity of each shed for each RPU, in tabular form.
As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including matters relating to the Garda estate. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.
I can, however, assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of over €2.35 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the Garda Roads Policing units that currently have storage capacity for motorcycles, as of 29 May 2024.
|
Region |
Division |
Capacity |
Comment |
|
DMR |
DMR North |
4 |
|
|
DMR |
DMR West |
6 |
|
|
DMR |
DMR South |
3 |
|
|
DMR |
DMR Roads Policing |
25 |
|
|
DMR |
DMR East |
N/A |
Motorcycles stored at underground parking |
|
DMR |
DMR North Central |
8 |
|
|
Eastern |
Meath Westmeath |
2 |
|
|
Eastern |
Meath Westmeath |
2 |
|
|
Eastern |
Kildare |
4 |
|
|
Eastern |
Kildare |
1 |
|
|
Eastern |
Laois Offaly |
1 |
|
|
Eastern |
Waterford Kilkenny Carlow |
2 |
|
|
Eastern |
Waterford Kilkenny Carlow |
1 |
|
|
Eastern |
Waterford Kilkenny Carlow |
1 |
|
|
Eastern |
Waterford Kilkenny Carlow |
4 |
|
|
Eastern |
Waterford Kilkenny Carlow |
3 |
|
|
Eastern |
Wexford Wicklow |
2 |
|
|
Eastern |
Wexford Wicklow |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Clare Tipperary |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Clare Tipperary |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Clare Tipperary |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Donegal |
3 |
|
|
North West |
Galway |
N/A |
Motorcycles stored at underground parking |
|
North West |
Louth Cavan Monaghan |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Louth Cavan Monaghan |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Louth Cavan Monaghan |
4 |
|
|
North West |
Mayo Roscommon Longford |
4 |
|
|
North West |
Mayo Roscommon Longford |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Mayo Roscommon Longford |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Sligo |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Sligo |
2 |
|
|
North West |
Sligo |
2 |
|
|
Southern |
Cork City |
8 |
|
|
Southern |
Cork County |
2 |
|
|
Southern |
Cork County |
2 |
|
|
Southern |
Cork County |
2 |
|
|
Southern |
Cork County |
2 |
|
|
Southern |
Kerry |
3 |
|
|
Southern |
Limerick |
4 |
244. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the number of gardaí who have received CBD2 training, broken down by district, in the DMR in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26093/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.
|
District |
Division |
2023 |
2024 up to 17 June |
TOTAL |
|
BLACKROCK |
D.M.R. EAST |
17 |
15 |
32 |
|
DUN LAOGHAIRE |
D.M.R. EAST |
14 |
13 |
27 |
|
BALBRIGGAN |
D.M.R. NORTH |
<10 |
<10 |
10 |
|
BALLYMUN |
D.M.R. NORTH |
13 |
<10 |
19 |
|
COOLOCK |
D.M.R. NORTH |
12 |
<10 |
16 |
|
RAHENY |
D.M.R. NORTH |
<10 |
<10 |
10 |
|
BRIDEWELL |
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
13 |
|
FITZGIBBON STREET |
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
14 |
|
STORE STREET |
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
|
CRUMLIN |
D.M.R. SOUTH |
11 |
<10 |
15 |
|
TALLAGHT |
D.M.R. SOUTH |
<10 |
<10 |
18 |
|
TERENURE |
D.M.R. SOUTH |
<10 |
<10 |
12 |
|
DONNYBROOK |
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
17 |
|
KEVIN STREET |
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
14 |
<10 |
19 |
|
PEARSE STREET |
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
16 |
|
BLANCHARDSTOWN |
D.M.R. WEST |
13 |
13 |
26 |
|
CLONDALKIN |
D.M.R. WEST |
11 |
<10 |
19 |
|
LUCAN |
D.M.R. WEST |
<10 |
<10 |
15 |
|
TRAFFIC CORPS |
TRAFFIC DIVISION (D.M.R.) |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
|
TOTAL |
|
188 |
125 |
313 |
245. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice for an update on her Department’s civil legal aid scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26105/24]
View answerIn its over forty years of operation, the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has been a significant and beneficial public service, providing legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes, including family law.
However, since the Scheme was set up, Irish society has changed, and the demands on the service have grown. In June 2022, I established the Civil Legal Aid Review Group to review the current operation of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme and make recommendations for its future.
The Review Group is chaired by a former Chief Justice. The membership of the group is drawn from legal practitioners, academics, Department officials, those who work with marginalised groups, and representatives from the Legal Aid Board, which administers the statutory scheme.
The Group is considering many aspects of the scheme, in line with its terms of reference such as the appropriateness of the current eligibility thresholds, the scope of the scheme and whether it should remain primarily a family law service.
As part of the review, a comprehensive multi-phased process of consultation was conducted to ensure that as wide a range of views as possible on these issues is captured. The Group has considered the findings from this extensive consultation and the research processes it has undertaken, in the overall context of its terms of reference, the existing legal support landscape in Ireland and how best to meet the civil legal needs of individuals now and in the future.
Progress is ongoing and the Group is expected to conclude its work in the near future, at which point I look forward to considering its recommendations.
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26119/24]
View answerThe application by the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 23 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue.
The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is a single or family application, the supporting documentation, the vetting process with An Garda Síochána, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department to seek further information, and the resources available. Applications where there is an existing deportation order will also require additional processing.
Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf .
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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
247. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown of the fines issued against her Department by the Court of Justice of the European Union for the period 2010 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26138/24]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that, since 2010, there has been one fine imposed on my Department by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). This was in relation to a delay in transposing Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing. On July 16, 2020, the CJEU imposed a €2 million lump-sum fine for this delay.
The delay referred to a period between 2017 and 2019 relating to the enactment of primary and secondary legislation including the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2018 and regulations in respect of beneficial ownership.
This delay mainly arose due to the complexity of the changes that were required under the Directive. It required detailed amendment to the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The analysis and settling of those amendments took a significant length of time and required extensive work on behalf of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General and the Departments involved
The Court accepted that the Directive has now been fully transposed, and no further fines will arise in respect of this matter.
248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if persons (details supplied) can apply for citizenship while on temporary permission given their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26155/24]
View answerEU Council Implementing Decision 2022/382 applied the provisions of the Temporary Protection Directive to persons displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including persons recognised as refugees in Ukraine. At a meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers on 13 June 2024, political agreement was reached to extend the Temporary Protection Directive until March 2026.
I can advise the Deputy that discussions on the arrangements for beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, when the Directive is no longer active, are ongoing, both within the Government and at an EU level, in recognition of the need for certainty for beneficiaries of temporary protection in the EU. These discussions include the residency conditions for beneficiaries of Temporary Protection when the Directive is no longer active in March 2026. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot pre-empt future discussions and decisions of either the EU or the Government.
