Written Answers Nos. 172-191
172. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the funding that has been made available for community dialogues and restorative justice programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26462/24]
View answerRestorative justice is a process that evidence shows can support victims to recover from the impact of crime as well as serving to reduce reoffending. It is an integral part of the work of the Probation Service which established a Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit in 2018. The process helps to identify and repair some of the harm caused by offending. Its value was recognised in the 2020 Programme for Government in which the Government committed to working with all criminal justice agencies to build capacity to deliver restorative justice, safely and effectively.
This commitment was carried forward in my Department’s Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform, published two years ago, which contained a commitment to strengthen and support the delivery of restorative justice. This work resulted in my Department’s policy paper ‘Promoting and supporting the provision of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice system’. This paper brought together all of the work carried out since 2020 and identifies the steps needed to strengthen and expand our capability to mainstream restorative justice across all services in the criminal justice system.
Restorative justice is currently available at several different stages of the criminal justice process and in relation to various types of offence. This includes lower-tariff offences as part of diversion, as well as post-sentence, to help meet the needs of people impacted by some of the most serious offences.
In response to the Deputy, the Probation Service currently provides €787,770 in funding to five community-based organisations (CBOs) to provide dedicated restorative justice programmes.
The commitment to increasing the reach of restorative justice services has continued this year with an additional €250,000 earmarked in the funding provided to the Probation Service to further configure the network of CBOs to deliver enhanced restorative justice services. This is on top of funding of €65,000 provided to Restorative Justice in the Community to expand restorative justice services into the Midlands.
It is the Probation Service, through the Department, that allocates funding to CBOs and in particular, five community-based organisations provide dedicated restorative justice programmes:
• Restorative Justice Services - Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare
• Restorative Justice in the Community - Tipperary, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
• Le Chéile - Limerick, Cork and Clare
• Cornmarket Project - Wexford
• Tuam Community Training Centre - Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon.
The Probation Service will shortly publish a three year Restorative Justice Action Plan aimed at promoting greater awareness and supporting increased use across the system. The plan will also detail how the Probation Service will further drive the integration of restorative justice into all its services, and expand its provision nationally.
173. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice if she will issue a citizenship reference number to a person (details supplied). [26615/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved. The person concerned is a minor and their naturalisation certificate will be issued by registered post shortly.
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.
174. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if the Garda automatic number-plate recognition app detects for heavy goods vehicle permit breaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26632/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them.
The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 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 may be aware, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a tool to assist Garda members in detecting various existing Roads Policing Offences. It does not create any additional offences.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of March of this year, there were 631 Gardaí assigned to roads policing. I am informed that all Roads Policing Gardaí have access to the ANPR app through their mobility device. It is anticipated that all future purchases of roads policing vehicles will be fitted out with ANPR technology prior to unit allocation.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the ANPR app detects breaches of offences managed through a set of watchlists. Heavy goods vehicle permit breaches are not currently part of this set of watchlists, and accordingly the app does not currently detect such breaches.
175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position in regard to residency in the case of a person (details supplied); if she might review the proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26687/24]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy was issued a letter refusing permission to remain in the state on 7 November 2019. 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 persons 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 by the Minister 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 (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.
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current position in regard to an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26691/24]
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. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.It is important to note that no two applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. All applicants must undergo Garda vetting. Unfortunately, it is the case that some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and are largely out of the control of my Department. The previous backlogs in application processing in Citizenship had arisen largely due to the legacy of restrictions imposed on staff attendance in the office during the pandemic. The median processing time for applications had peaked at 19 months.Since then, Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are significantly reducing processing times. I expect that going forward the vast majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year.In just 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 in 2023.Already in 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made in the first half of the year. Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. It is envisioned that this number will be significantly surpassed this year, with 15 ceremonies already taking place by the end of June.
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.
177. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if a Schengen visa can be offered to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26692/24]
View answerMy Department has no role in the issuing of visas to enter the Schengen Area. Any queries relating to Schengen visas should be addressed to the immigration authorities of the country the person intends to visit.All travellers should check with the carrier (airline or ferry company) to ascertain what documents they require for travel.
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed to achieve leave to remain/citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26699/24]
View answerBased on the information supplied it has unfortunately not been possible identify records for either person referred to by the Deputy.If they have not yet received their Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) letter they should visit a Ukraine Support Centre. There are currently 3 Ukraine Support Centres in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. They are at the following locations:
• Citywest Hotel, Gartner Ln, Saggart, Co Dublin, D24 KF8A – Open 7 days a week from 08:00hrs to 20:00hrs (8am to 8pm). The Citywest facility may be contacted at: UkraineSupportMailbox@justice.ie
• 2nd Floor, Riverstone House, 23-27 Henry Street, Limerick City, V94 R7YE
• Cork City PSC and PPSN Centre, Department of Social Protection, Hanover Street, Cork, T12 PX62
Contact numbers and opening hours are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/abf3e-social-welfare-supports-for-ukrainian-citizens-arriving-in-ireland-under-the-temporary-protection-directive/#.
Applicants will need to bring their identity documents and proof of residency in Ukraine prior to 24/02/2022 in order to meet the criteria.I can also advise the Deputy that 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.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.The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted. The conditions include that applicants must have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application. There is no exemption from these requirements for beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in Ireland.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the action being taken to address the issue of backlogs in the Probate Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26712/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions.
The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices.
In December 2023, the then Taoiseach established a Working Group on Conveyancing and Probate, to carry out a review of current conveyancing and probate processes and identify scope for greater efficiency and streamlining. The group comprises various experts including a solicitor, an auctioneer, consumer advocates as well as officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and my Department.
The group is engaging with key industry representatives from the financial services, legal services, local government, property services sectors as well as other stakeholders. It is envisaged that this Group will report with its recommendations in the coming weeks, and I along with ministerial colleagues, look forward to that report.
I can further advise that as part of its ongoing Modernisation Programme, the Courts Service is working to digitally transform the way in which applications for probate are processed.
The eProbate project will deliver a facility to submit and track applications for Grants of Representation online via a public facing portal. This new digital solution is currently in development, with an expected public launch and rollout in the first half of 2025.
The public facing portal will act as a single point of contact for users to submit and track their applications through the entire process. The electronic submission of applications through the online portal, combined with automated validation of key information at submission time will enable faster and more efficient processing of applications, with the aim of reducing waiting times.
At the same time, the Courts Service is aware of its need to reduce waiting times while the eProbate project is underway. In this regard, it is prioritising the recruitment of additional staff to help in this task.
180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí available throughout the country on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26713/24]
View answerAt the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. In 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána which represents a 25% increase on 2020.
A new recruitment campaign was launched on 15 January and closed for applications on 8 February. The response was very strong with over 6,300 applying to become Gardaí – an increase on the 5,000 who applied last year.
The number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase; a total of 746 trainees entered the training college in 2023. This is the highest intake in any year since 2018.
An intake of 185 trainees entered the Garda College in April. This is the first of four intakes planned for April, July, September and December of this year.
As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda Divisions. I have no role in these operational matters.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of the 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there was a total of 14,013 Garda members. This represents an increase of over 9% since the end of December 2015. In addition, the civilianisation programme has freed up almost 900 Garda members from back office work for front line policing work since 2015.
I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which the revised bail law legislation has been effective in preventing reoffending while on bail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26714/24]
View answerRestricting an accused person’s liberty prior to trial is a very serious matter, given the constitutional presumption of innocence and the presumptive entitlement to remain at liberty that flows from that.
The State’s bail laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, but as the Deputy is aware, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.
Where an accused is charged with a serious offence, a court may refuse bail if it is satisfied that such refusal is necessary to prevent the commission of a further serious offence and any decision to grant or refuse bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the judge concerned.
Under the 1997 Act, when considering whether to refuse bail, the court must take into account:
• The nature and seriousness of the offence, and the sentence likely to be imposed on conviction;
• The nature and strength of the evidence;
• Any previous convictions, including for offences committed while on bail; and
• Any other offences for which the accused is awaiting trial.
The court may also consider the extent to which the number and frequency of previous convictions indicate persistent serious offending by the accused. Additionally, where the accused is charged with an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more, the court may consider the nature and likelihood of any danger to the life or personal safety of any person, or any danger to the community, from the accused’s release on bail.
Our bail legislation has been revised on several occasions. It now enables courts to refuse bail for a person charged with a serious offence to prevent the risk of a further serious offence being committed while on bail. It also provides for stricter bail terms for repeat serious offenders, including the use of curfews.
Additionally, it strengthens Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail. If an individual fails to comply with any bail conditions, the judge may issue a bench warrant, giving An Garda Síochána the power to arrest and bring the person before the court to answer all charges relating to the bail. If a member of An Garda Síochána has reasonable cause to suspect that a person has breached, or is about to breach, a bail condition and it is necessary to prevent harm to, interference with, or intimidation of a victim or witness, they may arrest the person immediately without a warrant.
I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the State's amended bail laws have proven to be effective, and can assure the Deputy that all legislative provisions are kept under review.
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the action being taken to address the issue of backlogs in the processing of paper applications for citizenship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26715/24]
View answerI understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. However, it is important to note that no two applications are the same and some take longer than others to process, and all require Garda vetting.
The previous backlogs in application processing in Citizenship had arisen largely due to the legacy of restrictions imposed on staff attendance in the office during the pandemic.
Since then, Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These include introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. I can further advise the Deputy that Citizenship Division has a dedicated team in place to process older, paper based, applications.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are significantly reducing processing times. I expect that going forward the vast majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year, down from a median of 18 months.
In just 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 in 2023.
Already in 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made in the first half of the year.
Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. It is envisioned that this number will be significantly surpassed this year, with 15 ceremonies already taking place by the end of June.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the work in progress to disrupt the activities of criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26717/24]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to tackle drug dealing and associated criminal behaviour, including by organised crime groups.
The funding made available to An Garda Síochána has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.
These include the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Collaboration at an inter-agency and international level remain key in tackling this issue. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in the overall response.
An Garda Síochána has strong and strategic partnerships in place at international level targeting drug trafficking, including working closely with agencies such as INTERPOL and Europol and participating in the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC-N) based in Lisbon.
One example of this cooperative approach was the seizure of 546 kilos of a synthetic drug, with an estimated value of €32.8 million, by Gardaí and Revenue Officers in Cork Port in February.
At a local level, An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara. Recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure of cannabis plants and cannabis herb with an estimated value of €768,000 across 2 separate raids in County Louth on 20 May.
The Government has taken a number of direct actions to tackle the drugs trade, such as:
• introducing new legislation which will criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime, which has now been signed into law;
• supporting the roll-out of Greentown, a pilot programme which is seeking to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit; and
• increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison.
Earlier this year, I also announced plans to introduce legislation to further strengthen the State’s ability to seize criminal assets. The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2024 will make significant changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act to strengthen the ability of the Criminal Assets Bureau to target the proceeds of crime and will speed up the process to dispose of the asset for the benefit of the State.
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of promotional positions waiting to be filled within An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26718/24]
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.
185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which investment in rehabilitative training within the prison system continues to be made available to first-time offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26719/24]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that educational and rehabilitation facilities are available in all prisons throughout the country and all prisoners, including first time offenders, have access to those services.
Teachers and Work and Training Officers support and encourage those in custody on a daily basis in what can be a very challenging environment. Education and Work and Training programmes are adapted to take account of the diversity of those in custody and the complex nature of prison life, including segregation requirements and high levels of turnover of people. Education and Work and Training endeavours to meet the needs of those in custody by helping them cope with their sentence, achieve personal development and prepare for life after release.
Education in prisons is delivered in partnership between the Education Training Boards and the Irish Prison Service. The Department of Education provides an allocation of 220 whole time teacher equivalents to the Irish Prison Service through the Education and Training Boards. The Education Service seeks to deliver relevant programmes which cater for holistic needs, ensure broad access and high participation, and prioritise those with basic education needs. It promotes the principles of adult and community education, and supports a multi-disciplinary approach within the prison system. In the 3 years 2021 to 2023 over €3.8M has been spent by the Irish Prison Service on supporting the Prison Education Service.
The Irish Prison Service has in recent years changed the role of Integrated Sentence Management (ISM) Coordinator to a rostered position in all committal prisons to extend the reach of the service to evenings and weekends and increased the number of WTO-ISM Coordinator posts.
The ISM service is offered to all people serving greater than 1 year and some discrete cohorts serving less than one year, including candidates for the Community Support Scheme, people convicted of a sex offence, and women in custody. In July 2021, the Prison Service introduced a new central management ICT platform on the Prisoner Information Management System (PIMS) to capture and monitor the work of ISM Coordinators and members of the multi-disciplinary team. Since July 2021, prisoner multi-disciplinary sentence plans agreed by the prison-based team are now printed and shared with the person concerned to assist with ownership of their sentence management. This centralised information-sharing resource also assists prison-based services to improve the transition from custody to the community for offenders, with the overall aim of reducing risk to the individual and reducing risk of recidivism, while improving accountability and transparency.
Work on multi-disciplinary sentence plans is resource intensive but progress is being made in each prison to develop an individual multi-disciplinary sentence plan for all who are ISM-eligible on a gradual basis. Once the initial plan is agreed for the individual, the ICT system records the need for the plan to be reviewed a minimum of once-per-year but the plan can be reviewed and updated at any time under the direction of the Governor.
The work and training function provides work, work-training and other purposeful activities to all those in custody to include areas such as catering, laundry, industrial cleaning and industrial skills. People in custody may attend one or more education classes and /or work and training activity per week.
The Irish Prison Service has also expanded the number of accredited courses and opportunities available in the area of work-training. Enhanced partnership arrangements with accrediting bodies such as City and Guilds, the Guild of Cleaners and Launderers and Cleanpass have enabled the Irish Prison Service to extend the number of available courses and activities with certification.
The Prison Education Taskforce, co-chaired by Minister O'Donovan and Minister Browne, comprises key agencies such as the Irish Prison Service, Solas, the Probation Service, and the Education and Training Boards. The aim of the taskforce is to ensure greater alignment between prison education and work training and the tertiary education system to support prisoners in benefitting from education and training opportunities while in custody to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release. An example of this is the Retrofit Skills Course QQI Level 5 component award – which will be made available in Midlands and Wheatfield Prisons and will give the individual the skillset to gain well-paid meaningful employment in the area of retrofitting. The National Construction Centre, Mount Lucas has worked closely with the IPS over this past year to make this course available.
Other initiatives available to people in custody, depending on their location, include Men’s Shed, Horses of Hope, Gaisce, Red Cross and Listeners Scheme.
The Deputy will also wish to be aware that the Irish Prison Service Psychology Service pro-actively engage with 18-24 year olds who are committed to custody with a sentence of one year or more (without Post Release Supervision with the Probation Service). This initiative, known as the Building Identity Programme, is a specific, psychologically informed programme focussed on early engagement, assessment and the development of a psychological formulation. This initiative allows young people to learn more about themselves, why they came to prison and to support their sentence management through the development of a bespoke care plan linked to their psychological formulation. Working collaboratively with the young person, key rehabilitation services are identified and the young person is encouraged to engage with those services in order to support desistance on release from prison, for example, engagement with psychologists, addiction counsellors, psychiatry, employment services, education services, family support and support from officers.
186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí available throughout County Kildare and the State in general to respond to any needs of the general public or emergencies arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26720/24]
View answerAs 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 distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I can 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 more than €2.3 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.
In addition to new recruits, the rollout of the new Garda Operating Model will support the redeployment of Gardaí from non-core duties to frontline policing across the country. The new model will see larger Divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services, and a strong focus on community policing.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there was a total of 14,013 Garda members nationwide. This represents an increase of over 9% since the end of December 2015. There is a total of 423 Garda members assigned to Kildare Division. This represents an increase of over 35% since the end of December 2015.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division and Station is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which the international community remains alert to the activities of terrorist gangs throughout Europe and further afield; the number of prosecutions taken or pending to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26721/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, combatting terrorism is a top priority for the Government, working with other countries in Europe and the international community.
Protecting Europeans from terrorism is one of the strategic priorities set out in the European Commission’s Security Union Strategy covering the period 2020 – 2025.
In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that Europol’s annual European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) provides a yearly situation overview of the terrorism landscape in the EU and contributes to efforts to counter what continues to be a significant threat to the security of Member States.
The most recent TE-SAT report also includes qualitative and quantitative data relating to the number of arrests and convictions for terrorist offences in a number of Member States and confirms the assessment that terrorism remains a key threat to the EU’s internal security.
An Garda Síochána work closely with their European and international colleagues and with relevant international bodies in responding to these threats, particularly in respect of sharing information and expertise in identifying and managing threats.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the degree of people trafficking detected over the past three years to date; the action proposed or in hand to deal with the issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26723/24]
View answerHuman trafficking is an exploitative and particularly heinous crime that preys on some of the most vulnerable, and is committed with no regard for life, dignity or for the most basic of human rights.
Across Government, we acknowledge the seriousness of this crime and are determined to reach and help those who have been affected by it and to take them out of these horrific situations.
Last year I published a new strategy to combat human trafficking which reflects and demonstrates our renewed determination to prevent this crime and to ensure victims are identified and supported - both nationally and in cooperation with our international partners.
This new action plan also sets out how the cross-Departmental and multi-agency work to combat this criminal activity and support victims will be taken forward.
Key actions include:
• Establishment of a new National Referral Mechanism, which will make it easier for victims to come forward, be identified and access support. It will ensure that victims can come forward to a range of agencies and not just An Garda Siochana as is currently the case. This is in recognition of the fact that victims may, due to experiences in their own countries, not trust police services.
• New and widespread training for all who may come into contact with victims of human trafficking across Departments and State agencies. This will include the Border Management Unit, as well as health and social care professionals, professionals in contact with children, and working on child-related matters, and Civil Registration Services staff working in the HSE.
• Ongoing development of training, through NGOs, targeting front line staff in industries such as hospitality, airline and shipping who may come into contact with trafficked persons
• Ensure effective anti-trafficking screening measures are in place at point of entry to the State
• Establish dedicated accommodation for victims of trafficking, ensuring that victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation are provided with gender-specific accommodation
We are also determined to bring the perpetrators and facilitators of this crime to justice and a specialist unit within An Garda Síochána conducts investigations into human trafficking and given that human trafficking is often a transnational crime, An Garda Síochána also actively collaborates with law enforcement agencies in other countries to investigate cases and share information.
I 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.
189. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, following the recent documentary aired by RTÉ on 12 June 2024 (details supplied), he will outline the actions being taken to address the issues highlighted in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26557/24]
View answerThe footage broadcast on the ‘RTÉ Investigates’ show that aired on Wednesday and Thursday 12 and 13 June 2024 was extremely upsetting, and I share the reaction of viewers who were appalled by such a blatant disregard for the welfare of horses and suspected criminality.
In terms of immediate actions, on the 14th of June I issued a notice to the slaughter plant concerned revoking their approval for the slaughter of equines. The revocation of the food business approval means that the plant can not operate as an equine slaughter food business. Furthermore, my Department has placed restrictions on two equine holdings linked to the slaughter plant prohibiting the movement of equines into or out of those premises without the prior approval of my Department.
My Department has initiated a comprehensive investigation with assistance from An Garda Síochána. This investigation is active and ongoing and is important now that this investigation is not prejudiced so that the full force of the law can be applied.
However, it is clear that a collective effort across the European Union, among Member States and the Commission, is required to improve the system. My Department is committed to assisting in that process, along with our European Colleagues and the Commission.
190. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene in a forestry matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26579/24]
View answerCoillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988, and day-to-day operational matters, such as in relation to the Coillte Farm Partnership Scheme, are the responsibility of the company.The company has provided my Department with a general update on farm partnerships. Coillte has a portfolio of 638 farm partnerships across the country, accounting for over 12,500 ha of highly productive forests. The vast majority of these partnerships are working well and a number of them have been award-winning, including the RDS forestry awards for the sustainable management of their forests. All Coillte forests, including those involving farm partnerships, are certified as being well managed to both the FSC and PEFC forest management standards. Colllte has also advised my Department that it works with all its farm partners to resolve any issues they may have. In a small number of cases, farm partners have raised issues such as communication on operational activities as well as accessing information concerning their individual partnership agreements. In recent years, Coillte has worked hard to make tangible improvements in these areas to help allay the concerns of these farm partners.Notwithstanding this progress, there are a small number of farm partners who have invoked the arbitration clause in the farm partnership agreement. Arbitration is a private and confidential dispute resolution process, with confidentiality obligations on the parties and therefore Coillte is not in a position to comment in respect of such cases.Coillte has advised my Department that it is fully committed to all of its farm partners, and will continue to work to address all concerns and issues raised through active engagement with individual farm partners. Coillte is open to exploring alternative dispute mechanisms which may lead to an expedited and successful resolution for all parties involved, including mediation.
I am satisfied that any issues will be resolved in due course, through the appropriate channels, and that it should be left now to both partners in the agreements to resolve them together.
191. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/24]
View answerSince the first finding of Ash Dieback in Ireland in 2012, my Department has introduced Reconstitution Schemes to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from, or which were associated with, plants affected by disease. The overall financial package being made available to ash plantation owners in respect of ash dieback, which includes the new Climate Action Performance Payment, is in excess of €230 million.
The Climate Action Performance Payment totalling €5,000 per hectare will be paid to current owners of grant aided ash forests whose sites have been cleared and replanted through either a previous Ash Dieback Reconstitution Scheme or the current Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023 to 2027. This is being paid in recognition of the fact that the current forest owner is responsible for maintaining the new trees and ensuring that they continue to grow successfully.
