Written Answers Nos. 492-509
492. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a recent application for disability allowance can be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29636/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 14 March 2024. As their initial application did not contain all the information required to make a decision on entitlement, an information request letter was sent on 28 March 2024 requesting this supporting documentation within 21 days.
I can confirm that a response to the requested information of 28 March 2024 was not received. Therefore, based on the evidence available in support of this application, it was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied and on failing to supply sufficient information to determine means.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 16 May 2024 and they were given the right to a review or an appeal. To date no request for a review or an appeal has been received.
The basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) provides immediate assistance for those in need. SWA payments are means tested and as part of the application process, a person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for a basic SWA on 27 June 2024 and a letter subsequently issued to him requesting additional information in support of his application. This information has been partially provided but some documentation remains outstanding and was requested in a further letter to the person concerned on 03 July 2024. Upon receipt of all the necessary documentation, the person’s claim will be assessed promptly, and they will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
493. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2025 if the State pension (contributory) increased by €15 per week. [29688/24]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing State Pension (Contributory) by €15 a week is €415.8 million. This cost includes a proportionate increase for Qualified Adults. It does not include any cost associated with other schemes paid to people over State Pension Age, including State Pension (Non-Contributory) and Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2024, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
494. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if all social welfare claim forms can be available to download online; if she is aware of the delay between emailing a request for a form and form being received, and the adverse effect of this on individuals who do not have access to MyGov; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29744/24]
View answerMy Department provides multiple channels for the public to access Social Welfare Application forms:
In person - by visiting their local Intreo Centre
Online – application forms can be downloaded from Gov.ie website. Alternatively, people can use our “Request a Postal Form” which is also available on the Gov.ie website.
By phone – by contacting the National Intreo Contact Centre for Intreo scheme forms or by phoning other scheme areas directly.
An Post – a selection of Social Welfare application forms is available in each Post Office.
Whilst my Department strives to dispatch all form requests received via our online “Request a Postal Form” service within 2 working days, occasional delays can occur. These delays usually occur when forms are being updated with new information to ensure members of the public receive the most up to date documents.
My Department is undertaking a review of those forms not yet available online with a view to improving accessibility.
I understand that not everyone has online access, and I am committed to ensuring that the schemes and services that my Department provides are accessible to all.
495. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of education/upskilling courses available under the back to education scheme; the measures being taken to expand on courses available under this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29746/24]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at further and higher level. The focus of the scheme is to assist people to improve their qualifications and as a result improve their access to sustainable employment. The Government has provided €35.73 million for the scheme in 2024.
Under the Back to Education Allowance a qualified person can take up a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification subject to meeting the eligibility criteria of the scheme. The scheme covers participation in a wide range of education and upskilling courses and the Employment Personal Advisor works with the applicant to consider their options in line with their personal progression plan.
At the further education level, the course of study can include the Junior Certificate, the Leaving Certificate, Post Leaving Certificate courses and courses up to QQI level 6 provided through the Education Training Boards.
For higher education courses, jobseekers can be supported to take undergraduate courses up to honours degree level (QQI level 8). At the postgraduate level, Back to Education Allowance may be approved to undertake studies leading to a Higher Diploma (Level 8) in any discipline and the Professional Masters in Education (Level 9). The scheme does not generally support studies at masters level. There is a limited exemption for a person who is being admitted to the programme based solely on life experience where they hold no other third level qualification.
The Government's Springboard+ programme is an upskilling initiative in higher education. It offers courses at certificate, degree and masters level, leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy. Jobseekers can apply under the Back to Education Allowance to take part in full time Springboard+ funded programmes. In addition, jobseekers may be able to retain their payment under the Part Time Education Option when they take part in Part-Time Springboard programmes.
Any person seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
496. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if free travel can be provided for all means tested social welfare recipients to promote the use of public transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29747/24]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. This increases to 1.75 million customers when spouses and companions are included. The estimated expenditure on the Free Travel in 2024 is €104 million.
The objective of the Free Travel scheme is to ensure older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community. Extending the eligibility of the free travel scheme to include all means tested social welfare recipients would change this objective, and radically change the nature of the scheme.
Given the large numbers involved, extending the free travel scheme to all means tested social welfare recipients, would require significant additional funding. The extension of the Free Travel scheme to all recipients of a social welfare means tested payment would have to be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context, having regard to other competing demands for scarce resources.
As part of Budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to announce the expansion of my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive. There will be no requirement that a person must be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in order to qualify for a free travel pass on these medical grounds, provided the other qualifying criteria are met. This extension to the scheme is now open for applications.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
497. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the current levels of staffing in the Social Welfare Appeals Office; the current number of vacant positions; and the total target workforce. [29865/24]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The table below sets out the number of full time equivalent staff in the Social Welfare Appeals Office:
Appeals Office Staff - as at 8 July 2024
|
Grade |
Full time Equivalent |
Posts to be filled |
|
Chief Appeals Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
Deputy Chief Appeals Officer |
2 |
0 |
|
Appeals Officer |
43 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
3 |
0 |
|
Executive Officer |
9.4 |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
23.6 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
84 |
2 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
498. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of members of the Defence Forces who applied for the working family payment; the number who claimed the working family payment, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29875/24]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. Working Family Payment is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.
Once awarded, WFP is payable for 52 weeks. At the end of the 52-week period, a customer must reapply (renew) to determine ongoing eligibility.
The number of applications pertaining to certain employers is not readily available.
499. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarification regarding a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29968/24]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 03 December 2021.
Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. In this person's case, a CA review commenced on 29 April 2024 and an information request letter issued to them on that date.
No response was received from the person concerned. As a result, a letter issued to them on 24 May 2024 advising that the CA payment would be suspended from 12 June 2024 if the requested information was not received. This letter allowed a further 7 days for a response.
No response was received so the CA payment was suspended from 12 June 2024. The person received a letter dated 5 June 2024 advising them of this but that they were being afforded the opportunity to respond within 21 days to furnish any statement or evidence regarding the matter.
As no correspondence or information was received from the person concerned within the 21 days, the CA claim was terminated with effect from 12 June 2024. A letter issued to the person concerned on 27 June 2024 to advise them of this.
To date, the Department has received no correspondence or information regarding the review.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
500. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the number and detail of the public helplines operated by her Department; whether calls are recorded on each helpline; and if not, whether she would consider recording calls for transparency and training purposes. [30001/24]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection's public helpline numbers are officially advertised on a dedicated Social Welfare Numbers webpage on Gov.ie. Currently, there are 45 public helpline numbers advertised. Additionally my Department advertises 58 branch office numbers on the Local Branch Offices webpage on Gov.ie. Details of these numbers are set out in the table below.
While calls to my Department are not recorded, sample call content is monitored for training purposes and to improve customer satisfaction.
|
Schemes |
||
|
Accommodation Recognition Payment Helpline |
0818 708090 |
|
|
Adoptive Benefit Section; Client Eligibility Services; Health and Safety Benefit; Home Carer's; International Records; Maternity Benefit; Parent's Benefit; Paternity Benefit; Pensions Caring Support; PRSI Records; PRSI Special Collection; Voluntary Contributions |
01 4715898 |
0818 690690 |
|
Appeals Office |
01 6732800 |
0818 747434 |
|
Asylum Seekers and Homeless Persons Units |
1800 724724 |
|
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Section |
071 9193318 |
0818 111113 |
|
Blind Pension Section; Deserted Wife's Payments; EU Pension Section; Free Travel; Fuel Allowance; Guardian's Payment; Household Benefits Package; State Pension (Contributory); State Pension (Non-contributory); Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension Widow’s; Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension |
071 9157100 |
0818 200400 |
|
Carer's Allowance; Carer's Benefit; Carer's Support Grant; Death Benefit; Disability Allowance; Disablement Benefit; Domiciliary Care Allowance; Invalidity Pension; Partial Capacity Benefit; Special Funeral Grant |
043 3340000 |
0818 927770 |
|
Central Control Division |
01 6732123, 071 9672648 |
0818 927999 |
|
Central Debt Unit - Overpayments |
071 9672591 |
0818 927999 |
|
Child Benefit; Treatment Benefit Scheme; Working Family Payment |
074 9164496 |
0818 300600 |
|
Client Identity Services; JobsPlus; Liable Relatives; Report Suspected Social Welfare Fraud; Working Age Schemes Policy, Activation and Family Support Programme; Back to Education Allowance; Back to Work Enterprise Allowance; Enterprise Support Grant Scheme; Training Support Grant Scheme |
071 9672616 |
0818 927999 |
|
Compliance Section |
071 9672338 |
|
|
Department of Social Protection Switchboard; Minister's Office; The Secretary General |
01 7043000 |
|
|
Freedom of Information Unit |
071 9672544, 071 9672547 |
|
|
General Register Office |
090 6632900 |
0818 253070 |
|
Illness Benefit; Occupational Injuries Benefit |
01 7043300 |
0818 928400 |
|
JobsIreland; Redundancy and Insolvency |
0818 111112 |
|
|
Medical Care Scheme Section |
01 7043022 |
|
|
Medical Review and Assessment Section Customer Enquiries |
01 6732708 |
|
|
MyWelfare |
0818 625625 |
|
|
National Intreo Contact Centre |
0818 405060 |
|
|
National Phoneline for Community Welfare Services; National Rent Supplement |
0818 607080 |
|
|
Press Office - Media Enquiries Only |
01 7043860, 01 7043184 |
|
|
PRSI Refunds |
01 6732586 |
|
|
PSC Helpdesk |
0818 837000 |
|
|
Recovery of Benefits and Assistance Section |
01 8172660 |
|
|
Rent Allowance Section |
01 6732024 |
|
|
Safeguarding Unit |
071 9193259 |
|
|
School Meals Section |
071 9157100, 071 9138625, 071 9138626 |
|
|
Scope Section |
01 6732585 |
|
|
Tús Unit |
071 9672530 |
0818 927999 |
|
Branch Office |
|
|
Ardee (Branch Office) |
041 6850950 |
|
Athy (Branch Office) |
059 8640250 |
|
Ballinasloe (Branch Office) |
0909 631800 |
|
Ballinrobe (Branch Office) |
094 9520070 |
|
Ballybofey (Branch Office) |
074 9130490 |
|
Ballyconnell (Branch Office) |
049 9527670 |
|
Ballyshannon (Branch Office) |
071 9822030 |
|
Bandon (Branch Office) |
023 8820200 |
|
Bantry (Branch Office) |
027 20820 |
|
Birr (Branch Office) |
057 9169040 |
|
Boyle (Branch Office) |
071 9664033 |
|
Cahir (Branch Office) |
052 7445200 |
|
Carrick-on-Suir (Branch Office) |
051 601190, 051 601192 |
|
Cashel (Branch Office) |
062 64220 |
|
Castleblaney (Branch Office) |
042 9795050 |
|
Castlerea (Branch Office) |
094 9625510 |
|
Claremorris (Branch Office) |
094 9372500 |
|
Clonakilty (Branch Office) |
023 8821210 |
|
Dingle (Branch Office) |
066 9150060 |
|
Donegal Town (Branch Office) |
074 9740050 |
|
Dungarvan (Branch Office) |
058 20540 |
|
Ennistymon (Branch Office) |
065 7072528 |
|
Fermoy (Branch Office) |
025 49010 |
|
Gorey (Branch Office) |
053 9430040 |
|
Gort (Branch Office) |
091 630210 |
|
Kells (Branch Office) |
046 9280490 |
|
Killorglin (Branch Office) |
066 9790010 |
|
Killybegs (Branch Office) |
074 9741010 |
|
Kilmallock (Branch Office) |
063 20900 |
|
Kilrush (Branch Office) |
065 9080030 |
|
Kinsale (Branch Office) |
021 4702910 |
|
Macroom (Branch Office) |
026-20900 |
|
Mallow (Branch Office) |
022 30934 |
|
Maynooth (Branch Office) |
6106000 |
|
Midleton (Branch Office) |
021 4621200 |
|
Monaghan (Branch Office) |
047 30170 |
|
Muine Bheag (Branch Office) |
059 9722940 |
|
Nenagh (Branch Office) |
067 50902 |
|
New Ross (Branch Office) |
051 440910 |
|
Newmarket (Branch Office) |
029 22110 |
|
Portarlington (Branch Office) |
057 8642110 |
|
Portlaoise (Branch Office) |
057 8678010 |
|
Rathdowney (Branch Office) |
0505 46920 |
|
Roscrea (Branch Office) |
0505 22840 |
|
Skibbereen (Branch Office) |
028 40300 |
|
Swinford (Branch Office) |
094 9252880 |
|
Thomastown (Branch Office) |
056 7754080 |
|
Tipperary (Branch Office) |
062 80230 |
|
Trim (Branch Office) |
046 9481040 |
|
Tuam (Branch Office) |
093 70940 |
|
Tubbercurry (Branch Office) |
071 9138633 |
|
Tulla (Branch Office) |
065 6831908 |
|
Tullow (Branch Office) |
059 9152500 |
|
Wicklow (Branch Office) |
0404 20440 |
|
Youghal (Branch Office) |
024 25020 |
I trust this clarifies matters.
501. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the ongoing delay in Ireland ratifying the Budapest Convention, which, apart from cyber crime, is also a renowned convention to stop child pornography; and to provide a likely date for when we will proceed with this. [29466/24]
View answer523. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the ongoing delay in Ireland's inability to ratify the Budapest Convention (details supplied); and the date when Ireland will proceed with this. [29465/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 523 together.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland remains fully committed to ratification of the Council of Europe ‘Budapest’ Convention on Cybercrime.
The Convention is divided into three main sections: criminalisation of listed offences; measures for the gathering of evidence in relation to the listed offences and from computer systems generally; and international cooperation.
The vast majority of the Convention’s substantive criminalisation requirements have already been incorporated into Irish law through a number of existing acts. In this regard, the Deputy may wish to note that the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017 provides a comprehensive legal framework for the prosecution of cybercrime offences based on the requirements of the Budapest Convention. Furthermore, the Article 9 requirement of the Convention concerning offences related to ‘child pornography’ (child sexual abuse material - CSAM) is also already addressed by section 2 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998; section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997; and sections 6, 8 and 12 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
Regarding the other elements of the Convention, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in January 2024, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Protection, Preservation of and Access to Data on Information Systems) Bill 2024, which is intended to give effect to all but four of the remaining articles of the Convention and thus make substantial further progress towards ratification.
For the information of the Deputy, the four remaining articles are Articles 20, 21, 33 and 34, which concern real-time collection of traffic data, interception of content data and the mutual legal assistance provisions around both. It is my intention to address these four articles via separate legislation in due course and to ratify the Convention as soon as possible after that legislation is in place.
Ireland is fully committed to preventing and combating child sexual exploitation and abuse in all its forms, and considerable work is also being done beyond the scope of the Budapest Convention.
Ireland is a Party to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Lanzarote Convention. The main aims of the Convention are to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, to protect the rights of child victims and to promote national and international co-operation against such conduct.
Ireland has also transposed the 2011 EU Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and has recently opted into the 2024 recast of this Directive. Ireland is an active participant in these negotiations, as well as those of the proposed EU Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.
Hotline.ie is the national reporting channel for suspected CSAM and works with service providers to remove this content and where relevant submits reports to An Garda Síochána. Every year, An Garda Síochána receives thousands of reports of suspected CSAM relating to Ireland from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In 2023, An Garda Síochána identified 115 victims of child sexual abuse/exploitation in Ireland based on such reports, an increase on the 51 children identified in 2022. An Garda Síochána also regularly liaises with Europol on these matters.
502. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when she will publish the heads of a Bill, arising from the conclusion of the consultation process in 2022, to set aside, or disregard, criminal convictions and exonerate men who were arrested and prosecuted prior to the 1993 legislation which decriminalised homosexuality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29102/24]
View answerThe Victorian-era laws that were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatizing them simply because of their sexual orientation. I am deeply conscious that people who were criminalised by these laws, and their families, are hopeful that a disregard scheme can be put in place in the near future and I want to reassure them that I am absolutely committed to doing so.In June 2023, I published the final report of the working group that I appointed to examine this issue. The report contains 95 recommendations on the operation of such a scheme, covering matters such as the offences that should be included, the eligibility standards for a disregard, the procedures for applications, decisions and appeals, and how to address cases where there may be insufficient records to determine whether an offence is eligible for a disregard.
My Department is carefully examining the report with a view to developing proposals for a statutory scheme which is legally and procedurally robust, fair and accessible. This work is continuing and I am committed to publishing the relevant Heads of a Bill as soon as practicable.
503. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice the reason the IIP unit failed to make contact with a community organisation as committed to in correspondence (details supplied). [29137/24]
View answerI am advised that my Department's IIP Unit has recently corresponded with all stakeholders involved in this case, including the named organisation.
As the Deputy is aware, I do not comment on individual IIP applications. However, I can assure the Deputy the IIP Unit is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their own merits and will endeavour to conclude all decisions in a timely manner.
504. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline, in relation to a case (details supplied) where a mother was no longer provided with legal aid as it was claimed to be ‘outside of a jurisdiction’, the reason legal aid does not continue to represent parents and children who have been kidnapped from Ireland and brought to another country; if this is compliant with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Hague Convention on the prevention of international child kidnapping 1980; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29152/24]
View answer505. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the significant number of Irish children who year-on-year end up subject to international child kidnapping (details supplied); and if, in light of this ongoing crisis, she would be willing to establish and maintain an online list of Hague Convention countries that are non-compliant with their obligations under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Kidnapping 1980, in order to help the judiciary in their decision-making and also a list of non-Hague countries to help parents make informed decisions prior to travel to assist in the prevention of international child kidnapping. [29153/24]
View answer507. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline, in relation to a bilateral agreement designed to protect Irish children from being kidnapped to Egypt, the measures she has taken to try and create this agreement; the reason other countries have been successful in this but Ireland is yet to try; if she agrees that her Department should demand the same parity in child kidnapping situations with Egypt as France, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, Australia, United States and others that have bilateral agreements with Egypt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29156/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 504, 505 and 507 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.
There are two distinct scenarios that can apply in International Child Abduction cases. The first is where a child or children have been removed from this jurisdiction to a country that is a cooperating partner under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the second is where children have been removed from this jurisdiction to a country that is not a party to that Convention.
In the first scenario, the Irish Central Authority for International Child Abduction (Central Authority) located within my Department, can assist in return and access cases. The Central Authority can only assist in cases where children have been removed from this jurisdiction to a country that is a cooperating partner under the 1980 Hague Convention, that is, where their accession is accepted by this jurisdiction. It is also important to note that the Central Authority does not provide legal advice but can assist an individual with making an application under the Hague Convention. Additional helpful information to parent(s) who may have queries on the operation of the Central Authority can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/505a0-international-child-abduction/#circumstances-outside-of-the-remit-of-the-central-authority
While there is a published list of signatory countries to the Convention on the Hague Convention website (www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=24), the status of that list may be subject to change. Information on the latest status of those signatory countries can be obtained directly from the Central Authority and parent(s) who may have questions on this may to contact the Central Authority directly at internationalchildabduction@justice.ie
In the second scenario where a child has been removed from this jurisdiction to a country that is not a party to that Convention, or is being wrongfully retained in such a country, it is important to understand those cases cannot be assisted by the Central Authority. In that case, the parent(s) concerned should engage immediately with Consular Assistance Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs who will provide appropriate consular assistance, as appropriate.
My Department had previously taken steps to seek agreement on a bilateral agreement with their Egyptian counterparts. Notwithstanding that those previous efforts were unsuccessful, officials from my Department are currently engaging with the Department of Foreign Affairs to explore what might be further possible in this regard. I look forward to examining any options arise from those engagements to progress this matter.
Finally, on the matter of legal aid, while again I hope the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases, it is the case that there may be financial supports available, depending on individual circumstances. The Legal Aid Board publishes information on eligibility on its website and I would urge those who have questions about eligibility to contact them to assess their situation.
506. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice to report on the progress to date of the Ballymun implementation board which was announced on 13 February 2023; when the board first met; the number of meetings it has had to date; the membership of the board, including the community and business representatives, the plans the board has for further meetings; and to outline its plans for engagement with the local community. [29154/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I announced the Ballymun Implementation Board, with former Dublin GAA CEO John Costello as Chair, in February. As has already been announced, the Board will be hosted by Dublin City Council, and will include local representatives from the relevant agencies.
A list of these agencies was published as part of the announcement of the Board on the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8e4dc-minister-mcentee-announces-the-formation-of-a-new-group-to-improve-community-safety-in-ballymun/
Officials from my Department, the Chair, and Dublin City Council, are working together to identify the appropriate ex-officio and other members of the Board necessary in the context of the challenges locally, and invites have issued to nominees, a number of which have been accepted.
In line with other Implementation Boards (Drogheda and Cherry Orchard), the Department of Justice will fund the positions of a coordinator and an administrator as required by the Board. I am advised that Dublin City Council are in the process of identifying a coordinator.
Specific capital funding is being made available for Ballymun by both Dublin City Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, but in line with best practice elsewhere, any projects or interventions which are identified to support community safety in Ballymun will need to be funded through engagement with the relevant agencies who would be mainstream funders of such projects.
The Board's agenda and programme of work, along with its engagement with existing reports and bodies in the area, will be determined over the course of its initial meetings, which it is hoped will commence in the coming weeks. I am advised by Dublin City Council that engagement has taken place between the Chair, local representatives, the Ballymun Drugs Task Force and local TDs.
508. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to roads policing units in Cork west; if there was an increase of eleven members in one month, from 19 members in February 2024 to 30 members in March 2024; the date of the last roads policing competition held and completed in the southern regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29180/24]
View answerI have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact her when this is available.
509. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the total number of people detained in the Irish Prison Service on 1 July 2024; the extent to which the Irish Prison Service is currently over capacity; the number of people on a waiting list for psychology services; the number attending psychology services; the average waiting time for those currently waiting and the average time waited by those who gain access to psychology services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29182/24]
View answerAs 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.
As of, 01 July 2024, there are 5,029 in custody across the prison estate or 112% of the overall capacity.
The Deputy may wish to know, that detailed daily and monthly population and capacity figures are available on the Irish Prison's website. www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-information/statistics-introduction/
While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, Government is continuing to invest in the prison estate, to ensure that it is modern, fit-for-purpose and has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the Courts Service. Significant capital funding has been available to the Irish Prison Service to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity in recent years.
The Irish Prison Service is engaging with my Department to progress plans to bring new spaces for over 1,100 people on stream between 2024 and 2030 with short term projects progressing, which are expected to deliver accommodation for over 170 people this year. As part of these plans I have secured capital funding of €159m for the years 2024 to 2026, including securing an increase of €49.5m through the most recent NDP allocations.
A new Working Group on future prison capacity has been established, which will consider the additional future capacity needs of our prisons, including quantities and types of accommodation. It will also make recommendations on the future use of the site at Thornton Hall and the role it can play in providing additional and modern prison accommodation.
I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy on the average waiting time for those currently waiting to see psychology is not recorded centrally and would require a manual examination of a considerable number of individual records which could not be justified with the current demands on staff resources.
However, I can inform the Deputy that on, 2nd July 2024, there were 1,914 people in custody on a waiting list to see a prison psychologist with 609 currently on a psychology caseload.
I can further advise the Deputy, that the average time waited by those who are on the Psychology Services caseload can be viewed in Tables 1 and 2.
The most recent data available for waiting times for those who were seen for open referral for triage and pro-active triage was taken at the end of Q1 2024. The table shows the wait times following open referral for triage (mental health, other emotional or behavioural difficulties) for those who were seen in Q1 2024 for triage compared to those seen in 2023 & 2022 for triage.
Table 1:
|
2024 Q1 |
2023 |
2022 |
||||||
|
Referral Year |
Number of People |
Average Number of Days Waiting |
Referral Year |
Number of People |
Average Number of Days Waiting |
Referral Year |
Number of People |
Average Number of Days Waiting |
|
2024 |
46 |
31 |
2023 |
300 |
67 Days |
2022 |
291 |
90 Days |
|
2023 |
92 |
226 |
2022 |
211 |
294 Days |
2021 |
263 |
298 Days |
|
2022 |
30 |
573 |
2021 |
60 |
621 Days |
2020 |
30 |
610 Days |
|
2021 |
7 |
882 |
2020 |
0 |
- |
2019 |
2 |
851 Days |
|
2020 |
0 |
- |
2019 |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
The data above shows that the average number of day’s people had to wait to be seen for triage following a referral (mental health or another emotional or behavioural difficulty) in 2023 has reduced or broadly stayed the same, when compared to 2022.
Table 2: Wait times following proactive referrals on committal:
|
- |
- |
Proactive Referral (Violent Offence) |
- |
Proactive Referral (18-24 yr old) |
- |
Proactive Referral (Sexual Violence) |
- |
Proactive Referral (Life Sentence) |
|
Referral Year |
Number of Referrals |
Average Number of Days Waiting |
Number of Referrals |
Average Number of Days Waiting |
Number of Referrals |
Average Number of Days waiting |
Number of referrals |
Average Number of Days Waiting |
|
2024 |
5 |
24 Days |
8 |
29 Days |
9 |
39 Days |
20 |
26 Days |
|
2023 |
33 |
103 Days |
62 |
70 Days |
78 |
59 Days |
41 |
45 Days |
|
2022 |
34 |
263 Days |
27 |
159 Days |
20 |
297 Days |
7 |
171 Days |
|
2021 |
29 |
683 Days |
4 |
722 Days |
17 |
612 Days |
13 |
569 Days |
|
2020 |
1 |
861 Days |
0 |
- |
5 |
1267 Days |
3 |
927 Days |
|
2019 |
0 |
- |
0 |
- |
8 |
1370 Days |
30 |
1365 Days |
|
2018 |
0 |
- |
0 |
- |
4 |
1725 Days |
5 |
1678 Days |
I can also advise the Deputy that in Budget 2023, additional dedicated funding of €970K was secured to increase the number of psychologists employed by the Irish Prison Service. This year, an additional circa €27 million was secured for the Irish Prisons Service budget. This includes approximately €9m in staffing to provide for increased pay roll costs, recruitment, and 65,000 additional hours to help with current pressures.
