Written Answers Nos. 31-52
31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice her views on the adequacy of legislative measures to deal with the scourge of drugs and associated criminality throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38126/24]
View answer216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which measures to combat drug dealing continue and are making progress; the progress made in the past two years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38458/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 216 together.
Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation and violence on families and communities, is a top priority for my Department.
Unprecedented funding has been provided to An Garda Síochána which has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.
The funding made available to An Garda Síochána has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to 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 GNDOCB 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 is a critical element in the overall response.
Earlier this month An Garda Síochána played a pivotal role in dismantling a criminal communication platform in tandem with Europol, Eurojust and law enforcement authorities from around the world.
The communications platform was used for facilitating serious and organised crime perpetrated by dangerous criminal networks operating on a global scale. An international day of action resulted in a number of arrests and drug seizures worth seven million Euro.
An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved at every level through Operation Tara.
The Government is committed to limiting access to illegal drugs to the greatest extent possible and is committed to taking a number of direct actions to tackle this, including by:
• Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct gangland and drug related crime;
• Recently enacted new laws which criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit.
Earlier this year, I 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 existing legislation 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.
32. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to expand the youth diversion programme in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38009/24]
View answerYouth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency, youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour.
Youth Diversion Projects are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. There are currently 100 YDPs throughout the State, including four new projects which were established in 2023 and are now up and running. Two further YDPs are due to be established by end of year 2024 which will achieve full national coverage of the YDP service.
I can confirm that the YDP in County Carlow provides a service throughout the entire county, so the service is available to those who need it anywhere in the county. As such, there are no plans to expand it.
There is ongoing work at a high-level to engage a number of at-risk cohorts of children and young people in communities to divert them away from the Criminal Justice system. A collaborative, best practice approach is being taken to this to devise a training and support framework for YDPs.
Under the Youth Justice Strategy, this work includes expanding the existing YDPs’ mandate to undertake early intervention work with 8-11 year-olds who are at risk of engaging in criminality or anti-social behaviour later in life.
It also includes work to provide tailored support to the families of their participants, support schools to retain YDP participants in the education system, and conduct outreach work with those children and young people who have been identified as harder-to-reach.
In order to support this work, and to continue delivering on the services already in place, I have increased Youth Justice spending by 10% in Budget 2024 to bring the total to €33 million.
33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice to outline the new processes she has introduced in 2023 and 2024 to designate 'safe countries of origin'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38178/24]
View answerMy Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained.
I introduced accelerated processing in November 2022 and it now applies to the following cohorts:
• 15 safe countries of origin - Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Malawi, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia and South Africa. This list has been expanded since its introduction and is regularly reviewed.
• Applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe.
• Citizens of the 2 countries which provide the most number of applicants in the previous quarter (currently Nigeria & Jordan). This measure was introduced in April 2024 for the top country (Nigeria) and then extended to citizens from the second highest country of application (Jordan) on the 29th July 2024.
Under the accelerated process, applicants receive an interview date when they arrive and a first decision within three months.
Since the introduction of accelerated processing for citizens from the country with the highest number of applicants (Nigeria), applications from that country have dropped by 53%.
Overall, accelerated processing has resulted in reductions of up to 70% in applications from countries covered by these arrangements.
The Deputy may wish to know that a country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where we are satisfied that, based on the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there is generally and consistently no persecution, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.
The assessment is based on a range of sources of information, including from other EU Member States, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Council of Europe and other international organisations as appropriate.
My decision to designate any nation as a safe country of origin for the purpose of international protection claims is a careful one following detailed reviews, in line with the above.
Under accelerated procedures, the applicant continues to have the opportunity to submit grounds, in writing and at interview, as to why their country is not safe for them. Those grounds are given due consideration. Furthermore, all applicants have the right to appeal a negative recommendation by the IPO to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT).
34. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the discussions that have taken place between her Department and An Garda Síochána about establishing a new Garda station in the new town of Cherrywood, Dublin 18. [38121/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, and the use of Garda facilities, across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.
The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. Everyone, no matter where in the country they live, deserves to be safe and to feel safe. This is central to the Government’s community safety policy. A strengthened Garda Síochána, with fit-for-purpose facilities, is at the heart of that.
We have provided record amounts to the Garda Vote in recent years to achieve this ambition, with An Garda Síochána receiving over €2.35 billion for 2024, up 25% since 2020. This includes a capital profile of €171 million, including the additional funding I secured under the NDP earlier this year. Within this, over €50 million of which is for the Capital Building Programme.
I have also recently secured additional capital funding of €93 million under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice projects in 2024 to 2026. This brings the total capital allocation available for the Justice sector between now and 2026 to €930 million.
Under the NDP, the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital funding into An Garda Síochána to deliver a Garda station modernisation and refurbishment programme; to delivering strategic ICT and digitalisation projects; and to providing a modern, fit for purpose Garda fleet.
A new Divisional Headquarters for DMR East will be considered in the context of the next National Development Plan.
35. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of deportation orders effected to date in 2024, including the number of people who have voluntarily departed, as well as enforced deportations and assisted deportations. [38188/24]
View answerI can advise the deputy that a deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked by the Minister for Justice – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carries out inquiries to confirm that people have removed themselves from the State and works closely with my Department to enforce deportations where this is not the case.In addition to the enforced deportations and those that are otherwise confirmed to have left, we know that a much larger number of people will have left the State without being escorted; however, as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately quantify this number.Enforced deportation operations are complex and costly. They often involve investigations, detection, detentions in custody, legal challenges, flights costs and confirmation with the return country that the person is their citizen. Alternatives to forced removals, such as through the State’s voluntary return process, are therefore preferable. The number of deportation orders signed up to 20 September 2024 (1508) has increased by 120% for the same period in 2023 (685 up to 22 September 2023).621 people have departed from the State under various mechanisms up to 20 September 2024 (i.e. forced return, voluntary return etc.). The overall number of returns has increased by 190% for the same period in 2023 (214 up to 22 September 2023).The number of enforced deportations has increased by 163% for the same period in 2023 (79 in 2024 and 30 up to 22 September 2023).The number of voluntary returns has increased by 244% for the same period in 2023 (506 in 2024 and 147 up to 22 September 2023).The Table below illustrates the total number of repatriations of persons in 2024 up to 20 September 2024.
|
Repatriations |
Number |
|
Number of Non-Enforced Deportations (1) |
14 |
|
Number of Enforced deportations (2) |
79 |
|
Number of EU Removals (3) |
15 |
|
Number of Dublin III transfers (4) |
7 |
|
Number of voluntary returns (5) |
506 |
|
Total |
621 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
1. Information has come to hand or by inquiry to the effect that the individual has left the state following receipt of a DO.
2. Person escorted from the state by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
3. EU Citizen removed from the State under the Free Movement Regulations (generally criminals).
4. Transfer to another EU State to have their application for International Protection examined.
5. Persons who availed of the voluntary return programme without getting a deportation order.
36. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position on the single application procedure for a combined employment and residence permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38173/24]
View answerOn 15 May 2024, I jointly announced with Minister Burke that the Government has agreed to the roll out of a single permit to both work and live in Ireland.Legal migration pathways are vital to addressing labour shortages at all skill levels across the economy and has been a key driver of growth in Ireland. I work closely with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure that Ireland's labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient and meet the needs of economy and society.With that aim, my Department, and that of Minister Burke, have been working with a number of other Departments on an Inter-Departmental Working Group on the feasibility of a single permit to both work and live in Ireland. Currently, a person from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) has to first make an application for an employment permit, and then make a second application for a visa (if necessary) and for an immigration permission. Given the challenges in recruiting sufficient domestic and EEA talent, the group agreed a detailed report on how to unify an application procedure for employment, visa and residence permissions.An implementation group has now being established between our two departments to commence implementation of the Single Permit. Once the single permit is implemented, Ireland would also then be able to opt-in to the EU Single Permit Directive, which we estimate will be over the next three years.
In the shorter term, efficiencies will be introduced to make the process easier for prospective employers and workers while at the same time creating efficiencies for both Departments in reducing duplication and maximising resources. These changes will include reducing the duplication of checks and documents through data sharing, aligning online information to streamline the customer experience and designing a single payment model for a single fee.
37. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1123 of 09 September 2024, when the independent review of part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 will be published; her plans to publish any interim reports or updates received from the research and evaluation unit within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37937/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for her interest in this issue.
As you aware, my Department commissioned an independent consultant to undertake the statutory review of Part 4 of the Act but, due to a number of reasons, it was not possible for the review to be completed within the desired timeframe.
I acknowledge that the report is now significantly overdue and the Deputy is aware, from previous questions, of the circumstances that have delayed its completion.
Expressions of interest for a new Study lead to complete the Part 4 review of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017 were sought and following the closing date for receipt of applications, all options for concluding this work were considered.
A very small number of expressions of interest were received, none of which met the necessary requirements to complete the review.Arising from those considerations and in view of the research already undertaken and the work done compiling and analysing the submissions received, all of which have been made available to my Department, I decided that the most appropriate way to complete the review is for the Research and Evaluation Unit in my Department to draft the report using the material provided.
As an action under the Justice Plan 2024, I receive regular updates in relation to progress on this review. I understand that the report is now very close to being finalised and I expect to receive the report very soon.
38. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí within the East Clare – North Tipperary functional area; the number of Garda vehicles available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38019/24]
View answerThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and this is reflected in the allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024. This unprecedented level of funding is allowing for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff and investment in technology and equipment.
While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the deployment of Garda members throughout the State, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends.
As the Deputy may be aware, the new Garda Operating Model is currently being rolled out across the country and is fully commenced in 16 Garda Divisions, including Clare/Tipperary. The new model will provide more frontline Gardaí and increased Garda visibility, and will deliver a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.
Under the Model, each Division has, for the first time, a Superintendent dedicated to Crime, a Superintendent dedicated to Governance and Performance Assurance, and a number of Superintendents in charge of Community Engagement.
I can inform the Deputy that as of 30 June there are 656 Garda members assigned to the Clare / Tipperary division. Furthermore, there are currently 78 vehicles assigned to Tipperary and 54 vehicles assigned to Clare.
Recruitment is now gathering real momentum and the number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase; a total of 746 trainees entered the training college in 2023. That was the highest intake in any year since 2018 and a six fold increase on 2022. Of those who entered the Garda college last year, 430 have attested this year, including 108 last week.
In the interest of transparency, further breakdowns on the allocation of Gardaí by Division, District, Station and Rank 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/
39. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the plan to reduce the wait time for citizenship applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38106/24]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy on the ongoing improvements being made to the processing of citizenship applications. Just last week, I had the honour of attending a Citizenship Ceremony in Dublin Convention Centre, and I would like to congratulate all of our newest citizens and their proud families.
Processing times are now decreasing year on year. This is a result of re-engineering and streamlining the process, the introduction of a very successful online digital application, as well as online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.
My Department has increased its decision making capacity which has had the effect of increasing the number of grants of citizenship applications from 13,598 in 2022, to 18,279 applications in 2023.
I am happy to note that, in the first 6 months of this year, a total of 16,000 decisions were made.
The median processing time for a decision on an application in 2023 was 15 months, down from a median processing time of 19 months in 2022.
Whilst a figure in respect of the current year is not yet available, based on the current output and at the current application levels, my Department expects that the median processing time will reduce again over the course of this year.
My objective into next year is that the majority of people who submit their naturalisation application based on residency through the new online digital form, will receive a decision on their application within 12 months. I look forward to delivering on this objective and acknowledge the commitment and excellent work being done by the Citizenship Division of my Department to improve the service provided to applicants.
40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which provision is being made to ensure a sufficient increase in the strength of An Garda Síochána to meet law and order requirements now and in the future given demographic trends and events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38135/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends.
In 2024, a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion has been provided to An Garda Síochána. This is a 25% increase since 2020 and will allow for the sustained recruitment of new Garda recruits through to next year.
A number of actions have been taken to support increased recruitment. We have increased the age of entry from 35 to 50, extended the retirement age to 62, and most recently increased the training allowance to €354. This represents an increase of over 92% in the last 12 months.
The response to this year’s Garda recruitment campaign in January and February was very strong. I am advised by the Garda authorities that 6,381 people applied for the 2024 Garda Trainee Competition. The Commissioner has also recently committed to running recruitment campaigns annually.
This year, 186 trainees entered the Garda college in April, another 157 entered in July, and 125 entered this week on Monday (23 September 2024). One more intake is scheduled for December of this year.
My Department will continue to engage with the Garda Commissioner to determine additional measures that can be taken in order to reach the Government’s target of 15,000 Gardaí and beyond.
I understand that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include:
• 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.
An Garda Síochána continue to work on the mitigation of various resourcing challenges and the Deputy may already be aware that I have established a Garda Recruitment Training Capacity Group. I expect to receive an interim report from the Group shortly.
At the latest date for which verified and published figures are available, the end of June 2024, An Garda Síochána have a strength of over 14,000 members assigned across the country. This represents an approximately 10% increase on 2015 when there were 12,816 Gardaí throughout the country.
41. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice the reason the waiting time for visas is over one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38146/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that in 2023, over 166,000 visa applications were submitted and approximately 140,000 people were granted visas to travel to Ireland. These figures are likely to be surpassed in 2024, with over 123,000 visa applications having been received in the first seven months of this year alone. This reflects an increase of 20%, compared to the same period in 2023, with over 21,000 additional applications received.Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. The vast majority of visa applications are determined in a matter of weeks. However, some applications, in particular those to join family members here, can take considerably longer. It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.Processing times for these applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged. I understand extended wait times can be frustrating. I want to assure anyone who is waiting on a decision that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. I am acutely aware these applications, in particular those to join family members here, are very important for the persons impacted and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides. In recent weeks, I have assigned additional resources and staff to my Department’s visa division which will I expect will reduce the waiting times for family applications in the coming months.As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has established a modernisation programme to transform its immigration operations to provide a modern, transparent system which is much more accessible and responsive to the public's needs.The modernisation programme is restructuring the immigration system and will replace legacy information management systems, introducing a new single platform for immigration services. This platform is being delivered in phases with phase one expected to be completed by the end of this year and it will, over time, significantly improve customer service capacity.In additional to the modernisation programme, last May, I jointly announced with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a project to adopt a single permit to both work and live in Ireland. The outcome will streamline the process for applicants coming to Ireland to work by combining three separate applications into one single procedure. This is a complex project which will take a number of years to complete. I am confident that in due course we will see more expedited processing for visa and preclearance applications because of both the modernisation programme and the single permit procedure.
42. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí for Cork city and county as of August 2024; the number of Gardaí in August 2023 for Cork city and county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38034/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. Having said that, the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring there is provision for the necessary equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Deputy may be interested to know that crime such as burglary, public order offences, and drugs offences have decreased across the County when 2023 is compared with 2019.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of June 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a total of 1,269 Garda members assigned to Cork. Of this total, there were 667 Garda members assigned to Cork City Division, 322 to Cork North Division, and 280 to Cork West Division.
This shows an increase when compared to figures at the end of August 2023 when there was a total of 1,309 Garda members assigned to Cork. Of this total, 702 Garda members were assigned to Cork City Division, 323 to Cork North Division, and 284 to Cork West Division.
43. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice to outline the current situation with respect to recruitment to the Garda Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38152/24]
View answerThe Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to make a contribution to their community and, in some cases, learn more about the role of a Garda member prior to seeking to join An Garda Síochána full time. Reserves serve a very valuable role in assisting Gardaí with local patrols, crime reduction initiatives and administration. They also assist in the policing of major incidents and events, and provide operational support to Gardaí on the basis of the Garda Reserve’s skills or local knowledge.
Earlier this year I was delighted to launch the Garda Reserve recruitment campaign, the first since 2017, which was run by Public Jobs on behalf of the Commissioner. The competition closed on 4 July and I can confirm that over 1,800 applications were received.
To further support this competition, I was pleased to bring forward new regulations governing recruitment, training and deployment of the Reserve. While their work is voluntary, an annual stipend is paid to Reserve members and the maximum payment has been increased to €3,000, based on the number of hours volunteered.
There are currently around 320 Garda Reserves, and Government has set a target of 1,000 Reserves by 2026. I am fully committed to working with the Garda Commissioner to achieve this goal.
I believe this also represents a great opportunity to broaden the recruitment pool for An Garda Siochana particularly among communities which have not traditionally joined the service in large numbers.
Being a Garda Reserve offers a unique opportunity to experience what is required as a Garda. For some it is a driving factor in applying to become a Garda, and for others it is an opportunity to volunteer and make a real difference in their community. I am advised by the Garda authorities that over 80 Garda Reserves have gone on to train as full-time Gardaí.
In recognition of this being utilised as a career path, An Garda Síochána has created a Garda Reserve Stream, enabling Garda Reserve members to apply to become Gardaí if they meet certain criteria. This stream is separate to the open competition stream and the application process is managed by PAS on behalf of the Commissioner. Additionally, training for Reserve Gardaí will be delivered through a blended approach. It will require attendance at the Garda College, Templemore for some elements of this training, in addition to online and experiential workplace learning at assigned training stations. This will provide further opportunities for Reserve Gardaí to experience the operational, day to day, aspects of policing as a career.
Every measure will be considered when it comes to boosting overall Garda recruitment and I am continuing to look at additional measures we can take. The Garda Reserve is a big part of our plan. I wish all those who applied the best of luck, and look forward to welcoming new members of the Reserve in the coming months.
45. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to address delays in processing probate applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34858/24]
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. The Probate General Office and Rules Office in Dublin is open to the legal profession and general public every morning, Monday to Friday, to facilitate general enquiries, copy requests, filing of court applications, Probate Officer Orders and caveats.
As part of its ongoing Modernisation Programme, the Courts Service is working to digitally transform the way in which applications for probate are processed. Earlier this year a new plain language information site was launched within the courts.ie website aiming to help applicants and solicitors in navigating the probate process. Furthermore, 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 commencing 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.
The Report of the Expert Group and Conveyancing and Probate was approved by Government and published in July. This Group was established last December by the then Taoiseach, to carry out a review of current conveyancing and probate processes. In overall conclusion, the Group made recommendations on changes to both processes to make them more efficient and streamlined. An Implementation Group has been established to ensure oversight and delivery and its first meeting took place on 23 September 2024.
To that end, I am happy to report that great progress made over the summer months by the Probate Office to reduce probate processing times and as of 23 September 2024, the processing time for applications for probate to the Probate Office is now at 8 weeks, from a high of 20 weeks earlier in the year.
The Courts Service has also updated the Probate section of its website using the same User-Centric approach adopted throughout its Modernisation Programme to provide clear, concise information in plain English (NALA approved) that is accessible to both the general public and the legal profession.
46. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will grant general employment permit holders full access to the labour market after two years, rather than five years currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38180/24]
View answerThe criteria and conditions for obtaining employment permits are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). My Department’s role relates to the immigration rules and procedures that apply to persons granted an employment permit by that Department. Both Departments work closely together to ensure that Ireland's labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient, and responsive to the needs of Irish society and the economy generally.
The arrangements for labour migration distinguish between occupations deemed "general" or "critical", with DETE determining the list of occupations in each category. A non-EEA national who has been granted a general employment permit by DETE is granted a Stamp 1 immigration permission by my Department. This immigration permission allows the holder to work in the State for the employer named on the permit and is reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation. The immigration permission is renewable in the normal course subject to the employment permit being renewed.
Although employment permits are a matter for DETE, I can advise the Deputy that the Employment Permits Act 2024 has introduced a new provision allowing certain employment permit holders to apply to that Department to change from the employer named on their permit to another employer, nine months after commencing their first employment permit in the State. This provision eliminates the need for a new employment permit application. For a general employment permit holder, the new role must be the same as the role for which the original permit was issued.
Stamp 4 residence permission allows the holder to work without an employment permit. Where a person has held a general employment permit and Stamp 1 residence permission for 57 months from commencement of employment in the State, it is open to them to apply to my Department for Stamp 4 for one year initially, and to apply for renewal of that status thereafter. It is also important to note that a holder of a general employment permit may apply to DETE for a critical skills employment permit to take up employment in an eligible occupation. Persons holding a critical skills employment permit, subject to having complied with their previous immigration and employment permit conditions, can apply for a Stamp 4 immigration permission after 21 months rather than 57 months.
It is also open to holders of general employment permits with five years’ residence on a Stamp 1 basis to apply for long-term residency. If granted, this allows the person to work in Ireland for a further five years without the need for an employment permit. A person resident in the State for five years on the basis of Stamp 1 permission is furthermore eligible to apply for naturalisation, subject to other conditions set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
I can further advise the Deputy that my Department and DETE have been working with a number of other Departments on an Inter-Departmental Working Group on the feasibility of a single permit to both work and live in Ireland, with a view to improving the user experience and enhancing Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting skilled migrant workers. On 15 May 2024, I jointly announced with Minister Burke that the Government has agreed to the roll-out of a single permit to both work and live in Ireland over the next three years, and an implementation group has now been established between our two Departments.
These and other aspects of the immigration arrangements for labour market migration are kept under ongoing review, in close consultation with DETE and other relevant stakeholders.
47. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on progress in respect of the 50 safe houses; the number that have been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38145/24]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a priority for me and my Department.
This is reflected in our policies, legislative proposals and in increased budgetary allocations in recent years. The extent of our ambition in this regard is set out in our whole of Government Zero Tolerance Strategy to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, better support victims and survivors and create a society that does accept the behaviours and attitudes that underpin these terrible crimes.
Central to delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of this strategy was the establishment of Cuan, the statutory based domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency which I was delighted to formally open in February of this year.
Cuan has a mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue and it will work collaboratively with the NGO and DSGBV services sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors.
As part of its remit, Cuan has responsibility for the provision of DSGBV services, including the provision and funding of refuge spaces and are working with the sector and with relevant Government Departments and agencies to deliver on the commitment to double the number of refuge spaces across the country, bringing it to 280 by the end of the timeframe of this current Strategy.
Earlier this month, I was delighted to launch a new 12 unit refuge in Wexford - the first of 18 priority locations to complete construction - and just last week, €7.3 million in funding was provided to progress the building of new refuge units in Kerry under the Capital Assistance Scheme.
The opening of the new units in Wexford means there are 162 domestic violence units across the country, with four more expected to come online in Louth before the end of the year and construction of a further 12 units in Kilcross in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown also beginning before the end of this year.
There are at present 82 units undergoing funding approval through the Capital Assistance Scheme, with a further 10 proposals under review by colleagues in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
There are another 19 units that have been identified as potential development opportunities by Cuan and our planning and delivery pipeline is growing stronger all the time.
Given the number of projects in the pipeline, we are on course to deliver on the ambitious target of doubling the number of refuge spaces.
This is happening alongside our work to increase the number of Safe Homes - another form of emergency domestic violence accommodation - which are an important part of the response.
We are on-track to deliver 10 new safe homes this year - bringing the total to 60, and are working with the sector and local authorities to identify housing stock to secure a further six safe homes by year-end.
48. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice when local community safety partnerships will be established in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38172/24]
View answerCommunity safety is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own communities. At the heart of this policy is the principle that every community has the right to thrive and flourish.Our approach to community safety is a whole-of-Government one. We want to bring the relevant social service providers, including the Gardaí, together with the community in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified by the local community itself.Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) are provided for in Part 3 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which was signed into law by the President in February 2024. LCSPs will now commence being rolled out in each local authority area.
Work is underway to ensure local coordinators are appointed for each prospective partnership and that a chair is selected. An Expression of Interest process is currently underway in each Local Authority to identify a suitable chairperson for each LCSP; a key milestone on the rollout of LCSPs in communities across the country.
Assessment panels have commenced for the role of chairperson in a number of local authority areas and nominations for the first chairpersons will be submitted to me shortly. I am hopeful that many communities will start to see LCSPs established over the coming weeks. Selection committees to identify respective chairs for Cork City and for Cork County LCSPs will be scheduled shortly.
The Partnerships will operate at local authority level and they will replace Joint Policing Committees (JPCs). The Partnerships will have a wider membership than JPCs and will include residents, local councillors, community representatives (including representatives of young people, older people, new and minority communities), business and education representatives and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority.
Each newly established LCSP will be required to develop and implement its own tailored Community Safety Plan and will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner; addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.
Pilot partnerships have been running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City, and each has published a Community Safety Plan, which are available on the respective local authority websites. The plans set out a number of agreed actions to be undertaken by the members of the Partnerships to enhance community safety in that area.
The chairperson of each Partnership will have the power under section 115 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 to set up a neighbourhood community safety forum. These fora would serve as subgroups of the Partnerships, including where local policing fora were already in operation. This will enable a tailored, targeted and time-limited approach to be delivered in cases where issues of concern are arising in a local electoral area. I will also be formally establishing a National Office for Community Safety later this year. The National Office will provide training, guidance and other support to the Local Community Safety Partnerships and will have responsibility for delivering the objectives of the national strategy, once approved. On Monday, 23 September, I announced the appointment of the Designate Director of the National Office of Community Safety. A number of staff have been appointed and have been working on matters related to the establishment of the office.
49. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice for an update on efforts to ban face coverings at protests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37609/24]
View answerIn the context of the recent increase in public order incidents related to protests, the Garda Commissioner asked that I consider amending public order laws to provide a power to Gardaí to direct a person to remove a face covering that is worn for the purposes of intimidating others.
While the right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of any democracy, this does not give people the right to intimidate and instil fear in others.
I have consulted with the Attorney General, who has advised that the proposals are legally sound, though complex. I have also further consulted with the Garda Commissioner in respect of the proposals. My officials are examining the legal advices and views received to determine how the proposed amendments can best be progressed.
I expect to be in a position to seek approval to draft the necessary legislation very shortly.
The introduction of Body Worn Cameras, the delivery of stronger incapacitant spray, and the introduction of more body armour have all been done to help Gardaí in keeping us all safe.
Likewise, the objective of this legislation is to ensure correct laws are in place to ensure Gardaí have all the powers required to protect public order while also supporting the right to peaceful protest.
50. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí in Cork city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38189/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. Having said that, the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring there is provision for the necessary equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of June 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a total of 1,269 Garda members assigned to Cork. Of this total, there were 667 Garda members assigned to Cork City Division.
I am further advised that as of the same date there are 217 Garda staff working alongside Garda members in Cork, a total which has doubled since 2015. Garda staff carry out vital roles to increase availability of Gardaí to focus on frontline duties. The significant increase in Garda staff across the country in recent years has enabled 900 Gardaí to be freed up for frontline duties.
51. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to recruitment campaigns being run by other countries' police forces in Ireland; if her Department has undertaken any assessment of the impact these campaigns are having on recruitment to the Gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37987/24]
View answerI would like to assure the Deputy that I am absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources necessary to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.
While I am aware of efforts by foreign police services to recruit members of An Garda Síochána, I am advised that the number of Gardaí leaving to join a foreign police service is low. Furthermore, there have been a number of cases, where Gardaí who had previously resigned to join another police service, have been readmitted to An Garda Síochána.
More generally, in 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. This is a 25% increase since 2020 and will allow for the sustained recruitment of new Garda recruits through to next year.
I have taken a number of actions to support increased recruitment. We have increased the age of entry from 35 to 50, extended the retirement age to 62 and most recently increased the training allowance to €354. This represents an increase of over 92% in the last 12 months. The Government is determined that An Garda Síochána grows to 15,000 members and beyond.
The response to this year’s Garda recruitment campaign in January and February was very strong. I am advised by the Garda authorities that 6,381 people applied for the 2024 Garda Trainee Competition. The Commissioner has also recently committed to running recruitment campaigns annually.
I will continue to engage with the Garda Commissioner to determine additional measures that can be taken in order to reach the Government’s target of 15,000 Gardaí and beyond.
An Garda Síochána continue to work on the mitigation of various resourcing challenges and the Deputy may already be aware that I have established a Garda Recruitment Training Capacity Group.
52. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice the number of people currently incarcerated in Mountjoy Prison; the level to which the prison is considered over capacity; the work undertaken by the Prison Overcrowding Response Group to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37290/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts and as such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the capacity and number of persons in custody in Mountjoy Prison is contained in the table below.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has confirmed that statistics available regarding prisoners are collated by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be found in the Information Centre under Statistics & Information, Daily Prisoner Population.
Prisoner Population on Tuesday 24th September 2024
|
Institution |
No. in Custody |
No. on Temporary Release |
No. on Trial/Remand |
Total Prisoners in System |
Bed Capacity |
% of Bed Capacity |
|
Mountjoy Male |
851 |
134 |
42 |
1,046 |
755 |
113% |
|
Mountjoy Female |
184 |
65 |
61 |
260 |
146 |
126% |
|
Training Unit |
98 |
2 |
0 |
101 |
96 |
102% |
The Prison Service is working closely with officials in my Department to take steps to ensure a safe working environment for staff, and the safety and security of people in custody.
They are also working to identify short, medium, and long-term proposals to manage capacity issues in our prisons as they arise.
Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and provide additional capacity.
Capital funding of €159m has been allocated for the years 2024 to 2026, which includes an increase of €49.5m in the most recent NDP allocations to assist towards bringing on stream accommodation for over 1,100 people between 2024 and 2030.
Short term projects are being progressed which are expected to deliver accommodation for over 150 people in 2024. The Prison Service are also engaged with the Defence Forces to assess the feasibility of bringing the Curragh Military Prison into use.
In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by more than 200 additional spaces through the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.
In July 2023, a Prison Overcrowding Response Group was established, composed of officials from the Department of Justice and representatives from relevant agencies, to consider measures to address capacity issues in the prison estate. A number of measures suggested by the group are being implemented.
In addition, and to further consider future prison capacity needs, I have established a new Working Group which will make recommendations on the numbers and types of prison capacity needed out to 2035. This Group will also make recommendations on the future use of the site at Thornton Hall.
