Written Answers Nos. 373-392
373. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the current and capital funding that would be required to increase the capacity of the Garda training college to be able to comfortably train up to 1,500 new recruits each year. [40126/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
374. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on Garda Operation Cartwheel; the number of persons arrested and charged under this operation; and if this operation is still ongoing at present. [40127/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
376. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her views on her use of her powers under section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40175/24]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted. Section 16 of the Act gives discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen).
Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation that renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.
The Deputy should be aware that there is no automatic right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived, even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined.
Officials in my Department are in the process of finalising guidelines, which will provide clarity to both applicants and decision-makers on what factors may be considered when deciding whether to waive such naturalisation conditions under section 16(1)(a) of the Act. These new guidelines are being developed in the interests of fair and transparent procedures and comprehensive decision making. Details of the new guidelines will be made publicly available once they have been finalised.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
377. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the total number of staff in the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal from January to October 2024, in tabular form. [40190/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
I have significantly increased investment into the international protection system. I have implemented measures to improve efficiencies and throughput while also enhancing the application, interview, and decision-making process for applicants.
One of the priority areas of focus has been to recruit both civil servants and panel members to increase case processing. The IPO now has 548 staff, an increase of 158% over 2022.
I also introduced accelerated processing for:
• 15 safe countries of origin
• Applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe
• Citizens of the countries which provide the most number of applicants in the previous quarter (at the moment, Nigeria & Jordan).
• Accelerated processing has resulted in reductions of up to 70% in applications from countries covered by these arrangements.
Under the accelerated process, applicants receive a first decision within three months.
Faster, more efficient processing means that someone who has a right to protection gets it much more quickly, but it also means those without a right can be returned more quickly.
Staff numbers at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal have also been increasing year on year to meet the current challenges. In 2021, the agreed administrative staff of the Tribunal was 41. Currently there are 78 administrative staff.
The number of tribunal members is also increasing and there are currently 95 Part-Time Members, and I plan to increase the number of part time members further to 160. I am also increasing the number of Whole-Time Members from 3 to 12.
The Deputy may also wish to know that Budget 2025 has provided a €25m package for end-to-end investment in the immigration system including Service Delivery, International Protection Office, International Protection Appeals Tribunal and the Legal Aid Board.
These significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the end-to end international protection process, with approximately 400 further staff to be recruited for roles across this process. This will support reaching key targets, including the IPO making 25,000 decisions in 2025 compared to over 14,000 cases in 2024.
All aspects of the international protection modernisation programme will continue to be kept under review and improved on a continuous ongoing basis.
The table below details the staff count at the IPO since January 2024 to 7 October 2024.
|
Monthly |
IPO Staff Count per Month |
|
January |
406 |
|
February |
405 |
|
March |
417 |
|
April |
415 |
|
May |
423 |
|
June |
449 |
|
July |
496 |
|
August |
524 |
|
September |
548 |
|
October* |
548 |
The table below details the breakdown of IPAT staffing levels from January to 7 October 2024
|
- |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct* |
|
Admin Staff |
59 |
59 |
62 |
63 |
65 |
67 |
71 |
72 |
78 |
78 |
|
Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Wholetime Members |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Legal Interns |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
||||
|
Total |
65 |
65 |
68 |
69 |
72 |
74 |
78 |
79 |
86 |
86 |
*to 7 October 2024
Please note that all data provided is correct at the time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
379. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to outline how much of the money allocated to the prison service in Budget 2025 is for new measures, existing level of service and other. [40193/24]
View answer378. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to outline how much of the €37.6 million allocated to funding the prison service in Budget 2025 that is for the public sector pay deal. [40192/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 378 together.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has been allocated a budget of €525m for 2025 to increase prison capacity and tackle overcrowding. This is an increase of €79m or 18%.
I can also advise the Deputy that the capital budget for the Irish Prison Service will increase by over 70% in 2025 as part of the plan to deliver 1,100 extra spaces, including over 150 in 2024.
I can further advise that the Irish Prison Service’s pay budget in 2024 was €319m. It is intended that an additional €37.6m will be allocated to the Irish Prison Service pay budget for 2025, with approximately €14.9m expected to provide for the public sector pay deal. An additional 150 staff will be hired in 2025, in addition to 240 prison officers recruited in 2024.
Funding has also been secured for approximately 130,000 additional staff hours in 2025. Additional hours are applied to support the prisons in meeting demands in excess of the rostered hours of officers. Factors which influence the demands are the prisoner and staff demographics and the prison environment, including the requirement to escort prisoners to and from court, and the large increase in our prisoner population.
380. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to outline how much of the money allocated to the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in Budget 2025 that is for new measures. [40195/24]
View answer375. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the total budget allocation in Budget 2025 for the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal; and for a breakdown of the budget allocation, by existing service levels and new measures. [40142/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 375 together.
I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
I have significantly increased investment into the international protection system, which has allowed for a major increase in processing capacity and the introduction of accelerated processing.
In July 2023, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme involves unparalleled multi year programme of investment in staff, panel members, reengineered processes, and technology. My Department has implemented measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
This has already demonstrated results. One of the priority areas of focus has been to recruit both civil servants and panel members to increase case processing. The IPO now has 548 staff, an increase of 158% over 2022, the number of decisions issuing from the IPO has trebled over this time, and they are confident of delivering over 14,000 decisions this year.
The total budget this year for the IPO was €31.8 million and €9.2m in respect of the IPAT.
Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package for end-to-end investment in the entire immigration system.
The breakdown of the package includes €9.5m allocated for ISD and IPO, as well as an additional €2.4m allocated for IPAT.
These significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the international protection process, with approximately 400 further staff to be recruited. This will support a target of approximately 25,000 decisions by the IPO compared to approximately 14,000 in 2024.
It will also fund increased investment in digital systems to modernise immigration systems, reduce processing times, increase removals (including with a new charter plane service), and strengthen border security.
The additional monies will also go towards funding readiness work for the introduction of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact requirements in June 2026.
All aspects of the international protection modernisation programme will continue to be kept under review and improved on an ongoing basis.
381. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for the spending of the additional spending allocated to education in prison under Budget 2025. [40197/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the aim of prison education is to deliver a high quality, broad, flexible programme of education that supports people in custody to cope with their sentence, achieve personal development, prepare for life after release and establish an appetite and capacity for life-long learning.
The Irish Prison Service seeks to deliver relevant programmes that cater for holistic needs, ensuring broad access and high participation, and prioritising those with basic education and literacy needs. It promotes the principles of adult and community education and supports a multi-disciplinary approach within the prison system.
Expenditure through the Irish Prison Service Vote covers the incidental day-to-day costs of running the Education Centres in each prison and Open Centre, including the purchase and repair of educational equipment, and the purchase of course resource materials and educational software.
The timeline for the spend of the increase in budget for educational services will be over the year 2025 in line with increased numbers, in addition to groups and initiatives including the work of the Prison Education Taskforce and the Building Bridges project.
382. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if Budget 2025 funding commitments for care and rehabilitation services will be used to address the existing gaps in addiction supports in the Irish prison system. [40198/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service seeks to offer a multi-disciplinary addiction support programme for people in custody. The Irish Prison Service acknowledges that addiction comes in many forms, from drug and / or alcohol addiction and dual diagnosis, through to gambling and other non-substance use addiction-related behaviour.
People in custody have access to a growing range of medical and rehabilitative services, such as methadone substitution treatment, counselling, psychological intervention, peer to peer support programmes, psycho-education and the Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme provided by Merchants Quay Ireland, available in the Medical Unit in Mountjoy Prison. Treatment provided is in line with the National Drug Strategy, the Irish Prison Service Drugs Strategy 2023-2026, the Health Needs Assessment and the High Level Taskforce on the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system
The Irish Prison Service spends in excess of €1 million per annum on addiction counselling support. This sum rose to over €1.5 million recently following agreement to support two important collaborations. First is a collaboration between the Irish Prison Service, Recovery Academy, Recovery College and Dublin City University in relation to peer to peer support programmes. Second is a collaboration between University College Cork and the Irish Prison Service in relation to an Addictions Studies educational programme. The Irish Prison Service and Health Service Executive are also seeking to collaborate in relation to a pilot dual diagnosis service in Cork Prison.
Finally, the Deputy may wish to know that the Irish Prison Service has recently employed a national lead to oversee current and future policy and strategy in relation to mental health and addiction in Irish prisons.
The timeline for the spend of any increase in budget for addiction support in prisons will be over the year 2025 and will be agreed by the Irish Prison Service in line with agreed policy, strategy and any funding of new initiatives.
383. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed penalty notices issued by An Garda Síochána in Dublin for exceeding the speed limit, broken down by Garda district, week of issue, and posted speed limit exceeded, for each week for the previous 60 weeks, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40204/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide a weekly return of the information the Deputy has requested. However, An Garda Síochána have provided a monthly breakdown to align with their existing publications.
I am further advised that the tables below provide a monthly breakdown since August 2023, per Garda division, of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offences of speeding.
|
Division |
Aug-23 |
Sep-23 |
Oct-23 |
Nov-23 |
Dec-23 |
Jan-24 |
Feb-24 |
|
Clare/Tipperary |
2051 |
1556 |
1680 |
1665 |
1322 |
1113 |
1616 |
|
Cork City |
787 |
1047 |
444 |
618 |
515 |
286 |
405 |
|
Cork County |
563 |
679 |
634 |
655 |
554 |
402 |
582 |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
333 |
263 |
235 |
151 |
180 |
231 |
152 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
269 |
190 |
241 |
157 |
169 |
159 |
154 |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
578 |
478 |
519 |
382 |
772 |
394 |
723 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
126 |
192 |
110 |
93 |
151 |
177 |
155 |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
720 |
562 |
223 |
187 |
221 |
181 |
323 |
|
D.M.R. Western |
876 |
627 |
637 |
377 |
539 |
503 |
768 |
|
Donegal |
296 |
265 |
248 |
334 |
253 |
238 |
243 |
|
Galway Div |
986 |
608 |
656 |
753 |
646 |
565 |
621 |
|
Kerry |
306 |
285 |
356 |
270 |
217 |
210 |
412 |
|
Kildare Div |
952 |
831 |
827 |
927 |
676 |
705 |
913 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
521 |
377 |
466 |
336 |
459 |
410 |
388 |
|
Limerick |
908 |
611 |
500 |
469 |
428 |
555 |
564 |
|
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan |
978 |
993 |
734 |
689 |
966 |
537 |
705 |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford |
422 |
480 |
492 |
464 |
472 |
429 |
497 |
|
Meath/Westmeath |
1053 |
1037 |
1030 |
1098 |
751 |
839 |
770 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
306 |
178 |
180 |
204 |
180 |
155 |
256 |
|
Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow |
948 |
777 |
914 |
857 |
764 |
680 |
752 |
|
Wexford/Wicklow |
887 |
689 |
741 |
916 |
822 |
881 |
954 |
|
14866 |
12725 |
11867 |
11602 |
11057 |
9650 |
11953 |
|
Division |
Mar-24 |
Apr-24 |
May-24 |
Jun-24 |
Jul-24 |
Aug-24 |
Sep-24 |
|
Clare/Tipperary |
1594 |
1482 |
1723 |
1556 |
1937 |
1608 |
1400 |
|
Cork City |
368 |
367 |
498 |
329 |
453 |
544 |
451 |
|
Cork County |
676 |
624 |
632 |
571 |
581 |
542 |
604 |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
81 |
343 |
259 |
326 |
377 |
374 |
270 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
122 |
185 |
136 |
150 |
142 |
224 |
103 |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
368 |
545 |
613 |
448 |
457 |
479 |
324 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
70 |
180 |
111 |
163 |
104 |
136 |
109 |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
216 |
237 |
238 |
225 |
489 |
364 |
291 |
|
D.M.R. Western |
308 |
997 |
1069 |
1122 |
1138 |
748 |
980 |
|
Donegal |
221 |
274 |
231 |
297 |
330 |
254 |
213 |
|
Galway Div |
588 |
643 |
638 |
699 |
767 |
679 |
665 |
|
Kerry |
357 |
403 |
271 |
251 |
310 |
276 |
219 |
|
Kildare Div |
653 |
446 |
759 |
561 |
1116 |
1247 |
596 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
470 |
427 |
460 |
357 |
341 |
394 |
323 |
|
Limerick |
556 |
704 |
583 |
571 |
740 |
887 |
744 |
|
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan |
638 |
608 |
637 |
548 |
635 |
687 |
510 |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford |
679 |
664 |
630 |
637 |
471 |
516 |
441 |
|
Meath/Westmeath |
567 |
703 |
665 |
699 |
872 |
903 |
1011 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
179 |
196 |
240 |
194 |
185 |
173 |
247 |
|
Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow |
815 |
712 |
906 |
817 |
769 |
616 |
684 |
|
Wexford/Wicklow |
992 |
1048 |
1079 |
1095 |
1001 |
879 |
843 |
|
10518 |
11788 |
12378 |
11616 |
13215 |
12530 |
11028 |
I am also advised that the tables below provide a monthly breakdown since August 2023, of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offences of speeding, by speed limit.
|
Speed limit(km/h) |
Aug-23 |
Sep-23 |
Oct-23 |
Nov-23 |
Dec-23 |
Jan-24 |
Feb-24 |
|
50 |
4450 |
3850 |
3242 |
2715 |
2705 |
2600 |
3131 |
|
60 |
2181 |
1907 |
1958 |
1828 |
1562 |
1656 |
1892 |
|
80 |
2052 |
1624 |
1762 |
1683 |
1702 |
1392 |
1754 |
|
100 |
3464 |
3111 |
2314 |
2699 |
2373 |
2021 |
2641 |
|
120 |
2719 |
2233 |
2591 |
2677 |
2715 |
1981 |
2535 |
|
14866 |
12725 |
11867 |
11602 |
11057 |
9650 |
11953 |
|
Speed limit(km/h) |
Mar-24 |
Apr-24 |
May-24 |
Jun-24 |
Jul-24 |
Aug-24 |
Sep-24 |
|
50 |
2599 |
3544 |
3147 |
3019 |
3167 |
3478 |
2873 |
|
60 |
1585 |
1898 |
2253 |
1918 |
2087 |
2186 |
1803 |
|
80 |
1773 |
2074 |
1959 |
1893 |
1951 |
1891 |
1695 |
|
100 |
2274 |
2548 |
2817 |
2811 |
3716 |
3080 |
2619 |
|
120 |
2287 |
1724 |
2202 |
1975 |
2294 |
1895 |
2038 |
|
10518 |
11788 |
12378 |
11616 |
13215 |
12530 |
11028 |
I can advise the Deputy that these figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 August 2023 to 30 September 2024, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 7 October 2024, and is liable to change.
Uniformed Gardaí undertaking 30 minutes of high visibility roads policing in each tour of duty is helping to transform roads policing in Ireland. The aim is to increase Garda visibility which has the effect of moderating driver and road user behaviour. Increased enforcement is an added benefit. We aim to see people adjusting their behaviours with greater Garda visibility on the roads.
An Garda Síochána have implemented more speed checks and that increased visibility is having a positive impact on our roads.
Every preventable road death is a tragedy, and we need to continue to build on the good work already achieved by An Garda Síochána, as we collectively move toward the goal of Vision Zero.
While An Garda Síochána is focusing its efforts on enforcement, it is important to recognise that a multi-faceted approach is necessary to reduce fatalities and collisions that cause serious injuries, including infrastructure improvements such as road design, maintenance and safety features. Aligned to this are public awareness campaigns, the greater use of technology, and education and training programmes.
Enforcement can only have a certain amount of impact in a nation with such a large and diverse road network. Encouraging drivers to change poor behaviours will have a much greater impact on road safety.
384. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown of the amount expended by her Department on consultancies in 2023 and to date in 2024; the company engaged; and the nature of the work conducted by the consultancy on her Department’s behalf, in tabular form. [40218/24]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
385. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice if a full restoration of criminal legal aid fees will be introduced next year as per her comments in an article (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40228/24]
View answerI have consistently stated that I want to make progress in restoring criminal legal aid fees. Over the past 2 years I have secured an 18% increase in the fees paid under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
Under Budget 2024, I secured an additional €9 million which resulted in an increase of 10% in the fees paid to barristers and solicitors and under Budget 2025, announced last week, I secured a further €9 million, which will enable another 8% in fees to be paid under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme from 1 January 2025. As I have noted, this amounts to 18% over 2 years and it would be my intention that the fees paid under the Scheme would be fully restored as part of Budget 2026.I recognise the important role played by the legal professions in the administration of criminal justice, both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions and I would like to assure the Deputy that I am working to make sure that criminal law is an attractive profession to work in.
I would also like to express my appreciation for the ongoing co-operation of the Bar Council and Law Society with my Department and look forward to continued engagement with both representative bodies on the reform of Criminal Legal Aid. This continued engagement is essential to ensuring we have an effective legal system.
386. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify the rules surrounding citizenship that relate to non-Irish spouses of Irish citizens; the residency or property ownership issues involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40231/24]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
There are no provisions for the spouse or partner of an Irish citizen to acquire Irish citizenship solely by virtue of a marriage or civil partnership with an Irish citizen. The legal provision that provided for post nuptial citizenship was repealed with effect from 30 November 2005.
Section 15A of the 1956 Act sets out the conditions that apply where the application is based on being the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen. The requirements are that the couple have been married to or civil partners of each other for a period of at least three years and are living together; and that the applicant has 3 years’ reckonable residence on the island of Ireland prior to making an application, with the final 12 months being continuous residence.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as specified in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and pay the appropriate fees.
Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
There is no provisions in the 1956 Act relating to home or property ownership in the State.
387. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the average length of time that a person who has received a deportation order remains in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40305/24]
View answer388. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No.35 of 26 September 2024, the location of those immigrants who have received a deportation order that have not been actioned to date. [40306/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together.
I 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 and prohibits them from legally entering Ireland again in future.
It is not possible to determine average length of time that a person who has received a deportation order remains in the State. In addition to the enforced deportations and those that are otherwise confirmed to have left, a significant number of people leave 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. To introduce exit checks would require the installation of border infrastructure on the land border with Northern Ireland, as well as exit checks in ports and airports.
Notwithstanding this, the Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau’s (GNIB) assessment is that there is a significant level of voluntary compliance; this assessment is informed by a range of inquiries and other operational information resources available to them.
I can advise the Deputy that, all individuals who are subject to a deportation order are obliged to comply with any requirements that may be placed on them by the GNIB under Section 3 of the Immigration 1999, as amended. These requirements include that the person resides or remains in a particular district or place in the State and that they report to a specified Garda Síochána station or immigration officer at specified intervals pending removal from the State. Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1999 provides also for the arrest and detention of individuals in circumstances such as where they have failed to comply with certain requirements under the Act.
It would not be possible to provide statistics in the way the Deputy has sought them as the retrieval of such information such as it exists would require the manual examination and investigation of a large number of cases. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of both my staff and GNIB’s resources and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.
The numbers of deportation orders issued and the enforcement of deportations and returns has increased considerably in 2024.The number of deportation orders signed up to 3 October 2024 (1636) has increased by 129% for the same period in 2023.A total of 707 people have departed from the State under various mechanisms up to 3 October 2024 (i.e. forced return, voluntary return etc.).The overall number of returns has increased by 220% for the same period in 2023.The number of enforced deportations has increased by 158% for the same period in 2023.My Department is working closely with the Office of Government Procurement in respect of the tendering process for the supply of charter flight services for deportations. Additionally, my Department and An Garda Síochána continue to engage intensively on the transfer of certain immigration functions to my Department. Civilianising registration functions releases valuable Garda hours to focus on operational and enforcement matters, such as deportations and investigations. This process will free up to 100 Gardaí to focus on other immigration enforcement work, which will include deportations.
389. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice To ask the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 375 of 4 July 2024, when a detailed reply will issue to the question as promised; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40419/24]
View answerI contacted An Garda Síochána and the Court Service to request the information required to answer the Deputy's question and, as it was not available in the time permitted, I undertook to respond when the information was received.
The following table has been provided by the Garda authorities and outlines the number of summons and charges which have been linked to Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 since its commencement by year. The figures below are accurate as of date of extraction (24.07.24) and are subject to change.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
Summons |
<10 |
<10 |
26 |
27 |
25 |
33 |
53 |
14 |
|
Charges |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
*Count of proceedings by year, under part 4 of Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017
*Count of charges after 27 th March 2017, the date in which Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 came into effect.
** As per Garda Síochána Analysis Service ( GSAS) policy, figures less than 10 are not released externally to comply with data protection requirements.
The Courts Service have provided the following statistics on the number of persons and number of court orders made for identified offences under Criminal Law (Sexual Offences Act) for the years 2022 and 2023.
Jan – Dec 2022
|
Court Order |
Offence |
Number of Orders |
Number of Persons |
|
Dismiss Probation Act |
BROTHEL KEEPING: Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993. |
2 |
2 |
|
Sent Forward for Trial |
BROTHEL KEEPING: Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993. |
2 |
1 |
|
Sent Forward for Trial |
ORGANISATION OF PROSTITUTION: Section 9 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993. |
1 |
1 |
|
Poor Box |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: :Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 |
1 |
1 |
|
Strike Out |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2018 |
3 |
3 |
|
Strike Out - Not Served |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2019 |
3 |
2 |
|
Total |
12 |
10 |
Jan – Dec 2023
|
Court Outcome |
Offence |
Number of Offences |
Number of Persons |
|
Strike Out |
BROTHEL KEEPING: Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993. |
1 |
1 |
|
Fine |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 |
2 |
2 |
|
Poor Box |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2018 |
18 |
18 |
|
Strike Out |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2019 |
3 |
3 |
|
Strike Out - Not Served |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2020 |
6 |
6 |
|
Withdrawn |
Pay for sexual activity with a prostitute: Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2021 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
Offence |
31 |
31 |
The Courts Service have provided the following notes in relation to the information provided.
Note 1: A person may be before the courts for more than one offence or may have received more than one order so will be displayed on the report more than once.
Note 2: Please note that for the offence Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 as inserted by Section 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, the offence code was only activated on the Pulse system by AGS in October 2021 so if there were prosecutions for this offence prior to October 2021 they would have been uncoded free text codes. Courts can only provide data in relation to where offence codes provided on the system were used by prosecutors. Prosecutors may have used uncoded free text offences and any such offences would not be included in the data provided.
Note 3: Many of those offences have been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court. At this time, the system in use by the Courts Service in the Circuit Courts ("ICMS") is a lotus notes database and cannot produce reports for specific offences. The only reports which are available are by offence category rather than for individual offences and categories of offences can contain multiple offences.
As the Deputy will be aware, a key purpose for the 2017 Sexual Offences Act was to provide additional protection to persons involved in prostitution, especially vulnerable persons and victims of human trafficking.
It allows those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services.
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.
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 it very soon.
390. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of non-coursing greyhounds registered as 'deceased' in the lrish Coursing Club's stud book for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, with a breakdown by year of birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39637/24]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The information requested needs to be collated as it is not readily available. It will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
391. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of non-coursing greyhounds registered as 'deceased' on Rásaíocht Con Éireann’s traceability system for each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, with a breakdown by year of birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39638/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
392. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason greyhound bitches are the only breed of dog that can still undergo artificial insemination, given that it is a risky and painful procedure and has been banned for other breeds; if he will change this law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39639/24]
View answerThe Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhound Regulations 2005.
The report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, which was approved by Cabinet in March 2023, and has been published online at gov.ie - Working Group on Control of Dogs (www.gov.ie), includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines ought to be prohibited, where the word canine encompasses all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds.
Earlier this year I announced a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned or not. This public consultation has now closed.
My Department is closely examining this issue and will be providing me with advice on an appropriate course of action.
