Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when the regulations in respect of the establishment of community safety partnerships will be issued to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40360/24]
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 be and feel safe in order 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.
Final preparations are underway in my Department to commence the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 later this year. This includes finalising the suite of secondary legislation required to support commencement with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. The Regulations required under Section 114 on the establishment and operation of LCSPs form part of this ongoing work and will be shared with local authorities when ready.
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 local 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.
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. Assessment panels have commenced for the role of chairperson in a number of local authority areas and nominations for the chairpersons will be submitted to me in due course.
I recently announced the appointment of chairpersons to the first seven LCSPs being established across the country, and I am hopeful that many communities will start to see LCSPs established in their areas over the coming weeks.
142. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the measures in place, or planned in the future, to make the family court system more accessible and more transparent for victims of domestic violence, specifically where the enforcement and policing of safety order and barring orders and breaches of same. [40363/24]
View answer143. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the family court system, the plans for reform of the system, for applicants seeking relief in domestic abuse and domestic violence cases, where the burden of proof falls inequitably on the victim, and where the in-camera nature of the proceedings entrenches and perpetuates the disadvantage of those using the system. [40364/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
As Minister, I am fully committed to reforming the family justice system in Ireland. I am also acutely aware of the need for vulnerable victims to be supported.
In November 2022 I published the Family Justice Strategy, which outlines the steps needed to create a more efficient and user-friendly family court system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work. This will be achieved through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals, with timelines for delivery up to the end of 2025.
These actions will ensure our family justice system works better for everyone engaging with it, but particularly for those who need additional supports and protections, such as domestic violence victims.
One of the goals of the Family Justice Strategy focusses on improving data collection and sharing.
It has been noted that there can be a disconnect between the civil and criminal systems in terms of family justice matters. Problems regarding information sharing between these separate systems can arise due to the in-camera rule, which is in place to protect the privacy and dignity of parties to a family law proceeding.
There is a specific action in the Strategy to commission research, examining the limits of the in-camera rule and to identify the necessary changes, in order to provide a system where court decisions and judgements are accessible to those who need them, while still protecting the privacy of all those involved.
My Department issued a request for tender for this research and a contract has been signed with a research team led by UCC who have commenced the research which will be published upon completion.
The primary aims of the research are to:
• review the current operation of the in-camera rule in its entirety;
• analyse issues with the current operation, including but not limited to identifying the challenges and benefits of the law, and the statutory exceptions which permit research and reporting on cases; and
• make recommendations relating to reform of the law which can enhance clarity and transparency and offer the necessary protections for those involved in proceedings.
An important part of this new research will also be to examine any learnings from other jurisdictions which could be applied in the Irish context. This research is ongoing with a draft report expected in November.
The Family Justice Strategy also commits to establishing a Working Group to review existing training needs for those working within family justice, to ensure that they have a deeper and more realistic understanding of victims experiences. The first meeting of the Working Group was held in July.
A key component of the Family Justice Strategy is the development of a Family Courts Bill 2022, which provides for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures.
Once enacted there will be a Family High Court, a Family Circuit Court and a Family District Court, each dealing with family law matters as appropriate to its jurisdiction. Each of these Family Courts will have judges with appropriate specialist knowledge assigned to them on a full-time basis, and the Bill also provides for ongoing professional training in the area of family law.
The Bill includes a set of guiding principles for the family court system to make the best interests of the child a primary consideration in all family law proceedings, to operate in an efficient and user-friendly manner and to encourage active case management by the courts.
Additional wording has been inserted in the Bill’s guiding principles for the conduct of family law proceedings in the Family Courts Bill at Seanad Committee Stage. This is aimed at ensuring the safety of parties to proceedings is considered, including when considering whether parties should engage in mediation or other forms of ADR.
New provisions regarding prohibition on personal cross examination have also been inserted, similar to those in the Domestic Violence Act 2018.
My Department is also examining the question of broadening the court accompaniment provisions to build on and ensure consistency with the court accompaniment provision in the Domestic Violence Act 2018. This is in line with recommendations contained in the Report on the Intersection of the Criminal Justice, Private Family Law and Public Law Childcare Processes in Relation to Domestic and Sexual Violence, prepared by Nuala Egan and Ellen O’Malley Dunlop.
My Department of Justice will engage further on this issue and will consider hosting a discussion meeting to explore the practical consequences that may arise.
The Various actions that have already been completed are noted in the progress report on the Family Justice Strategy, which was published on 23 September and is available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ba1a5-progress-report-on-the-family-justice-strategy-2022-2025/.
144. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice to intervene to assist to resolve a person's situation (details supplied). [40365/24]
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.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Only once an application is received, can a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation be made.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals and people granted International Protection where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.
A current in-date and valid passport is regarded, internationally, as a primary identifier and is a requirement for any application for naturalisation. It is recognised that there are circumstances whereby an applicant may not have access to a passport.
In such cases, an affidavit may be submitted, outlining the reasons a passport cannot be obtained and detailing the previous efforts made to secure a passport. However, it is entirely at the discretion of the Citizenship division of my Department whether such an affidavit can be accepted and enable the application to progress.
The Citizenship Division of my Department have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the Naturalisation process for applicants, including introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are significantly reducing processing times. I expect that going forward the vast majority of applicants will receive a decision within one year.
In just over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023 and has already made more than 24,000 decisions to date in 2024. Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022. To date in 2024, my Department has hosted 17 ceremonies with over 14,000 attendees, with further ceremonies planned for later in the year.
Further 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/.
145. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if he can offer any assistance to a person seeking to travel from Israel to work in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40441/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that in order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) administers the Employment Permits system. Full details of the various types of Employment Permits available can be found at the link below: enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/. Philippine nationals are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State. After the applicant receives an Employment Permit from the DETE they must then apply for a long stay Employment Visa. All long stay visas are also called 'D' visas. Further details on long stay Employment Visas may be found at the following link:www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/. You should also note that the granting of a work permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) does not guarantee that an Irish visa will be subsequently granted. These are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.
146. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí in each division in Leinster, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40503/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a further record-breaking increase in funding for An Garda Síochána was allocated in Budget 2025. The allocation for An Garda Síochána now stands at almost €2.5 billion, and has increased by more than a quarter since 2020. This funding will support the recruitment of new Garda members, Garda staff and Garda Reserves, and reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting all parts of the organisation.
The Government are taking a number of steps to accelerate recruitment into An Garda Síochána, including almost doubling the Garda training allowance, increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50, increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62, and launching a new Garda Reserve Competition.
There are currently over 14,000 Garda members across the country compared to 12,816 in 2015.
While the 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.
The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to the Province of Leinster on 30 June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available.
|
DIVISION |
June 2024 |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
337 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
764 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
646 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
533 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
688 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
714 |
|
KILDARE |
418 |
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
381 |
|
MEATH/WESTMEATH |
546 |
|
WICKLOW |
283 |
|
LOUTH |
362 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
310 |
|
WEXFORD |
336 |
|
LONGFORD |
130 |
These figures have been provided to me by the Garda authorities, and are the most up to date available. It is important to remember with these figures that they are operational, and are liable to change based on the operational needs of local Garda management.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Garda members by Division 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/.
147. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the progress of citizenship applications (details supplied). [40550/24]
View answerThe naturalisation applications from the people referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
These applications are based on Section 16 'Irish Association', which can take longer to process than applications based upon residency.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
It is important to note that no two applications are the same and some take longer than others to process.
All applicants must undergo Garda vetting. Unfortunately, it is the case that some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and are largely out of the control of my Department. The previous backlogs in application processing in Citizenship had arisen largely due to the legacy of restrictions imposed on staff attendance in the office during the pandemic.
Since then, Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are dramatically reducing processing times.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
148. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the old Cork Prison site; and the work that has taken place to consider using the site for housing, community use and respecting and preserving the history of the area. [40558/24]
View answerThe former Cork Prison ceased to operate as an operational prison in February 2016 following the opening of a new facility on a site adjacent to the old prison. Following the transfer of operations to the new facility, the former prison facility was closed and decommissioned and has remained unused over the past 8 years.
Following the closure a number of statutory and non-statutory groups considered the site for potential use. The site was included as a potential location for social and affordable housing in the Land Development Agency's Report to Government on Relevant Public Land/Sites and the Irish Prison Service had a formal engagement with the LDA on the potential use of the site in March 2023. I am advised that the site is not being considered for use as social and affordable housing at this time.
In addition, there was interest expressed locally in using the site for community use however, I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that no formal proposal was submitted to the Service for consideration and therefore this option has not been progressed.
With the continued pressure on prisoner numbers across the prison estate, the site of the former prison at Cork has been identified as a possible location for additional prisoner accommodation and therefore the location remains of strategic interest to the Irish Prison Service. In this regard a feasibility study has been commissioned on the facilities potential for use in the short, medium and longer term and the outcome of this is currently being reviewed.
149. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, by rank, as of 4 October 2024. [40591/24]
View answerI have sought the information requested from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
150. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-time staff working in the border management unit of her Department, by grade, as of 4 October 2024, in tabular form. [40592/24]
View answerThe Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for front-line immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other airports and other ports of entry, are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).As of 4 October 2024, there are 177 staff working in the BMU at Dublin Airport, excluding staff on unpaid leave, such as career breaks. Funding for additional posts has been made available for 2025.The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the BMU staff working at Dublin Airport is detailed in the table below.
|
Grade |
Total |
|
Immigration Control Officer (CO) |
156 |
|
Immigration Control Supervisor (EO) |
16 |
|
Immigration Control Manager (HEO) |
3 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Total |
177 |
The staffing levels in the BMU are kept under constant review and additional staff have been assigned to the team, as required.
151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when the review regarding income thresholds for the purpose of qualifying for civil legal aid is due to be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40624/24]
View answerIn its over forty years of operation, the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has been a significant and beneficial public service, providing legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes, including family law.
However, since the Scheme was set up, Irish society has changed, and the demands on the service have grown. In June 2022, the Minister established the Civil Legal Aid Review Group to review the current operation of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme and make recommendations for its future.
The Review Group is chaired by a former Chief Justice. The membership of the group is drawn from legal practitioners, academics, Department officials, those who work with marginalised groups, and representatives from the Legal Aid Board, which administers the statutory scheme.
The Group is considering many aspects of the scheme, in line with its terms of reference such as the appropriateness of the current eligibility thresholds, the scope of the scheme and whether it should remain primarily a family law service.
Progress is ongoing and the Civil Legal Aid Review Group is expected to conclude its work in the near future, at which point I look forward to considering its recommendations.
152. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capital works projects that are currently ongoing under the Fisheries Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development; the estimated cost of each of those projects; The expected timeframe for which those capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form. [40352/24]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute.
In February, I announced a capital investment package of €29.7m for the six Fishery Harbour Centres and Cape Clear as part of the 2024 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The allocation included capital commitments for ongoing projects and the planned commencement of some new projects.
All projects are subject to rigorous project management processes including design, tender action and implementation stages; and ongoing monitoring, evaluation and review in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Capital Works Management Framework and the Public Spending Code. Additionally, all contractual projects are subject to the applicable conditions of contract and as such it is necessary to follow due process in accordance with such conditions, including conditions relating to delay events, for example. I expect that the more minor works projects not requiring statutory consents will be substantially completed by year end.
A number of the larger projects detailed in the programme including Harbour Dredging in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and the Deep Water Quay in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre are multi-annual projects and will be completed in subsequent years. The 2024 allocation is reflective of the works to be undertaken in the current year only and not for the completed works. As many projects are subject to environmental and other assessments and statutory permitting prior to works commencing, it is not possible to advise with certainty either the commencement or completion dates.
My Department periodically reviews the annual capital allocation to make best use of any potential savings should projects be delayed or postponed. In 2024 the evaluation of the programme allowed some ongoing projects to be scaled up, and some projects proposed for future development to be brought forward. The attached table details the status of the projects announced earlier this year and also the additional projects included mid programme.
153. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be paid to a sheep farmer who had to destock their ewes due to MV being present in the flock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40372/24]
View answerMaedi Visna (MVV) is a viral disease of sheep, affecting the respiratory system and the mammary gland (udder) of sheep.
The disease is not listed in EU Animal Health Law. Trade in live sheep in the EU takes place without the need for any official attestation regarding MVV, however it is a private industry requirement in several EU member states and the UK that imported breeding sheep to be free of MVV. Freedom from MVV is not a condition which requires health certification for intra-EU trade in sheepmeat, however it is a condition for trade in sheepmeat for a number of third countries.
MVV is a notifiable disease in Ireland, recognising its low prevalence in order to signal any change in risk to farmers and as a support to international trade. The Department carries out an annual survey of cull ewes to provide evidence of disease freedom and to support trade assurances. There is no statutory control programme or compensation scheme for any affected flocks in Ireland, nor are there any plans for such.
In relation to supports to maintain freedom from MVV, breeding sheep imported into the country are tested for MVV and the owners are advised to cull or return any positive animals.
My officials are currently reflecting on the possible development of some form of an accreditation programme for MVV in the context of a wider sheep health programme to provide further assurance to those pedigree breeders who wish to export their sheep to the UK and Europe.
154. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2024 area of natural constraints payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied) for the remainder of their declared lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40608/24]
View answerAn application for participation in the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and ECO schemes was received from the above-named applicant on 15 May 2024.
In 2024 the applicant has included new commonage lands in the townlands of Derrymore East and Derrymore West in County Kerry. All applicants on commonage lands are required to provide evidence in support of their claims. The documentation received has now been reviewed and accepted as proof of Mr. Moriarty's right to claim a share on the commonage lands in the townland of Derrymore East and Derrymore West.
The applicants Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) application is now cleared and payment will issue on the next payment run.
155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the projected costs of increasing the number of in-school therapy pilot scheme to include an additional ten schools. [40349/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
156. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional capital and current funding provided for disability services in Budget 2025, with the additional funding broken down, in tabular form, by 2025 Pay Deal Impact, demographics, carryover, other ELS, allocation for new measures, contingency reserve current expenditure allocation, National Development Plan increase and contingency fund provision, respectively. . [40357/24]
View answerThe €336m in additional funding for Disability Services includes:
• €290m in ELS, a significant provision which recognises the challenges prevailing in the sector including the increased cost of service provision, pay cost pressures and service provider sustainability.
• In addition, the ELS will provide for the full year cost of new service activity in 2024 and, in a departure from previous years, ELS will also include provision for service expansion in line with demographic growth.
• A further €42m is allocated for new development measures to build on the service expansion achieved in 2024.
• Across ELS and NDM, funding has been provided for Children’s Services, Day Services, Residential Services, Respite, Personal Assistance and Home Support hours and other supports to assist people to continue living independently in their own home.
• In addition, the capital allocation for Disability services will increase by €4m (from €23m in 2024 to €27m in 2025) supporting infrastructure development across respite, day services, children’s services and decongregation.
• The specific quantities of service to be provided through this additional allocation will be set out in more detail in the HSE’s National Service Plan.
157. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the ASD assessment for a child (details supplied). [40358/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
158. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of habeas corpus applications made in circumstances in which Tusla was a respondent, in tabular form, for the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40361/24]
View answerThank you Deputy for your question regarding the number of habeas corpus applications in which Tusla was a respondent for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 to date.
Tusla has provided the below table in response to your query.
|
Year |
Number of applications |
|
2022 |
0 |
|
2023 |
0 |
|
2024 to date |
2 |
159. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of staffing 18 WTEs on the community neuro-rehabilitation teams in each of the six HSE health regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40446/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
160. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of doubling the regional assessment hubs around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40448/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
