Written Answers Nos. 444-463
444. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the review of the Coroner Service following the closure of public consultation in January 2024; to provide a timeline for the publication of the reports; the parameters of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41253/24]
View answer464. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position with the review of the Coroner Service; the anticipated date for when this process will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41578/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 464 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, on 17 February 2023, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice published its Report, "An Examination of the Operation of the Coroner’s Service". I received a copy of the report and departmental officials carefully examined its contents.
Subsequently, on 20 October 2023, I launched a wide-ranging public consultation exercise to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland, which closed on 19 January 2024.
The Joint Committee’s report, and its recommendations were taken into account of during the preparation of the consultation and the Committee’s report is referenced in the consultation document.
The consultation was an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholder groups and members of the Oireachtas to express their views, observations and proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.
The Consultation saw a high level of engagement with approximately 250 submissions received across both surveys. A report on the emerging themes of the consultation process has now been prepared by officials in my Department and will be published shortly.
445. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice , further to Parliamentary Question No. 1127 of 9 September, the average processing time per de facto application given the January date currently displaying on her Department’s website has been static since May 2024. [41267/24]
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.
446. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in determination of application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41273/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application of the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
It is important to note that no two applications are the same and some take longer than others to process.
All applicants must undergo Garda vetting. Unfortunately, it is the case that some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and are largely out of the control of my Department. The previous backlogs in application processing in Citizenship had arisen largely due to the legacy of restrictions imposed on staff attendance in the office during the pandemic.
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.
447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a naturalisation certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) who attended his ceremony in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41283/24]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that there was a change of address for the person referred to, which subsequently led to an undelivered Certificate.
The Citizenship Division of my Department have advised me that the Certificate of Naturalisation has now been re-issued by registered Post to the new address of the person concerned.
If any applicant has a query on their certificate, they can email: citizenshipinfo@justice.ie.
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.
448. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the visa application for a person (details supplied) whose parents and siblings have lived in Ireland since 2021; if she will acknowledge and act on the fact that the person’s life is under constant threat; if she will take compassionate steps to grant the visa so the person can come to live in safety with their family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41303/24]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the visa application referred to has been re-examined by a Visa Appeals Officer in the Visa Division. The Visa Appeals Officer has taken all the documentation and information submitted with the original application and appeal into consideration.
The appeal has not been successful and the original decision to refuse the application is upheld. The reasons for the refusal of the appeal is outlined in the refusal letter of the 20 August 2024. Among the key criteria in determining a Join Family application is a requirement to show that the applicant is dependent on the Sponsor including that they require the financial support of the sponsor on a continuous basis and that the sponsor has sufficient means to provide such support.
450. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have retired in the Mayo district in each of the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive. [41354/24]
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.
451. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in the Mayo district who are currently on sick leave. [41355/24]
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 all human resource matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. I am informed there were 49 Garda members from the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division who were recorded as absent due to sick leave on 1 July 2024, the latest date for which figures are available. These figures are operational and may be subject to change.
452. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí recruited in the Mayo district in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [41357/24]
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 €2.48 billion, and has increased by 27% 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 mandatory 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.
As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff.
A Garda recruitment competition was launched on 15 January 2024 and closed for applications on 8 February. The response to this year’s Garda recruitment campaign was very strong. I am advised by the Garda authorities that 6,381 people applied.
Since the reopening of the Garda college in September 2014 a total of 4,824 Garda members have attested of which 35 Probationer Gardaí were assigned to Mayo.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of probationer Garda allocated to Mayo in each of the years 2020 up to 2023 and in 2024, up to the 20 September, the date of the latest attestation.
|
MAYO |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
10 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
Please be advised that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.
At the end of June 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 581 Garda members assigned to the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division. These Garda members are supported by 102 Garda staff.
Also, in the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/7c2e6-probationer-gardai/
453. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the significant delays in the completion of toxicological analyses for coronial autopsies due to understaffing and lack of resources at the State laboratory in Celbridge, County Kildare; the details on plans to increase the number of pathologists available to complete coronial autopsies, particularly in the regions of Limerick, Clare, and north Tipperary (details supplied); the steps being taken to address these delays and understaffing and lack of resources at the State Laboratory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41457/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, coroners are independent office holders and neither I, nor my Department has any role in directing the work of coroners during the death investigation function.
I can further advise the Deputy the State Laboratory is under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
To be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and am informed that there has been a large increase in the number of samples from post-mortem examinations received by the State Laboratory for analysis since 2020, leading to an increase in the turn-around-times from 93 days prior to 2020 to 160 days. A significant redesign project with respect to the toxicological service offered by the State Laboratory commenced in February 2023 to facilitate the continued growth in service requirements. The aim of this redesign was to return the turnaround times to their original targets.
I am informed that in 2023, sanction was received from DPENDR for an additional 10 staff to support this service, and the new staff joined the State Laboratory between September 2023 and April 2024. A substantial training period was initiated, to upskill the new staff. The next phase of this process was the implementation of the new service and sectional models. This implementation phase commenced in May 2024.
I am further informed that there are now three distinct Sections within the State Laboratory solely focused on providing this service, which is an increase on the one Section that provided this service previously. As this is a complex technical area, a considerable amount of time has been dedicated to training and developing the new staff in order for them to be able assist in improving the sample throughput. Turn-around-times are expected to reduce during 2025.
Coroners will endeavour to have post-mortem examinations completed as soon as is possible and practicable to ensure timely release of remains to the next of kin of the deceased. Depending on the circumstances of the death, a post-mortem examination will be carried out by a pathologist or, in forensic cases, by the Office of the State Pathologist.
My Department is aware that delays can arise in Coroners receiving post-mortem reports, toxicology or other test results. The Department established a Standing Committee on Coroner Directed PMEs in 2022, which is tasked with considering the core issues involved in the provision of a sustainable pathology service to Coroners. It includes the HSE, the Office of the State Pathologist, Coroners Society of Ireland, Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Pathology and a Local Authority. The committee has met quarterly since its inception.
454. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the main policy achievements of her Department since 1 January 2023. [41473/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, my Department published its Statement of Strategy 2024-2026 on 4 July 2024, which builds upon the significant progress achieved over the past four years. I am proud of these achievements which include such a broad range of policy and legislative reforms. I am dedicated to working towards our shared vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland.
This strategy will be delivered through our annual Justice Plans. Justice Plan 2024 builds on the work described in previous annual Justice Plans and outlines a wide range of actions under the Department's five strategic goals, which are:
• Maintaining a safe and secure Ireland
• Improving access to justice for all
• Delivering a fair immigration system
• Strengthening our influence in Europe
• Investing in people to deliver excellence
Under Justice Plan 2024, I am progressing a suite of policy and legislative reforms which are priorities for me as Minister, in line with the commitments set out in the Programme for Government.
Some of the achievements of my Department since 1 January 2023 are set out below.
Unprecedented increased investment in support of An Garda Síochána
Record funding has been provided for An Garda Síochána since 2023, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
Budget 2023 provided funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, to strengthen and support An Garda Síochána as they fight crime and protect communities, including:
• Ongoing Garda recruitment
• €6 million for new ballistic vests to protect frontline Gardaí
• An extra €21million for ICT capital in 2023
• €10 million investment in the Garda fleet to upgrade 270 cars
Budget 2024 provided an allocation of €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána for:
• Ongoing Garda recruitment
• €6m provided for Garda wellbeing initiatives, additional medical costs and over 2,500 units of body armour
• €3.6 million in additional funding for GoSafe speed cameras, continuing the increased level of 9,000 hours per month throughout 2024
• A new national centre of excellence in Dublin for the Garda Dog Unit
Building on the previous 2023 and 2024 budgets, I have increased investment in An Garda Síochána to the highest level ever in Budget 2025. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána in Budget 2025, up 27% since 2020, further demonstrates the Government’s commitment to building stronger and safer communities, ensuring An Garda Síochána are equipped to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities.
Budget 2025 will provide funding for:
• Ongoing Garda recruitment
• A 13% increase in the overtime budget
• An increase in the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week, almost doubling from €184 in 2023
• €9 million in additional funding for up to 100 new speed cameras to enhance road safety measures
• €100 million of funding for ICT to equip Gardaí with the necessary tools to enhance crime prevention and detection, including Body-Worn cameras and the development of a digital evidence management system
This increased investment since 2023 has enabled:
• All frontline Gardaí are equipped with mobile devices which allow for policing tasks to be completed in real time
• Over 3,400 Garda vehicles – the largest fleet of vehicles in the organisation’s history and a 31% increase since 2015
• Increased welfare and mental health supports for Gardaí
• Major investment in new and refurbished Garda stations
• The rollout of a proof-of-concept project for Body Worn Cameras (BWC) in Dublin City, Limerick and Waterford, ahead of a national rollout of BWCs.
• And a new, more practical, operational uniform.
Furthermore, to support Garda recruitment I have:
• Increased the age of entry into the Gardaífrom 35 to 50 years of age.
• Increased the allowance for trainee Gardaí which is currently €354
• Increased the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 62
Additionally, I have increased the stipend for members of the Garda Reserve to up to a maximum of €3,000 per year.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence
I published the Government’s Zero Tolerance plan to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in 2022. This ambitious, five year plan has been accompanied by detailed implementation plans which ensures the strategy is a living document and emerging issues can be incorporated.
The 2024 implementation plan was published earlier this year and contains actions for a wide range of Government Departments as well as various state bodies. In addition to refuge accommodation, priorities include work on the National Services Development Plan, progressing legislative reform, evaluating the effectiveness of awareness raising campaigns, and the development of a research and data plan to support collating DSGBV information across government departments and agencies.
I am committed to doubling the overall number of refuge units over the lifetime of the Strategy. To achieve this, we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year. There are also a number of actions focused on ensuring safer digital, public and workspaces, and to reduce opportunities for sexual and gender-based violence.
There is a huge body of work underway. Key achievements include:
• In excess of €7.9m in additional funding for combatting DSGBV was secured for my Department in Budget 2024. This represents a significant increase and will support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance plan - including through the new agency, which has an overall budget of €59m for 2024. This funding will also assist the agency in meeting the acute needs for services throughout the country.
• The establishment of Cuan, the new statutory DSGBV Agency, which is key to delivering on the ambition of the strategy, including in relation to prevention, education, awareness raising and training for all who come into contact with vulnerable victims (including the legal professions) and ensuring the right supports are there to protect and support victims of these hideous crimes.
• I enacted the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act which contains measures targeting violent and organised crime, violence against Gardaí and also has a particular focus on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence:
• increasing the maximum penalty for assault causing harm – one of the most commonly prosecuted violent offences – from 5 years to 10 years
• introducing a new standalone offence of non-fatal strangulation, which can be a precursor to murder in domestic abuse situations. These changes will give judges a wider range of sentencing options to consider when addressing the more serious of assault causing harm and domestic abuse cases
• introducing a standalone offence of stalking and strengthening the law around harassment. While any person can be a victim of stalking or harassment, they are again common behaviours in domestic abuse situations. It introduces a new stalking offence defined in terms of causing either a fear of violence, or serious alarm and distress that has a substantial impact on a person’s day-to-day activities
• the Act also provides for the making of civil orders restraining stalking conduct. These orders form an important first step in addressing stalking behaviour as they do not require the level of proof associated with the criminal offences.
• it also ensures the protection of the identity of alleged victims of harassment and stalking in court proceedings. The background to this provision is that offences like harassment and stalking already impinge on a person’s privacy and personal life. Preventing public identification of victims online or in the media (unless they choose to waive their right to anonymity) is to prevent putting victims at further risk of invasion of their privacy, re-traumatisation or causing them further harm
• the Act extends the restriction on alleged perpetrators carrying out their own cross-examinations of victims to a wider range of offences than at present (sexual offences), including those including violence, coercive control, stalking and harassment
• The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 was signed into law in July, which strengthens the law on sexual offences and improves protections for victims of sexual offences and of human trafficking.
• The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2024 was signed by the President on the 4th of October 2024. The purpose of this Act is to dis-apply the mandatory life sentence for murder for those who commit the murder when they were a child but turned 18 before sentencing. An ‘aged out’ child who is convicted of murder can still receive a life sentence, however, it will no longer be mandatory. The judge will have discretion as to whether or not to impose a life sentence.
Other measures delivered include:
• The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 was enacted and commenced in 2023 and provides for stronger supervision of sex offenders post release.
• A statutory review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 that deals with the purchase of sexual services. It is my intention to bring this work to a conclusion as soon as possible.
• As an action under the Justice Plan 2024, I receive regular updates in relation to progress on this review and I am aware that the Research Team has analysed the data and documentation submitted on foot of the consultation process undertaken by the previously appointed external reviewer.
• The Sexual Violence Survey 2022 was published by the CSO in April 2023 providing high quality national prevalence data on sexual violence.
• We have committed to undertaking a prevalence survey on domestic violence, the development of which is underway.
• Implemented awareness campaigns on intimate image abuse, victims of crime and consent have been rolled out. Many of the actions in the Strategy are focused enhanced support for victims. The provision of legal aid and legal advice, trauma-informed training, and national awareness campaigns are all provided for.
Anti-Social Behaviour
I am determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and its causes so to assist people to be safe and feels safe. Significant actions which my Department has already been taken include:
• Setting up an expert forum on anti-social behaviour;
• Increasing penalties for certain knife crime offences and strengthening the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs)
• I have allocated €9.5m in funding for nationwide Community Safety Partnerships and the establishment of a National Office for Community Safety and the Community Safety Fund.
• Continued extensive expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures
• New laws to criminalise the grooming of children into criminal behaviour.
• Ongoing work to introduce Facial Recognition Technology to help investigate and prosecute cases of serious crime
• Providing the funding necessary to strengthen the equipment available to An Garda Síochána for public order policing, including the deployment of tasers and stronger incapacitant spray, two new water cannons, crowd control barriers, expansion of the dog unit and more body armour for frontline Gardaí
• Proposing solutions to public order and anti-social “wicked problems” through the Local Leadership Programme which brings together local stakeholders in a structured manner.
Immigration
In July 2023, I published the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 - 2024 which takes account of the change in circumstances post pandemic and in particular, the significant increase in international protection claims. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as improving the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants seeking international protection.
Budget 2025 provides for 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. €2m is provided for ICT capital expenditure. Significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the international protection process, with approximately 400 further staff to be recruited. This will provide for over 25,000 IPO decisions compared to over 14,000 cases in 2024. Included in the package is €5m in 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.
Reforms to the international protection process will continue into 2025 with key achievements already delivered under the programme including:
• Approximately €34m additional funding was allocated in budget 2024 to the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) to continue to scale up processing.
• We have doubled the number of staff in the International Protection Office and trebled the number of decisions. This increase in processing capacity is aimed at ensuring that those in need of protection receive that status without undue delay, while those that do not qualify are advised of this in good time.
• Introduced a new accelerated decision process for applicants from recognised ‘safe countries of origin’ in November 2022. Since its introduction, most applicants from safe countries of origin have received a first instance decision in less than 3 months, which is a significant reduction from a norm of 17 to 24 months in previous years. All applications are examined fully and individually on their merits, including those from countries which are designated as safe countries of origin.
• Since the introduction of accelerated processing in November 2022, there has been a drop of up to 70% in applications from the designated safe countries. Two additional countries were added to the safe country list earlier this year (Algeria and Botswana) and a further five countries were added to this list in early July (Brazil, India, Egypt, Morocco and Malawi).
• Extended accelerated processing to whatever country, or countries, have the highest number of applicants. This is reviewed on a quarterly basis. On commencement of this programme of acceleration in April 2024, the country with the highest number of applications in the previous quarter (Q1) was Nigeria, which has seen a 54.60% drop in application since the commencement. On review of the matter at end of Q2, in addition to retaining Nigeria on the list, the country with the second highest number of applications was Jordan, and it was added to this category of accelerated processing on 29 July. Analysis of the impact on application numbers for this cohort is at an early stage.
• The IPO has completed the first phase of process modernisation in order that all applications for international protection can be completed digitally by applicants themselves. Roll-out of remaining phases is on-going.
• Digitalisation project nearly completed in IPO with over 18,100 active files digitalised to ensure all processes can be undertaken without recourse to paper. Opened a second processing centre at City West to provide enhanced facilities for the process of IP Applications for families
• Increased number of interviews held in 2024 by 85% in comparison to same period for 2023 (to 30th September).
• In 2024 there has been a 57% increase in the total number of determinations processed from 6,345 to 9,957 (to 30th September)
• Delivery of the Regularisation Scheme for Long-Term Undocumented Migrants.
• The development of an in-house Voluntary Return Unit which has, with the assistance of the UN International Organisation for Migration, achieved the highest number of voluntary returns in ten years (606 to date) and a 306% increase of such returns in 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023 (606 in 2024 and 149 up to 6 October 2023). The highest number in 10 years prior to 2024 was 261 in 2019.
• The resumption of a normal deportation regime post the pandemic which has seen a 161% in deportations in 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023 (86 in 2024 and 33 up to 6 October 2023)
• The total number of returns (voluntary, enforced, EU and Dublin III combined) is the highest in 10 years currently standing at 730 for the year to date.
• The final transfer of responsibility for online renewal of Irish immigration residence permissions, for persons residing in all counties nationwide, from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Registration Office of Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice will come into effect on 4 November 2024. Applications nationwide can be submitted using the ISD online renewal portal and applicants will not need to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in person.
• Following a review of the Carrier liability provisions, the Minister for Justice increased penalties for carriers who are found to not have conducted appropriate checks on the documentation of people boarding with effect from 12 August 2024. The Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 increases fines on carriers to a maximum of €5,000 from the previous €3,000.
• The Citizenship Division of my Department has 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.
• 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. These changes have significantly reduced processing times for applicants.
• My Department has also established an Immigration Modernisation Programme to transform its immigration operations and provide a modern, transparent and accessible immigration system that is faster, easier to access, and more efficient for all users.
• The focus for 2024 is to digitise a number of currently paper-based immigration processes and introduce a portal system where individuals will be able to manage and view all aspects of their interaction with immigration services. This will improve efficiencies in the immigration system, improve the customer experience through the availability of comprehensive self service functions and improve data management and utilisation.
• There has been a 40% increase in the number of EUTR review decisions issued in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
• Since January 2024, 80% of all non-complex first instance EUTR decisions have been issued within 5 months of application.
• There has been a 120% increase in the number of FRU decisions issued in the first 9 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. More family members of international protection status holders have been granted a family reunification permission than any year previously.
Prisons and penal reform
On 1 October I announced that record funding of €525m has been secured in Budget 2025 to increase prison capacity and tackle overcrowding. This is an increase of €79m or 18%. I also announced:
• Recruitment of 150 Prison Officers in addition to the 240 Prison Officers recruited in 2024
• An additional €6 million to fund 130,000 additional staff hours in our Prisons.
• €53m in Capital Funding which will provide for the completion of 155 new prison spaces by the end of 2024 as part of a programme of works.
• The Probation Service will receive an additional €4 million bringing the total budget to over €60m to expand crime diversion programmes, support step down facilities, restorative justice, and community-based alternatives to imprisonment.
Other key achievements include:
• The final report and recommendations of the High Level Task Force to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector were published by myself and the Minister for Health in September 2022. The first annual progress report on the implementation of its recommendations, which shows concerted work across the Department of Justice and the Department of Health, as well as with multiple agencies, was published earlier this year.
• Implementing the recommendations contained in the Review of Policy options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 to ensure appropriate and proportionate use of imprisonment and community sanctions in a manner which best facilitates rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Together with Minister Donnelly I published the Health Needs Assessment for the Irish Prison Service in May 2023 - this is the first comprehensive health assessment undertaken for the Irish Prison Service and sets out 60 recommendations for the optimal development of healthcare services in the Prison Service. It is primarily focused on strengthening delivery of IPS Healthcare services across a range of areas and on improving governance in IPS healthcare services.
• Prison Education Taskforce – established in May 2023 and co-Chaired by my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The aim of the taskforce is to ensure that education and training opportunities are available to prisoners, supporting their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release.
• Following commitments made in both the Programme for Government and the Justice Plan 2023, the Department of Justice’s policy paper on Restorative Justice, ‘Promoting and supporting the provision of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice system’, was published in August 2023. The Probation Service will soon launch their Restorative Justice Action Plan, the aim of which is to integrate Restorative Justice into existing services and to expand the provision of Restorative Justice nationally.
• Implementation of the Working to Change: Social Enterprise and Employment Strategy 2021-2023 and the development of a follow on criminal justice employment strategy to address systemic barriers to employment faced by those with previous criminal convictions and to support reintegration and desistance from offending.
I have introduced and am committed to enacting significant range of essential legislative reform. Since my appointment the following important reforms have been implemented:
• Enacted the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 to rebalance the duty of care and increase personal responsibility for trips and falls, in order to lower insurance premiums.
• Enacted a new law on Garda operating model to provide more front-line Gardaí, increased visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.
• Enacted new regulations to provide for legal aid to the families of the 48 victims and new legislation for a revised jury selection process for the Dublin Coroner, in relation to the inquests into the Stardust fire tragedy. The Stardust Fire Inquests concluded on 18 April at the Dublin District Coroner’s Court (sitting at the Pillar Room). The jury returned a majority verdict of “unlawful killing” for each of the 48 deaths.
• Last October, I launched a wide-ranging public consultation exercise to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland, which closed in January. My officials are currently finalising analysis of the information gathered during the consultation process with a view to publishing a report on the main themes coming through from the Consultation in the coming weeks and putting forward proposals for the reform of the service thereafter.
• Enacted and commenced the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 which will facilitate necessary access to certain communications data to protect national security and tackle serious crime.
• Amended the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) with the (Amendment) Regulations 2023, to provide for the participation in and attendance of authorised officers of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) at Garda interviews.
• Enacted the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 on the mutual recognition of custodial sentences, which provides for the transfer of sentenced persons between EU member states. The Act also amends and updates the existing legislation underpinning transfers for non-EU states, including the United Kingdom.
• Enacted the Recording Devices Act to provide for body worn cameras to protect Garda members, Automatic Number Plate Recognition to detect crime and greater use of CCTV. Part of this Act has now been commenced including the parts dealing with body worn cameras and updates for CCTV in Garda Síochána premises.
• Published the General Scheme of the Recording Devices (Amendment) Bill which will provide for the retrospective searching of images which are legally in the possession of An Garda Síochána through biometric identification (which includes facial recognition technology).
• Signed orders under the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 to extend the coverage of provisions for evidence given by video link so that it is admissible nationwide and to ensure that video recorded evidence given by children is admissible in any court throughout the State.
• Enacted the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024, which makes it an offence for an adult to involve a child in any type of crime.
• Enacted the Court Proceedings (Delays) Act on 1 May 2024, which provides for the establishment of an independent assessment process to assess claims for breach of the right to the conclusion of proceedings within a reasonable time and where appropriate, an award of compensation. Implementation is expected in 2025.
• Enacted and commenced the European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Act which provides important updates to the crucial European Arrest Warrant system to ensure the continued efficient return of criminals to and from the State.
• Enacted the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 on 7 February 2024 which will, when commenced later this year, repeal and replace the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The four main objectives of the Act are to make community safety an all of government responsibility; to strengthen independent external oversight of An Garda Síochána; to strengthen internal governance of An Garda Síochána; and to improve the oversight of National Security.
• Published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Protection, Preservation and Access to Data on Information Systems) Bill 2024, which will allow law enforcement authorities like An Garda Síochána to request the preservation and production of data being held on IT systems controlled by internet service providers in order to investigate and tackle crime.
• Published the General Scheme of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2024 which will strengthen the State’s ability to target the proceeds of crime. This will be achieved through refinements to the proceeds of crime regime informed by legal and operational developments.
• Published the General Scheme of the Life Sentences Bill 2024 which will provide for judges to recommend minimum periods in prison when a life sentence is imposed.
Other key initiatives include:
• I established the Judicial Planning Working Group in 2021 to consider the number and type of judges required to ensure the efficient administration of Justice over the next five years in the first instance, but also with a view to the medium to long term. The Report of the Judicial Planning Working Group was published in 2023 and recommended a substantial increase in judicial numbers, with 44 additional judges to be appointed in two phases. A first tranche of 24 additional judges, were appointed in 2023, with a further 20 planned following an assessment of impact of the first tranche of judges.
• A new Planning and Environment Division of the High Court has been established. This is in line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government and the Housing for All strategy and its establishment has involved extensive engagement between my Department, the Courts Service and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as well as consultation across other Departments.
• Following the approval of additional judicial resources by Government arising from the recommendations of the Judicial Planning Working Group, the new High Court Division has now three judges assigned to planning matters and proceedings relate to the wide suite of national and European law that applies in respect of planning and the environment. Urgent cases such as proceedings which concern large-scale projects of strategic importance, or matters of significant environmental impact, are to be given priority.
• The Irish Citizenship and Nationality Regulations 2023 were signed into law to allow for applications for naturalisation to be made online for the first time in Ireland.
• The reckonable residence requirement for naturalisation for children born in the State was reduced from 5 years to 3 years under the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, thus allowing children born here to obtain citizenship more quickly.
• Ireland opted-into the Regulation establishing a European Union Asylum Agency, and Ireland became a fully-fledged member of the Agency in August 2023.
• The continued progression of the Gambling Regulation Bill through the Houses. The Bill is currently scheduled for Committee Stage in the Seanad and is expected to be enacted this year. The legislation provides for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling both in person and online, to streamline the licensing framework and to provide for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
• The ongoing work of the Civil Legal Aid Review Group, which is reviewing the current operation of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, including how flexible and responsive the Scheme is to the needs of those it is intended to serve. While the work of the Group is ongoing, it has completed a series of consultation processes to inform its detailed deliberations.
• 2023 saw the first full year of the implementation of the Family Justice Strategy. Notable achievements under the Strategy to date include the completion of the Policy Review on Parental Alienation, the publication of the Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, the commissioning of research into the operation of the in-camera rule in family law proceedings, the development of a new family law information hub and 360 degree tour by the Courts Service, and the establishment of a panel of private mediators to enhance the rollout of family mediation services across the country by the Legal Aid Board.
• The Family Courts Bill 2022 recently completed Committee Stage in the Seanad and is progressing to Report Stage. The legislation will provide for the establishment of a new dedicated Family Court as divisions of each jurisdiction within the existing court structures and provide for court procedures that support a less-adversarial resolution of disputes.
• On 25th July, I received Government approval to publish the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024. The General Scheme, which provides for significant reforms of our defamation law, takes into account recommendations of the report of a major review of the Defamation Act 2009, carried out by the Department of Justice, which was published in March 2022. This is an important Bill that balances and safeguards the rights to freedom of expression with the protection of a person's good name and reputation, and to access to justice. This legislation touches on the protection of our democracy itself and introduces measures designed to protect responsible public interest journalism. The key purpose of the bill is to deter the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation – known as SLAPPs which are recognised, both here and internationally, as a significant challenge to press freedom, and a danger to democracy itself, given the chilling effect they have on the work of investigative journalists and others. The Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024, was published on 2 August 2024 and completed Second Stage in the Dail on 19 September.
• The Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2023 was signed into law on 8 December 2023. The First Commencement Order, Statutory Instrument No. 114 of 2024, was signed on 20 March 2024. A second Commencement Order and the establishment day order are due to be signed shortly to allow for the establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
455. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the total amount of funding allocated to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in budget 2025. [41477/24]
View answerThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is in place to help those who have suffered personal injuries as a result of a violent crime committed against them. The Scheme is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal which is independent in making decisions on individual applications and in its decisions on appeals.
The compensation available under the Scheme is intended to cover vouched out of pocket expenses incurred by the victim, such as costs incurred for any medical treatment, dental treatment, prescriptions, travel expenses to avail of medical/dental/optical treatment and any loss of earnings to date and into the future, incurred, as a result of the criminal injuries sustained.
I can advise the Deputy that the amount of funding allocated to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal under Budget 2025 is €7,589,000.
456. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will confirm receipt of an application for naturalisation (details supplied); if further supporting documentation is required at this time; if she will expedite the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41480/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy presently has not been registered yet.
The Citizenship Division of my Department are currently registering applications from April 2024.
Once registered, a Personal ID and Citizenship application reference number will formally issue.
However, when the applicant submitted the online application for Naturalisation an auto-receipt will have been emailed.
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.
457. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a stamp 4 visa might issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41522/24]
View answerAn application for a change of immigration status from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department on 28 February 2024 and continues to be processed.
Applications are dealt with in strict chronological order of receipt. The Division endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible, however, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of an application and whether or not further information is required.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email 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 email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
458. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a stamp 4 visa might issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41523/24]
View answerAn application for a change of immigration status from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department on 28 February 2024 and continues to be processed.
Applications are dealt with in strict chronological order of receipt. The Division endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible, however, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of an application and whether or not further information is required.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email 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 email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
459. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Justice for an update on Laytown Garda station; the number of hours it is open per day each week; the number of gardaí working from the station and any other relevant details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41535/24]
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.
460. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of unmarked Garda vans allocated to the Meath division as of 8 October 2024 and as of 8 October 2022, in tabular form. [41536/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda resources, including vehicles. As Minister I have no role in these matters, but I am assured by the Commissioner that this distribution is kept under constant review, in light of operational needs.
Garda funding has increased by over €500m, up 27% since 2020, bringing the total budget to €2.48 billion for 2025, building on the unprecedented allocations of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion for 2024. This consistent funding demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision to maintain the resources it needs to carry out its vital policing work.
There are now over 3,500 Garda vehicles. This is the largest fleet ever available to An Garda Síochána and represents a 34% increase since 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.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 September this year, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 147 Garda vehicles assigned to the Meath/Westmeath Garda Division under the new Garda Operating Model. This total includes 73 marked and 43 unmarked Garda cars. As of 28 October 2022, there were 64 Garda vehicles assigned to the then Meath Division, including 35 marked and 16 unmarked Garda cars.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publishes information about the Garda Fleet on its website, and this is updated with monthly fleet reports, including a breakdown of vehicles assigned to each Garda Division: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
461. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Justice , further to Parliamentary Question No. 364 of 8 October 2024, which stated that there are 14 community gardaí in Louth, the number of community gardaí in Louth in each of the years, 2017 to 2024. [41537/24]
View answerCommunity policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled out across the country.
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. It will divide service delivery within divisions into four functional areas, one of the most important areas being Community Engagement. This will allow for a greater, more consistent, focus on community policing in all divisions.
The Garda authorities have advised me that a member of An Garda Síochána can be deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that person is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT) and is responsible and accountable for applying a problem–solving approach to appropriate crime and policing quality-of-life issues in a specified geographic area through partnership and engagement. Examples of this engagement are working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, or local business fora.
Community Policing Teams strategically manage and lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the Garda Community Policing Framework. Like most Garda members, those assigned to CPTs have dual functions. In addition to their strategic roles in their Community Policing Teams, part of which requires them to regularly update their Community Engagement Superintendent on the policing needs of their community, they are also frontline members. It is also important to note that CPTs draw on all frontline Gardaí to carry out community policing.
There is an interactive map on the Garda website which is designed to allow the public to identify the local CPT in their area. This map will continue to develop in line with the continued rollout of the new Garda Operating Model.
Budget 2025 provides the highest ever allocation to An Garda Síochána – over €2.48 billion which is a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of the end of June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the Louth Division in each year from 2017, to date in 2024, are as follows:
|
Division |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Louth |
12 |
13 |
11 |
15 |
13 |
23 |
17 |
14 |
At the end of June this year, the latest date for which published figures are available, there were 707 Garda members assigned to Cavan-Monaghan-Louth Division. This represents an increase of over 16% since the end of 2015.
For the Deputy's information, the number of Community Gardaí by Division from 2008 until June 2024 is published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
Please be advised that this information is operational and may be subject to change.
462. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that have been received for international protection from Palestinians in 2023 and to date in 2024; if their applications will be dealt with quickly and sympathetically given the appalling conditions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41541/24]
View answerI would like to assure the Deputy that it is a priority to ensure that international protection applications are processed efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. Each application is examined individually on its own merits, in line with national and international asylum law.
As such, my Department has taken a significant number of measures to increase the capacity of the international protection system, including deploying very substantial additional resources. On foot of this, first instances determinations have increased from 2,482 in 2021 to 9,000 in 2023 and with the intention being to deliver over 14,000 decisions this year.
Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package for end-to-end investment in the immigration system which will enable approximately 400 further staff to be recruited for roles across this process.
The number of Palestinian applications for International Protection in the periods requested are detailed below:
|
Palestinian applicants |
2023 |
2024* |
|
Total |
118 |
930 |
* Up to October 9th, 2024.
Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
463. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if every effort can be made to grant a visa in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41550/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that an applicant wishing to stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days, as an elderly dependent relative, must first before travelling, apply for a Stamp 0 immigration permission. Stamp 0 may only be granted if the applicant can prove that their relative, in Ireland, can support them fully and completely.
Further information is available on the Immigration Service Delivery website of my Department at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-a-non-eea-non-swiss-national/dependent-elderly-relative.
The visa application referred to by the Deputy was created on the 06 October 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa Office on the 11 October 2024 where it awaits examination and processing.
Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf.
This Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders, should be dealt with within 6 months of application.
However, it must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions.
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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
