Written Answers Nos. 249-263
249. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice when she plans to meet with the families of victims of the Creeslough disaster, as she has publicly committed to doing; whether she has been in contact with them; if she has any further views on their request for a public inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42635/24]
View answer272. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice when she plans to meet with the families of the Creeslough disaster; if contact was made to arrange such a meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42283/24]
View answer273. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice if she has any further views in relation to a public inquiry the families of the Creeslough disaster have requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42284/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249, 272 and 273 together.
My thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and the wider community of Creeslough that were affected by the terrible tragedy that happened two years ago. I commend the families for speaking so movingly and powerfully about their loss. The community of Creeslough and the people of Donegal pulled together and supported each other in the toughest circumstances.
I am also conscious of the work in very traumatic circumstances by the emergency services and first responders who attended the scene in October 2022, and the Gardaí for their work in investigating all of the circumstances of this tragedy.
Naturally, the families want answers and information about what caused the deaths of their loved ones. The public also want to know how something like this could have happened and along with the families they want reassurance that something like this will not be allowed to happen again.
As there is an ongoing criminal investigation, I cannot comment on any specifics. I am however aware that there is multi-agency engagement and that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and the Health and Safety Authority are supporting An Garda Síochána in their criminal investigation. These bodies are responsible for investigating the understandable concerns of the families and the public; be it public safety, regulatory compliance, or any potential criminal responsibility.
I have received letters from two legal representatives, both representing the families, outlining some of the concerns of the families, and requests for an independent investigation in the form of a public inquiry or a commission of investigation. The Government will consider these requests having regard to the on-going investigations.
I have agreed to meet with the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy and we are engaging with their representatives to arrange a date.
250. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 8 October 2024, how many of the 400 additional staff to be recruited in roles across the process will be for the International Protection Office. [42122/24]
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.
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 instance 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package to continue the expansion of capacity in the international protection and immigration system. This further investment will enable approximately 400 further staff to be recruited for roles across the end-to-end process, including in the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, and in various functions within Immigration Service Delivery closely associated with the international protection process. The exact deployment of the additional staffing is the subject of detailed planning at present and will be managed in an agile fashion to ensure the overall efficiency of the end-to-end process.
251. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to outline the work her Department is undertaking to plan for the introduction of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact in June 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42123/24]
View answerIreland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which will introduce a more comprehensive, streamlined, and efficient approach to asylum and migration.
The State has engaged with the EU Commission to define and agree priorities for Ireland’s National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum to be delivered in line with the June 2026 timeline set. The plan will include new legislation to replace the 2015 International Protection Act and further scaling up of end to end processing resources. A dedicated Pact Implementation Programme Team has been established to coordinate this multifaceted national programme.
The programme work has been divided into seven work streams:
• Policy and Legislation
• Technology, Service Design
• Process and Change
• Asylum Processing Including Border Procedure
• Appeals
• Returns
• Organisational Design And Resources
• Reception And Infrastructure
Each work stream team is made up of representatives across relevant Government departments and agencies.
Numerous stakeholders are being consulted in the development of this National Implementation Plan (NIP). That engagement will continue before finalising the plan and during the implementation period.
In line with the Department of Justice’s vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland, the Pact Programme team vision is to provide a rights-based, digital-first asylum service that is transparent, efficient and fair.
252. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the plans in place to deal with the end of the Temporary Protection Directive in March 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42124/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended until March 2026 at a meeting of the European Council in June 2024, thereby providing certainty for beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides during this time. Consideration as to the arrangements to be put in place following the expiry of the Directive are ongoing, both within the Government and at an EU level, in recognition of the need for certainty for beneficiaries of temporary protection in the EU when the Directive is no longer active.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot pre-empt the outcome of future discussions and decisions of either the EU or the Government in this regard, however, Ireland supports the strong call from EU Member States for a harmonised approach to this question.
253. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown of the new measures specified on page 126 of the Budget 2025 expenditure report, cross tabulated with the amount allocated to each measure, in tabular form. [42125/24]
View answer254. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the pay deal impact measures specified on page 126 of the Budget 2025 expenditure report, cross tabulated with the amount allocated to each measure, in tabular form. [42126/24]
View answer255. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the carryover measures specified on page 126 of the Budget 2025 expenditure report, cross tabulated with the amount allocated to each measure, in tabular form. [42127/24]
View answer256. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the other ELS measures specified on page 126 of the Budget 2025 expenditure report, cross tabulated with the amount allocated to each measure, in tabular form. [42128/24]
View answer257. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the contingency reserve current expenditure allocation measures specified on page 126 of the Budget 2025 expenditure report, cross tabulated with the amount allocated to each measure, in tabular form. [42129/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 257, inclusive, together.
As requested by the Deputy, the measures specified in page 126 relating to the impact of Budget 2025 across the Justice sector are set out in the table below.
|
Vote |
New Measures |
Pay Deal Impact |
Carryover Measures |
Other ELS Measures |
Contingency Reserve Current Expenditure Allocation Measures |
|
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána |
€14m |
€63.8m |
€12.5m |
€24m |
- |
|
Vote 21 - Irish Prison Service |
€16m |
€12.2m |
€2.5m |
€25m |
- |
|
Vote 22 - The Courts Service of Ireland |
€5m |
€9.5m |
€1m |
€2m |
- |
|
Vote 24 - Department of Justice |
€15m |
€2.8m |
€34m |
€8m |
€25m** |
|
Vote 41 - Policing Authority |
- |
€0.38m |
- |
- |
- |
|
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission |
- |
€0.30m |
- |
€1m |
- |
|
Total* |
€50m |
€89m |
€50m |
€60m |
€25m |
*Rounding may affect totals
**The amount of €25m from the Contingency Reserve has been assigned to the International Protection Office and the Immigration Service Delivery areas of my Department, to assist with the ongoing operations of these areas in 2025.
258. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when an appeal (details supplied) for a visa application was received; when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42171/24]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 04 October 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was received in the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 20 November 2023. Due to an administrative error the applicant was previously advised that the appeal was not received until 23 May 2024.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the Immigration Service website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order.
A decision will be issued to the applicant as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.
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 (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.
259. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) will receive their certificate of citizenship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42181/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that all Certificates of Naturalisation for the attendees of the recent citizenship ceremonies held last month are currently in the process of being printed and will be issued via registered post.
I am aware that following some previous ceremonies, there were delays in certificates being received and this is very much regretted. My Department has recently implemented new procedures which will reduce the waiting time for our new citizens to receive their certificates and I understand that all Certificates will be issued within the next few weeks.
I want to assure anyone who is waiting for their Certificate of Naturalisation that they do not need to renew their immigration permission whilst they await a Certificate. I am advised that introducing a parallel temporary certification document at this stage would divert resources from the process of issuing the Certificates.
These steps are part of an overall programme of work to speed up the Naturalisation process for applicants. This includes 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.
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.
260. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown of the number of applications for citizenship received by her Department between 2020 to 2022 from citizens of Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom. [42228/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table below.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
Afghanistan |
111 |
163 |
250 |
|
Algeria |
67 |
60 |
81 |
|
Egypt |
138 |
185 |
322 |
|
Iran (Islamic Republic Of) |
57 |
57 |
94 |
|
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
46 |
62 |
91 |
|
Morocco |
45 |
39 |
63 |
|
Nigeria |
686 |
727 |
961 |
|
Pakistan |
704 |
1041 |
1188 |
|
Somalia |
66 |
94 |
157 |
|
South Africa |
216 |
256 |
424 |
|
Syrian Arab Republic |
486 |
437 |
916 |
|
United Kingdom |
1115 |
1072 |
1045 |
|
United States Of America |
312 |
423 |
491 |
261. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice to review correspondence (details supplied); the options available to this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42246/24]
View answerAn application for permission to remain in the State by the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department.
This application continues to be processed, however, I have been informed that a decision will issue shortly.
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.
262. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the first full-year cost of recruiting one thousand additional Gardaí in 2025; the full second year cost of those Gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42249/24]
View answerThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána, a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no direct role in the Garda recruitment process.
I am informed by Garda Authorities that the estimated 2025 payroll cost associated with the recruitment of 1,000 trainees in 2025 is in the region of €10.2 million. The estimated 2026 payroll cost associated with the recruitment of those 1,000 trainees is in the region of €47.1 million.
For this calculation, it is assumed that the 1,000 trainees are recruited in four tranches spread throughout the year. It is assumed that each batch of recruits attests every 35 weeks.
The estimate includes a basic training allowance and certain fixed allowances payable for the 35 week training period. When attested, Garda move to point 1 of the Garda pay scale. An estimation of certain fixed allowances, variable unsocial hours’ allowances and employer’s PRSI is calculated as each batch of recruits moves onto the Garda pay scale.
Pay increases scheduled for 2025 and 2026 are taken into consideration for newly attested Garda.
Other potential costs including the cost of equipment, subsistence and accommodation are not included. It is assumed that the Garda College has the capacity for this level of trainees. It should also be noted that the estimated figures do not take account of potential overtime costs in excess of estimated briefing time payments or potential future pension costs.
263. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice to provide the full-year cost of increasing the Garda Reserve to a strength of three thousand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42250/24]
View answerThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Reserve, is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and this is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána, a 27% increase since 2020.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda reserve members, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended).
The Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to make a contribution to their community and, in some cases, learn more about the role of a Garda member prior to seeking to join An Garda Síochána full time. Reserves serve a very valuable role in assisting Gardaí with local patrols, crime reduction initiatives and administration.
Earlier this year I launched the Garda Reserve recruitment campaign, the first since 2017, which was run by Public Jobs on behalf of the Commissioner. The competition closed on 4 July and I can confirm that over 1,800 applications were received.
To further support this competition, I was pleased to bring forward new regulations governing recruitment, training and deployment of the Reserve. I believe this also represents a great opportunity to broaden the recruitment pool for An Garda Síochána particularly among communities which have not traditionally joined the service in large numbers.
I also announced an increase to the Garda Reserve stipend in June this year with up to €3,000 payable to reserve members for 200 hours of volunteering, a significant increase from the previous maximum payment of €1,000. The stipend is now paid on the following basis:
|
Hours Performed |
Claim |
|
50 Hours |
€500 |
|
100 Hours |
€1000 |
|
150 Hours |
€2000 |
|
200 Hours and above |
€3000 |
Garda Reserve members are also reimbursed for any expenses incurred by them in attending courts, tribunals or other legal proceedings outside of their hours of duty.
The Garda Reserve strength as of 31 July 2024 was 323 and to increase to a strength of 3,000 would require an additional 2,677 Garda Reserves.
I am informed by Garda Authorities that the estimated additional annual costs to increase the Garda Reserve by an additional 2,677 members would range between €1,338,500 to €8,031,000.
Other potential costs such as expenses incurred by Garda Reserves are not included in the above estimate.
