Written Answers Nos. 249-268
249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for domiciliary care allowance payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43843/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 20 September 2024.
As part of the decision process, their application is currently awaiting the opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor (MA).
On receipt of the MA opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and the person concerned will be notified directly of the decision on their application.
DCA claims are currently taking an average of 6 weeks to process from date of receipt of application.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a review of refusal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43845/24]
View answerCarer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 31 October 2023.
As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer, having regard to the opinion of the Medical Assessor, decided that the information supplied did not show what the care recipient required full time care.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 29 November 2023. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision on 11 December 2023.
The Deciding Officer reviewed all the evidence of the case and found that, although a certain level of care was provided, the evidence submitted did not satisfy the full-time care and attention requirement as defined in the legislation for the care recipient. Therefore, the application for Carer's Allowance was disallowed and the decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 27 January 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
To date the department has received no further correspondence from the person concerned.
It is open to the person concerned to re-apply for Carer's Allowance by completing a CR1 application form. For the convenience of the person concerned, an application form has been forwarded by post to their home address.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 31 October 2023.
As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer, having regard of the Medical Assessor, decided that the information supplied did not show what the care recipient required full time care.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 29 November 2023. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision in a letter received on 11 December 2023.
The Deciding Officer reviewed all the evidence of the case and found that, although a certain level of care was provided, the evidence submitted did not satisfy the full -time care and attention requirement as defined in the legislation for the care recipient. Therefore, the application for Carer's Allowance was disallowed and the decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 27 January 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
To date the department has received no further correspondence from the person concerned.
It is open to the person concerned to reapply for Carer's Allowance by completing a new CR1 application form. For their convenience an application form has been forwarded by post to the address of the person concerned.
The person will need to complete all the relevant sections and return the completed form to the following address at their earliest convenience:
Carer's Allowance Section, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co Longford, N39 E4E0.
In considering applications for Carer's Allowance, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s medical condition, the care needs of the care recipient and the provision of care conditions by the carer, the carer's means and habitual residency conditionality. Decisions on eligibility and entitlement can only be established following the receipt of a completed application form.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43849/24]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least on year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
A completed application form for DA must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement. To date no application for DA has been received. An application form has been posted to the person concerned.
In the meantime, the person concerned can apply to the Community Welfare Officer for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if they are in need of financial assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a review for guardian's payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43850/24]
View answerA Guardians payment is made to a person caring for a child who satisfies the definition of an "orphan" under social welfare legislation. A child is considered an orphan if they are under 18 (or under 22 if in full time education) and both parents are deceased; or one parent is either dead or unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child and the other parent is unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child.
It was decided on the 14th August 2024 that the person concerned was not entitled to a guardians payment in respect of her grandchild. The care arrangements in place are not considered to constitute parental abandonment on the part of her grandchild, and as such the child cannot be considered an orphan in accordance with the provisions governing the scheme. The Deciding Officer has carried out a review of the decision and the outcome remains the same. A letter to that effect has issued to the person concerned.
As the person concerned has appealed the decision of the Deciding Officer, her claim and notice of appeal, has been referred to the Independent Chief Appeals Officer for consideration. The Chief Appeals Officer operate independently of my Department. The Independent Chief Appeals Officer will contact the person concerned directly regarding the outcome of her appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a review for domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43851/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the level of care and attention normally required by a child of a similar age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding / diet, communication, speech / language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, and any other additional needs.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability but primarily on the impact of the disability / diagnosis, in terms of the associated level of care and attention required by the child, compared to the age appropriate level. For the purpose of DCA, it must be established in the decision and assessment process that the level of ongoing care and attention required by the child meets the threshold outlined in legislation, that is continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of a similar age, who does not have such a disability / diagnosis and likely to be required for at least 12 consecutive months.
I can confirm that a new application for DCA in respect of their child was received by my Department from the person concerned on 16 July 2024. A Deciding Officer disallowed their claim as per decision dated 16 August 2024. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination considered the supporting documentary (medical) evidence that was submitted by the person concerned in their application. The Deciding Officer also had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA) in making their decision, and a copy of that MA opinion was issued to the applicant for their information.
On foot of your previous request for a review of eligibility for DCA in this case, a review of the claimant's application and my Department's decision of 16 August 2024 has been undertaken by a Deciding Officer who has decided not to revise the original decision, as per review decision letter dated 22 October 2024 which has issued by post to the person concerned.
A request for an appeal was registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on the 9 September 2024.
The claimant's DCA file has been forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) for a decision of an Appeals Officer.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when disability allowance might be payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43853/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 09 January 2024.
Based on the evidence supplied, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 02 February 2024 and advised of their entitlement to request a review or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned supplied further information on 20 March 2024. Based on the additional evidence supplied, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was still not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 26 March 2024, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.
The person concerned supplied further information on 08 October 2024. Based on the additional evidence supplied, their application for DA remained disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 18 October 2024, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.
No request for review or appeal has been received since this date. If the person concerned wishes to submit further medical evidence, my department will undertake a review of this and will revert to them with a decision.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for fuel allowance can be reconsidered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43854/24]
View answerFuel Allowance is an administrative scheme and is payable to people who satisfy the conditions of the scheme and who either live alone or only with certain qualified people.
An application for Fuel Allowance was received from the person concerned on 29 September 2024. Based on the information provided to the Department, this person does not qualify for the allowance as they are not living alone at their address. The household consists of another individual who is not on qualifying payment for receipt of Fuel Allowance
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 21 October 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of review for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43855/24]
View answerCarer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can confirm that Carer’s Allowance was in payment to the person concerned from 03 August 2017. Once claims are in payment, my Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. A review of the claim of the person concerned commenced on 28 May 2024.
Following this review, the person concerned was notified in writing on 09 July 2024 that they were no longer entitled to the payment as their means exceeded the statutory limit. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Following receipt of further information on 25 July 2024 and following re-examination of the claim, it was decided that the person concerned qualified for a weekly rate of Carer's Allowance of €15.50 from 01 August 2024. Payments commenced at this rate from this date. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 07 August 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a jobseeker's allowance payment has been reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43856/24]
View answerThe Person concerned reapplied for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) on 15/07/2024. This application was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned was not available for full time work and a disallowance letter issued on 31/07/2024.
This decision was appealed by the person concerned. Having reviewed the facts and contentions advanced a reviewing officer found no new reason to revise the original decision and the appeal has now been submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for decision.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Basic Supplementary Allowance payment and has also applied for Disability Allowance.
258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a further review of entitlements might be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43857/24]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 21 May 2023. A state pension (contributory) application was received from them on 22 February 2023.
A decision letter issued on 20 April 2023 to advise the person concerned that their application was disallowed as they did not satisfy the requirements. The records of my Department show the person concerned has 347 paid contributions which is less than the 520 paid contributions needed to qualify for State Pension (contributory).
The records of my Department show that Homemaking periods and HomeCaring periods have been awarded to the person concerned. However, these can not be used to satisfy the requirement for 520 paid contributions and are only reckonable for pension when the minimum number of paid contributions has been satisfied. The person concerned has also been awarded Long Term Carers Contributions. However, as the periods awarded are less than 1,040 weeks, these are not reckonable for pension purposes.
An application for State Pension (non-contributory) was received on 12 May 2023. A decision letter issued on 18 May 2023 to advise the person concerned that they did not qualify for this pension as their household means were in excess of the statutory means limit.
It is open to the spouse of the person concerned to apply for an increase for a qualified adult of their pension. The Increase for Qualified Adult (IQA) allowance is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of up to €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment. The means assessment also includes income from the capital value of savings.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which he is satisfied that equality prevails in all situations affecting children whose rights and entitlements might be affected in family law courts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43876/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Article 42A.4 of the Constitution requires that provision be made by law that in the resolution of all proceedings concerning the guardianship or custody of, or access to, any child, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration.
Section 3 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provides that the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration for the court in any proceedings where guardianship, custody or upbringing of, or access to, a child is in question.
Section 31 of the 1964 Act, as inserted by the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, sets out a wide range of factors that the court is required to take into account when determining the best interests of the child in such proceedings.
My Department is leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform set out in the first Family Justice Strategy, which I published in November 2022.
The Strategy sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family.
The Plan 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.
As the strategy was developed, my Department listened to and acknowledged the many issues and concerns about how the current system operates. The actions stress the centrality of children to many family justice matters, and the need to ensure their best interests are considered in conjunction with their constitutional rights.
On 13 June 2024, I published a wide-ranging review into the role of expert reports in the family law process, as committed to in the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025.
The Review sets out 20 ambitious recommendations for reform, the implementation of which will, amongst other things, promote consistency and common standards in hearing the voice of the child and safeguarding their best interests. They include:
• produce guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of expert reports;
• establish a panel of assessors with a structure to oversee its management;
• establish the role of Children’s Court Advocate, initially on a pilot basis, to assist children in having their voice heard in family law proceedings.
These changes are just one piece – but an important piece – of a reformed family justice system.
Once implemented, these recommendations will improve the quality of expert reports in family law proceedings, standardising practises relating to how they are developed in situations where they are required. They will support the judiciary in their decision making and ensure that children are at the centre of our efforts to improve outcomes for them and their families.
There has been significant progress in implementing the recommendations of the Review of the Role of Expert Reports in the Family Law process.
My Department has established a Voice of the Child Working Group with membership comprising both statutory and voluntary stakeholders in the family justice system. The first meeting of the Group took place on Wednesday, October 16th.
The group was set up in line with the commitment in Goal One of the Family Justice Strategy, that of “supporting children”. The group is taking forward some of the recommendations in the Review of Expert Reports, which was published in June 2024, including the development of a Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project.
The Review recommends implementing a Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project and evaluating the outcomes of the pilot project, for children, families, for professionals and for the system.
The envisaged role of a Children’s Court Advocate is to support children in their journey through private family law proceedings, providing information and ensuring their voice is heard, and part of the €3 million allocated in Budget 2025 will go towards funding the pilot.
The Pilot will be developed by the Voice of the Child Working Group and commence in 2025.
The Budget allocation will also permit Department officials to commence work on developing a scheme to fund expert reports from 2025.
The Chief Justice has established a Judicial Committee to develop guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of welfare reports chaired by the Honourable Ms Justice Nuala Jackson of the High Court. The Committee is being supported in their work by the Department of Justice.
The implementation of these actions, alongside the other elements of my family justice reforms, are critical to ensuring we have a family justice system which is more responsive, more consistent and which places children at its heart.
A further key component of the Strategy is the development of a Family Courts Bill 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 Court divisions will have judges assigned to them on a full-time basis. The Bill provides for a set of guiding principles for the conduct of family law proceedings, including that where the welfare of a child is involved, or likely to be affected, that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration, the child is appropriately informed of the proceedings and where the child is capable of forming their own views and they wish to express such views, that those views are ascertained and given due weight regarding the age and maturity of the child.
The Bill is progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas and it is my aim that it will be enacted as soon as possible.
260. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice to outline the entitlements bestowed on the bearer of an honorary citizenship; the rights bestowed on their descendants; if it differs from a general citizenship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43601/24]
View answerThe Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 provides that the President, on the advice of the Government, may grant Irish Citizenship as a token of honour to a person or to the child or grandchild of a person who has done honour or rendered distinguished service to the nation. It has, due to its exceptional nature, been bestowed on a very limited number of people.
A Government decision to advise the President to grant honorary citizenship would require a member of the Government to submit a memorandum setting out a case as to why the exceptional honour should be granted. Due to the exceptional nature of the award, proposals or applications other than on foot of such submissions are not accepted.
Citizenship granted as a token of honour is granted under the statutory provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 . Section 29 of that Act states that all Irish citizens are entitled to the same statutory rights and privileges.
261. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who arrived at each airport and ferry port for each of the last five years with no travel documents. [43682/24]
View answerI can advise the deputy, the Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for front-line Immigration at Dublin Airport only. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004.
I can advise the Deputy, my Department and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding. This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation. Border Management Unit officials are also available 24/7 to assist airlines with any immigration queries.
To the end of September 2024, the Border Management Unit have carried out over 6,000 doorstep operations at Dublin Airport. My Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without the correct documentation. 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation.
Before the summer recess I brought forward legalisation which increases penalties for carriers who are found to not have conducted appropriate checks on the documentation of people boarding. The fines for carriers have increased from €3,000 to €5,000.
I also strengthened visa requirements to travel to Ireland, provided funding for an increase in the Garda Airport Liaison Officers network across European transport hubs and assigned additional resources to the Border Management Unit to facilitate disembarkment checks.
When a person is refused leave to land at Dublin airport, the Immigration Officer will arrange for the person to be referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) for removal from the State. The priority is to return them on the next available return flight to the last point of embarkation. It is the case that the majority of those who present without appropriate documentation and refused leave to land seek to enter the international protection process.
The Deputy may also wish to know that the new EU Pact on Asylum and Migration introduces mandatory processing times for International Protection applications. Ireland along with other Member States will be required to process applications in 3 months for an accelerated decision. This will apply to, amongst others, people who have misled authorities such as by destroying identity documents.
The Table below details the number of arrival passengers, the number of persons who been refused permission to land in the State and the number of persons who have arrived without documentation in Dublin Airport between 2020 to 30 September 2024.
|
Dublin Airport |
Total Arriving Passengers |
Total Refusals |
Without Documentation |
|
2020 |
3,636,256 |
2,077 |
712 |
|
2021 |
4,118,027 |
3,210 |
2,082 |
|
2022 |
13,930,041 |
7,662 |
4,968 |
|
2023 |
16,628,545 |
5,826 |
3,287 |
|
2024* |
13,466,082 |
3,843 |
1,764 |
*to 30 September 2024
The table below details the number of persons who have been refused permission to land by An Garda Síochána at other ports of entry between 2020 to 30 September 2024. This includes persons who have been refused permission to land as they were not in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document.
|
Refused |
Border with NI |
Cobh |
Cork Airport |
Cork Port |
Dublin Port |
Kerry Airport |
Knock Airport |
Limerick |
Rosslare Port |
Shannon Airport |
Waterford Port |
Other |
Total |
|
2020 |
48 |
0 |
55 |
<10 |
105 |
<10 |
49 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
279 |
||
|
2021 |
91 |
0 |
24 |
<10 |
78 |
<10 |
68 |
18 |
<10 |
<10 |
297 |
||
|
2022 |
44 |
0 |
130 |
<10 |
276 |
13 |
120 |
58 |
<10 |
<10 |
681 |
||
|
2023 |
67 |
21 |
124 |
<10 |
228 |
<10 |
23 |
<10 |
57 |
53 |
<10 |
<10 |
593 |
|
2024* |
177 |
<10 |
93 |
<10 |
190 |
12 |
10 |
61 |
46 |
14 |
614 |
*to 30 September 2024
These figures may change when subject to data cleansing.
262. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown of Garda personnel, by rank, assigned to the Mayo division of An Garda Síochána for all years from 2016 to 2024; the steps being taken to increase these numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43693/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division.
I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of resources and the best possible policing service is provided to the general public.
The Government is committed to supporting Garda recruitment. In Budget 2025 over €2.48 billion has been allocated to An Garda Síochána. This is a 27% increase since 2020 and will allow for the sustained recruitment of new Garda recruits through to next year.
As of the end of June, the latest date for which verified and published figures are available, there were over 14,000 Garda members assigned across the country. This represents an increase of approximately 10% since 2015, when there were 12,816 Gardaí throughout the country.
A number of actions have been taken to support increased recruitment. We have increased the age of entry from 35 to 50 and most recently increased the training allowance to €354, representing an increase of over 92% in the last 12 months.
It is important to note that in 2022 the Mayo Division was merged into the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division under the New Operating Model. For this reason, I have included two tables below: one detailing Gardaí personnel by rank in the Mayo Division from 2016 to 2021, and another detailing Gardaí personnel by rank in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division from 2022 to 2024.
As of June 2024, there are 581 Gardaí assigned to the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division, consisting of 443 Gardaí, 110 Sergeants, 22 Inspectors, 5 Superintendents, and 1 Chief Superintendent.
They are supported by 102 Garda staff members as of the same date. Garda staff provide vital administrative support and help free up Garda members to focus on front line duties.
The Deputy should be advised that all figures provided to me by the Garda authorities are operational and subject to change.
|
- |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
Total |
|
Mayo Division 2016 |
238 |
51 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
300 |
|
Mayo Division 2017 |
263 |
50 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
323 |
|
Mayo Division 2018 |
272 |
56 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
339 |
|
Mayo Division 2019 |
268 |
57 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
339 |
|
Mayo Division 2020 |
272 |
56 |
9 |
5 |
1 |
343 |
|
Mayo Division 2021 |
261 |
55 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
330 |
|
- |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
Total |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division 2022 |
480 |
106 |
21 |
7 |
2 |
616 |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division 2023 |
462 |
109 |
23 |
6 |
2 |
602 |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division 2024 (As of June 31) |
443 |
110 |
22 |
5 |
1 |
581 |
(GD – Garda, SG – Sergeant, IN – Inspector, SU – Superintendent, CS – Chief Superintendent)
263. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of new recruits to An Garda Síochána approved each year from 2016 to date; the number of these who completed training each year; the number assigned to the Mayo division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43694/24]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. 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.
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.
Since the reopening of the Garda college in September 2014 a total of 4,824 Garda members have attested and have been allocated to Garda stations nationwide. This includes the 430 probationers who have attested to date this year.
The table below sets out the number of trainees who entered the Garda college in 2016 and up to September 2024.
|
Year |
No of Trainees Commenced Training |
|
2016 |
651 |
|
2017 |
811 |
|
2018 |
799 |
|
2019 |
603 |
|
2020 |
275 |
|
2021 |
380 |
|
2022 |
116 |
|
2023 |
746 |
|
2024 |
468 |
|
Total |
4849 |
I am further advised that the table below sets out the number of probationer Garda members assigned to Mayo for each year since 2016.
|
- |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
MAYO |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
31 |
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station breakdown is publicly available and can be found at the following link. I can also advise the Deputy that I have received the most recent figures for the attestation on 20 September 2024 from An Garda Síochána which has been published on the website.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/ .
264. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of burglaries carried out in the Mayo Garda division in each year between 2016 and 2024; whether she intends to introduce further legislation in order to tackle this problem and reduce burglaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43695/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the compilation and publication of official crime statistics. To be of assistance to the Deputy, the table below outlines the number of burglaries in the Mayo Division for the period 2016 to Q2 2024 (the latest published figures). This information is available on the CSO website.
|
Mayo Division |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024* |
|
Burglary and related offences |
250 |
219 |
210 |
169 |
102 |
106 |
140 |
177 |
73 |
*2024 figures are to end of Quarter 2
I can inform the Deputy that there is a comprehensive legislative framework in place regarding burglary and that there are no plans to amend current legislation.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the operational policing response to burglary and the Deputy may be aware that Operation Thor is the Garda national response to burglary.
It is worth noting the remarkable progress made since Operation Thor was launched in 2015, as there has been a 75% reduction in residential burglaries nationwide, and in Mayo since 2016 to the end of 2023, burglary and related offences have reduced by over 29%. The period for 2020 to 2022 may have seen a decrease due to the impact of public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the success of Operation Thor has continued beyond this period, with burglary offences still below 2016 levels.
Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends.
I would also like to note that throughout 2023, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) placed emphasis on targeting the criminal groups engaged in property crime, such as burglaries and robberies. A particular focus of the Bureau's activities centred upon rural crime and a number of the Bureau’s actions were in support of law enforcement in regional locations.
265. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the public display of banners, flags and emblems of international terror groups (details supplied); whether such display is in compliance with the law of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43711/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate the interpretation of the law is a matter for the Courts.
The Government is committed to the protection of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, consistent with the State's obligations in the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. However, it is important to note that there are boundaries to such protections.
There are a range of provisions in Irish legislation which may, depending on the particular circumstances, be applicable in the case of the display of banners, flags or emblems of organisations engaged in terrorist activity. These include provisions in the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, the Offences Against the State Act 1939, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989.
It is a matter for An Garda Síochána, in any particular circumstance, to consider whether an offence may have been committed and whether an investigation is warranted.
266. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the cost of recruiting 1,200 new Gardaí annually, notwithstanding the capacity constraints of the current Garda Training College. [43779/24]
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, in Budget 2025, 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 the Garda Authorities that the estimated 2025 payroll cost associated with the recruitment of 1,200 trainees in 2025 would be in the region of €12.2 million.
For this calculation, it is assumed that the 1,200 trainees are recruited in four tranches spread throughout the year and that the first intake of recruits will be scheduled to attest as Gardaí before the end of 2025.
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 for the recruits that commence training in 2025 and are due to attest by the end of 2025.
Pay increases scheduled for 2025 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.
267. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the cost of increasing the size of the Garda reserve to 2,000 by 2028. [43780/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Reserve, with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding 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.
There are currently around 325 Garda Reserves, as of the end of June 2024, and we have set a target of 1,000 Reserves by 2026. The Government is committed to working with the Garda Commissioner to achieve this goal.
A competition to recruit Garda Reserves opened in June, the first in many years. Garda Reserves play a vital role in their communities, and the revised regulations brought forward will allow them to contribute even more effectively. The Garda Reserve competition closed in early July and received over 1,800 applications.
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.
To help support the work of Reserves, we have increased the maximum stipend a Reserve member receives for voluntary service in a given year from €1,000 to €3,000.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that to increase the Garda Reserve to a strength of 2,000 by 2028 would require an additional 1,677 Garda Reserves. The estimated additional annual cost would range between €838,500 to €5,031,000, depending on many factors including the amount of hours of service per Reserve.
Other potential costs such as expenses incurred by Garda Reserves are not included in this estimate.
268. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the cost of expanding the Garda dog unit nationwide to 100 handlers and 200 dogs. [43781/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding since 2020.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business by law. This includes the distribution of Garda resources. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
The Garda Dog Unit is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, and has a national remit.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently 26 dogs and 17 dog handlers attached to the Garda Dog Unit. This is inclusive of the Southern and North Western Dog Units.
Expanding the Garda Dog Unit nationwide to 100 handlers and 200 dogs would have to occur over a number of years and would require a significant financial costing involving multiple stakeholders to be undertaken. Therefore, a cost cannot be generated at this time.
The Deputy may be interested to note that the cost to expand the Garda Dog Unit would, at a minimum, include:
• Costs attaching to the sourcing of suitable animals for training.
• Allocation of additional 83 members and training to bring the Garda Dog Unit up to 100 nationwide.
• Allocation of additional kennelling facilities at the handler’s private residences for the additional 174 dogs.
• Development of offices and kennels in stations to a suitable high standard for the new members and animals being allocated to the Dog Unit.
• Provision of lifetime veterinary and food requirements.
• Provision of additional number of suitably adapted/personal issue vehicles to facilitate expansion of the Garda Dog Unit.
• Provision of a fit for purpose training facility.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there currently is an agreed expansion programme for the Garda Dog Unit nationwide. This programme is underway, and involves a gradual process of sourcing of dogs and subsequently training the dogs and their handlers.
