Written Answers Nos. 432-451
433. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if the issues regarding funding of an organisation (details supplied) by the probation services and the HSE have now been resolved; the status of the appeal; and if a decision will be expedited as the funding is urgently required. [21276/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the Probation Service has clarified the issues regarding funding to the organisation in question, and is preparing to revert to the organisation in relation to the formal appeal process.
The Deputy may also wish to know that funding payments for the first two quarters of 2024 have issued to the organisation in question. I understand that the Probation Service will meet the organisation in the coming weeks to discuss funding allocations for this year.
434. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice when the review into the lapses regarding the Sex Offenders Register, identified in the High Court judgment (details supplied) delivered on 22 March 2024, was commenced; who was appointed to carry out the review; when that person or persons were appointed and if she will publish the findings of the said review. [21291/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra435. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice if she will carry out an audit of all information received in the past five years from any other state on sexual offences committed abroad by any person residing in Ireland to ensure that it was adequately followed up on the Sex Offenders Register; and if she will publish the results of that audit. [21292/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together.
I can advise the Deputy that review of the case was directed by me on 1 May, with the terms of reference settled last week, and which I have today forwarded to the Deputy. At this point the review has identified that details of the individual’s criminal record was transmitted from the International Protection Office of the Department to An Garda Síochána at the time of its original receipt from the UK authorities. The review will establish timelines and key interactions with the applicant in question, and consider the adequacy of current practice. The review will also consider whether other cases of this nature exist, and make recommendations regarding policy and procedures. For reasons of speed and flexibility the review is being carried out by a Departmental official, one not connected with the original management of the case. I have asked that the review report to me by the end of the month and will consider the appropriate next steps once I have received the report.
436. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of proceedings lodged at the High Court in 2023 and to date in 2024; the estimated total number of these which relate to immigration matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21295/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Figures of this nature are recorded by the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.
438. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if, given the ongoing situation in Gaza, she will stop the issuing of new travel and work visas for Israeli citizens coming to Ireland. [21307/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that Israeli nationals are not visa required and may seek to enter and reside in the State under the legal pathways provided for non-EEA nationals, including the work permit system. While all immigration schemes and policies are kept under constant review, there are no plans to introduce restrictions for Israeli nationals along the lines the Deputy suggests.
439. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of group intervention sessions currently being run in the IPS to target criminogenic factors, by institution and by year for the period of 2015 to date. [21313/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials in the Irish Prison Service have advised that it is not possible to retrieve the information sought as it is not electronically recorded in one central area.
As such, the retrieval of this information would involve significant engagement and the manual examination of a considerable amount of records covering approximately 9 years. In the context of limited resources, such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and resources which could not be justified.
I have been advised however that group sessions are available across the Irish Prison estate and are provided by both Irish Prison Service staff and in-reach providers. Each group is considered in terms of the needs of the prisoner cohort, with a particular emphasis on targeting criminogenic factors. Groups include those provided within education units, psychological group therapy and offence related group interventions. Addiction support groups are delivered via Merchants Quay Ireland, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Mindfulness and Mentalisation Based Stress Reduction group programmes, and groups for those requiring support in relation to grief are also catered for, amongst many more.
I am informed that group based interventions are an extremely beneficial way of engaging people in custody because of the impact of peer to peer engagement and challenge and the experience of universality often experienced. Groups also have a positive impact on wait lists for those awaiting service provision.
440. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the average wait time for a generic prisoner to meet with both an addiction counsellor and psychology services for ongoing intervention, separate from for an initial assessment in person, for the period of 2015 to date, by institution, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21314/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Prison Psychology Service provides an integrated service to people in custody. Specifically, this means the Psychology Service is responsible for both mental health and criminogenic (offence related) assessment and interventions.
The Irish Prison Psychology Service works primarily through a layered care model, providing primary, secondary and tertiary level mental health care to people in custody. A layered care model provides clients with access to a variety of responses, from minimal interventions such as whole population approaches with the Red Cross and primary care mental health interventions, to more specialist mental health and personality disorder treatments.
At any one time approximately 60% of referrals to the Psychology Service are specifically in relation to the mental health of people in custody. These referrals include; mood and anxiety disorders, stress related disorders, disorders of personality and behaviour, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including Complex PTSD, self-harm and suicidal behaviour, substance use, eating disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia, addiction, dementias, cognitive decline, traumatic brain injuries, impulse disorders, and disorders of sexual preference.
In addition, the Service works to support people who present with various other intellectual, behavioural and emotional challenges for which different treatment approaches, or indeed multiple approaches, may be required.
Additionally, there are a variety of offence related issues that require additional treatments.
The Prison Service Psychology Service are proactively reducing time spent doing assessment, and in turn are increasing the amount of time allocated to intervention. This includes the fast track of prisoners into certain interventions directly from referral based on file review and consultation with the multidisciplinary team. It also includes the introduction of rolling groups in order to improve access to psychological therapy. A referral for some of these interventions may be opened on the system on the day it takes place and so this substantially decreases the average waiting times.
Bearing in mind that there are various factors that can contribute to the length of time an individual might be waiting to access services, the data presented below is an average of waiting times (in days) for all categories, excluding triage assessments, across each institution since 2015.
Average waiting time (in days) to access psychological services (excluding triage assessment) across prisons.
|
- |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
160.8 |
48.1 |
64.7 |
364.2 |
251.5 |
220.3 |
343.1 |
113.5 |
40.2 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
126.6 |
129.2 |
157.7 |
252.5 |
230.8 |
137.2 |
164.2 |
85.6 |
30.6 |
|
Cloverhill Remand Prison |
27.0 |
57.5 |
28.1 |
37.7 |
83.4 |
68.6 |
58.2 |
87.1 |
43.9 |
|
Cork Prison |
49.3 |
96.9 |
110.5 |
55.6 |
81.5 |
40.6 |
196.2 |
67.5 |
42.3 |
|
Limerick Prison |
116.6 |
55.4 |
158.0 |
147.2 |
304.4 |
172.0 |
399.8 |
89.0 |
43.5 |
|
Loughan House* |
14.0 |
126.4 |
31.5 |
37.0 |
1.0 |
12.7 |
8.7 |
||
|
Midlands Prison |
195.5 |
267.6 |
280.5 |
226.4 |
319.9 |
266.7 |
201.6 |
123.9 |
41.1 |
|
Mountjoy Prison ( Female) |
3.9 |
79.4 |
163.2 |
81.1 |
87.4 |
74.4 |
50.1 |
79.7 |
38.9 |
|
Mountjoy Prison ( Male ) |
66.6 |
182.2 |
129.2 |
339.7 |
370.8 |
173.5 |
350.6 |
245.1 |
36.2 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
164.3 |
216.7 |
304.5 |
218.2 |
344.6 |
293.2 |
230.6 |
179.5 |
5.2 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
54.8 |
0.0 |
****1,594.0 |
11.9 |
92.8 |
23.9 |
4.2 |
332.0 |
30.9 |
|
St. Patricks** Institution |
53.0 |
||||||||
|
Training Unit *** |
45.9 |
33.2 |
20.7 |
20.7 |
|||||
|
Wheatfield Prison |
91.8 |
138.7 |
196.0 |
331.1 |
285.2 |
261.3 |
279.3 |
130.2 |
38.5 |
*There was no psychologist assigned to Loughan House during the years 2019, 2020, 2021, a part time Psychologist was assigned to Loughan House from December 22 to November 23.
**St Patrick’s Institution closed on 7th April 2017 however the transition of prisoners commenced in 2013. The 2016 data in respect of St Patrick’s would be included in the Mountjoy data, there was no psychologist assigned to St Patrick’s from May 2016.
*** Training Unit closed temporarily for repurposing.
****Highlighting how nuanced this data is, this figure is so high because of one particular individual’s waiting time for an MBT group, the referral was created in 2022 but backdated to 2017 as that is when he had completed a previous intervention. As such the overall time for Shelton Abbey’s average waiting time is inflated.
The Irish Prison Service also provides various services for prisoners with addiction in a structured, safe and professional way in line with international best practice. It is estimated that up to 70% of the prisoner population have addiction issues. The Irish Prison Service takes these issues very seriously and spends a sum in excess of €1M per annum on the provision of an addiction counselling service in Irish Prisons. This service is supplied by Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) who provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate - with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison and the Training Unit where there was less clinical need for such a service, however this is currently being reviewed.
MQI do not currently record how long people wait to meet with an addiction counsellor for ongoing intervention, separate from an initial assessment. There are many local variables unique to each prison which can influence how long someone could remain on the waiting list. These factors include access, whether they are on remand, their expected date of release, where in the prison they reside (e.g. are they on protection or non-protection), and the individual work schedule of the person in custody themselves.
The Irish Prison Service also works closely with Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous who provide support to people in custody, and the Irish Prison Service has also recently engaged Gambling Awareness Trust in relation to interventions for those with gambling addiction. The Irish Prison Service is also in the process of implementing additional supports to people with addiction and mental health difficulties, including the 'Recovery College' model which provides education, training and workshops, and the introduction of an Addiction Studies course.
441. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for those prisoners in the Mountjoy Prison progression unit who are being put back into general population, what unique perks and rehabilitation services they will have access to reflect their progressed status. [21315/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that until recently, people convicted of, or on remand for, sexual violence were accommodated at four primary locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Training Unit. However, due to rising committals to prison for those convicted of sexual violence, it was decided to consider other options within the prison estate to accommodate this cohort.
The Progression Unit of Mountjoy Prison is self-sufficient in relation to recreation, education, work and training and there is no requirement for those living in this Unit to interact or traverse to the main prison. For this reason, it was decided that the Progression Unit is a suitable location to accommodate people convicted of, or on remand for, sexual violence.
The process of accommodating this cohort in the Progression Unit commenced during March 2024. On 29 April 2024, a total of 36 people had been accommodated in the Progression Unit and it is expected that further incremental movements of this cohort of offender to the Progression Unit will take place in the coming months.
Those who are currently accommodated in the Progression Unit, who are not serving their sentences for sexual violence will be moved to alternative suitable accommodation within the prison estate. Transfers and temporary release decisions will be made taking into account criteria including nature and gravity of offence, amount of time spent in custody and amount left on a prisoner’s sentence, information from An Garda Síochána, engagement with services and behaviour in custody – with public safety being paramount when these decisions are being made. Some may be moved to Open Centres with the additional freedom and integration supports that these areas of the prison estate provide. Others will move to another closed prison, and some may be released to one of the early release schemes.
The majority of prisoners moving from the Progression Unit are likely to be eligible for integrated sentence management and therefore their individual needs will be assessed on transfer to another closed prison or open centre. A sentence plan is drafted with the multidisciplinary team having regard to the services that are available in that prison and the strengths, risks and needs of that individual.
442. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of sex offenders who have completed mandatory group work of the total sex offender population by institution in the Irish prison system in the past five years. [21316/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, sexual violence, our understanding of it, and its assessment and treatment has evolved over time.
The Building Better Lives (BBL) programme has been delivered as the treatment programme for sexual offending since 2009 in Irish Prisons. It is based on Canada’s Rockwood model of treatment. The programme is provided over two stages; a shorter motivational group (Exploring Better Lives; EBL) and the longer term more intensive treatment group, Practicing Better Lives (PBL). Typically eight participants attend each group, so 16 in total at any one time. The programme is currently delivered in Arbour Hill Prison. Participation is not mandatory as imposed interventions are compromised in their efficacy as well as raising ethical and legal concerns.
Based on the information provided by the Irish Prison Service, the number of participants who completed the Building Better Lives programme (both EBL and PBL) in the last 5 years is as set out as follows in tabular format. It is not possible to divide this number by institution; people convicted of sexual violence have typically been accommodated in four locations including the Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, the Training Unit in Mountjoy Prison and Castlerea Prison with the majority of treatment occurring in Arbour Hill Prison.
|
Year |
No. of Participants |
|
2023 |
11 |
|
2022 * |
7 |
|
2021 * |
9 |
|
2020 * |
9 |
|
2019 |
21 |
*Covid 19 restrictions and the consequent reduction of group therapies and one to one therapy should be considered in 2020 and 2021 data where some participants may have only had the opportunity to partially engage in this treatment intervention process.
The primary reason for low participation rates is the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for participation, including the requirement for stability of mental health and personality, sufficient sentence length, being assessed as moderate to high risk of re-offending, and capacity to engage in group programmes. Those who deny their offence are also excluded. Those appealing their offence often deny all or part of their offending also, therefore ‘denial’ as an exclusion criteria constitutes a significant percentage of the population.
Whilst the completion of BBL tends to be a particular focus for attention, it is important to note that the figures above represent only those who have fully completed the BBL programme (both EBL and PBL). Other assessment and intervention pillars are provided by the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service for people convicted of sexual violence. As many people convicted of sexual violence do not meet criteria for BBL because of particularly complex presentations, there are various other pillars of intervention and management available, depending on the person’s strengths, needs and risks. A significant number of those who are released who do not participate in BBL are managed in this way. Interventions include:
• Individual offence focused work by Irish Prison Service Psychology / Probation Service;
• Individual or group work focused on mental health, emotional regulation or other offence related need by Irish Prison Service Psychology Service;
• Probation Service engagement inc. risk assessment and management where the individual has a Post Release Supervision Order. This includes a handover to community based Probation Officer prior to release;
• Psychology ‘Pathways to Change’ group (focuses on an introduction to risk factors);
• Engagement with prison in-reach Psychiatry for stabilisation and maintenance of mental health where a mental health diagnosis is made;
• Education and Work training;
• Integrated Sentence Management;
• Engagement with the Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders (IASIO);
• Engagement with Resettlement Services;
• Sex Offender Risk Assessment and Management (SORAM);
• Safer Lives Community Sexual Violence Group Work Treatment Programme (and allied community interventions).
As the Deputy may be aware the emergence of updated research evidence, discussion with field experts, new Council of Europe recommendations and the new National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence have led to a significant review of the current BBL programme and the need to implement comprehensive revisions. A procurement process was used to secure the support required to make significant changes to the current treatment programme for sexual violence. Dr Liam Marshall (Canada) was awarded the contract to review the programme and the report has been recently submitted to the Irish Prison Service.
The Irish Prison Service is in the process of implementing these significant revisions. In 2023, two additional Senior Psychologists for Sexual Violence were recruited to join the existing Senior Psychologist and Staff Grade Psychologist to support implementation of the programme. Further recruitment is planned. A competition was held in August 2023 and a vacancy still exists for a Principal Psychologist Specialist. A Research Assistant has also been recruited on an 18 month contract to support evaluation of the programme.
Many of the emerging recommendations for change will witness a significant reduction in the barriers to treatment outlined above. They include: risk assessment at an early stage in sentence to inform sentence management and treatment options; working with people who deny and minimise their offence(s); working with people with mental disorders who have been sexually violent, and provision of treatment for people in all risk categories and with shorter sentences for better outcomes and safer communities.
443. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice the status of a matter (details supplied); the steps her Department has taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21336/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 8 April 2024, in addition to Dublin residents, Immigration Service Delivery of my Department assumed responsibility for registration of individuals residing in counties Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow from An Garda Síochána.
The case referred to by the Deputy was processed prior to this assumption of responsibility.
I have looked into the matter and can confirm that although the registration was processed, an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card did not issue to the person at that time. This has now been rectified and an IRP card will be delivered to the address provided at registration very shortly.
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.
444. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank attached to the public service vehicle inspector unit within Westmeath division, in tabular form. [21407/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate and examine all the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
445. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the amount of revenue currently owed to An Garda Síochána as of 3 May 2024 in respect to non-public duty charges for policing concerts and so on in 2023 [21408/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am informed that the amount of revenue currently owed to An Garda Síochána as of 3 May 2024 in respect to non-public duty charges for policing concerts and so on in 2023 is €720,141.
446. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank attached to public service vehicle inspector unit within Roscommon-Longford division, in tabular form. [21409/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the deployment of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this deployment under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of available resources.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are fewer than 10 Garda members attached to the Public Service Vehicle Inspector Unit within Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division.
I am also advised that data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10 for data protection reasons.
447. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice how many applications are currently in the system for the join family (sponsor is an Irish citizen) visa. [21423/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware that Join family visa applications are very important for non-EEA nationals living and working in the State and acknowledge that improvements can be made.
I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. As of 09 May 2024 there were 997 Type D long stay applications awaiting a first instance decision. It should be noted that this figure includes the following categories:
• Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner),
• Join Family (Irish national)(other)
• Join Family (Irish national)(spouse)
I can further advise that while the current processing times for join family visa applications may vary across the different visa decision making centres globally, that processing times are largely in line with the expected processing times published across the Immigration Service Delivery websites of 6 months for Irish citizens / Category A sponsors and 12 months for Category B sponsors such as General Employment Permit holders.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
Processing times and decisions at the seven overseas Visa Offices are available on the website of Department of Foreign Affairs.
448. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda forensic collision investigators, by rank, attached to Carlow-Kilkenny Divisional as of 7 May 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21440/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the deployment of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this deployment under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of available resources.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are fewer than 10 Garda Forensic Collision Investigators (FCI) attached to Carlow-Kilkenny Division on the 7 May 2024.
I am also advised that data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10 for data protection reasons.
I am further informed that Carlow/Kilkenny Division is also served by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators from adjoining Divisions, based in Wexford and Waterford respectively; and that recruitment and training of FCI personnel is ongoing.
449. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the number of 1250cc and 1400cc motorcycles in the Garda fleet as of 7 May 2024; if she will provide same figures as of 1 May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21442/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates 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.
There are now 3,516 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever and an increase of over 34% since 2015. The fleet includes 2,658 cars, 565 vans, 139 motorcycles, 102 4x4 and 52 others (refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles).
I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 30 April 2021 there were five 1250cc motorcycles attached to the Garda fleet, and I am further informed that this number had increased to 20 by 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available.
I am advised that there were no 1400cc motorcycles attached to the fleet in the years requested, and that the Garda authorities currently have no plans to add 1400cc motorcycles to the Garda fleet.
450. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost in 2025 if 1,750 new gardaí were recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21443/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. The record budgetary allowance of €2.3 billion is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, training and equipment.
As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including all matters relating to recruitment and training. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated payroll and fixed subsistence cost of recruiting 1750 Garda in 2025 is in the region of €52m.
This sum includes a basic training allowance for 35 weeks along with 17 weeks of post attestation salary, an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours allowances, employer’s PRSI, and an estimate of subsistence paid during the trainees’ deployment to an operational station. All scheduled pay rises have been considered in the calculation.
It is assumed that all recruits commence training on 1 January 2025.
Other potential costs including the cost of equipment and accommodation are not included. 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.
Any funding for An Garda Síochána will be decided in consultation with my Department under the estimates process, as part of the normal budgetary procedures.
451. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the amount that An Garda Síochána spent on purchasing specialist gas masks in 2022,2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21444/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the purchase, allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
To provide An Garda Síochána with the equipment and resources it needs I have allocated record amounts to the Garda Vote in recent years, with over €2.35 billion allocated for 2024, an increase of 25% since 2020.
I am informed that An Garda Síochána has no record of purchasing specialist gas masks.
