Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1102. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice if a case will be reviewed (details supplied); when the certificate will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34533/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCitizenship Applications
Ceisteanna (1102)
Freagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that certificates of naturalisation have been issued via registered post for any person who was conferred with Irish citizenship at the June ceremonies.
Over 10,000 people were naturalised at the Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024 and I appreciate there was some delay in issuing certificates as a result.
My Department has recently implemented new procedures which will reduce the waiting time for our new citizens to receive their certificates going forward.
If any applicant has a query on their certificate, they can email citizenshipinfo@justice.ie.
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 16,000 decisions to date in 2024.
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.
Prison Service
Ceisteanna (1103)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:1103. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of addiction counsellors employed by the Irish Prison Service, by institution and by year, from 2013 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34544/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Irish Prison Service provides a health care service for people in custody with addictions in a structured, safe and professional way in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations.
It is the policy of the Irish Prison Service that, where a person committed to prison gives a history of opiate use and tests positive for opioids, they are offered a medically assisted, symptomatic detoxification, if clinically indicated.
Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss other treatment options with healthcare staff and those treatment options may include stabilisation on methadone, maintenance for those who wish to continue on maintenance while in prison, and when they return to the community on release.
The Irish Prison Service engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to 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 the clinical need is currently under review).
The MQI service provides a range of counselling and intervention skills related to substance misuse and dependency. These skills include motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, a twelve step facilitation programme, cognitive behavioural therapy and harm reduction approaches and people in custody are offered one to one counselling and group work interventions.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of MQI Addiction Counsellors by institution is available from 2016 and is provided in the table below. The current sanctioned quota for Addiction Counsellors is 20 and I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that MQI are advancing recruitment of 2.4 additional counsellors and that it is expected that these Addiction Counsellors will be in post in the coming weeks.
|
LOCATION |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Cork |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.72 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
2 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Midlands |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.96 |
1.9 |
1.96 |
1.96 |
1.96 |
|
Portlaoise |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.54 |
0.5 |
0.54 |
0.54 |
0.54 |
|
Mountjoy |
4.36 |
4.36 |
5 |
5 |
4.68 |
4 |
4.4 |
3.7 |
2.7 |
|
Dóchas |
1 |
1 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1 |
1.5 |
|
Training Unit |
0.64 |
0.64 |
|||||||
|
Loughan House |
0.5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.9 |
1 |
0.5 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cloverhill |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2.6 |
1 |
|
Wheatfield |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
|
Castlerea |
2.5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2.2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
TOTAL |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
17.6 |
International Agreements
Ceisteanna (1104)
Pa Daly
Ceist:1104. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to outline Ireland’s commitments under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34559/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The procedures for dealing with situations of international parental child abduction involving countries which are party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction are set out in the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991. EC Regulation 2201/2003, also known as the Brussels IIa Regulation, supplements and supports the terms of the Hague Convention in instances of international parental child abduction between EU Member States, excluding Denmark. The procedures for applications to the High Court under the Hague Convention, the 1991 Act and Brussels IIa Regulation are set out in Order 133 of the Rules of the Superior Courts.
Under the 1980 Hague Convention, Ireland’s obligations are:
• Assist applicants in other convention parties to bring a case for the return of children who have been wrongfully removed to or wrongfully retained in Ireland to the courts in Ireland.
• To request automatic free legal aid for the above.
• Assist applicants in other convention parties to bring a case for access to children who reside in Ireland.
• To facilitate the making of a legal aid application for the above.
• To bring an application for a declaration of wrongful removal from Ireland to the High Court.
• To provide information of a general nature regarding Irish family law, child protection services, etc. to requesting authorities in other convention parties.
• To keep other central authorities informed as to the progress of cases initiated by them.
There are concurrent obligations on Ireland to assist applicants in Ireland with the above situations to bring cases to other conventions parties, including the provision of translation services.
Citizenship Applications
Ceisteanna (1105, 1112, 1128)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:1105. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the timeframe in which people should expect to receive citizenship certificates following a positive decision in relation to their application for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34567/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
David Stanton
Ceist:1112. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice to outline the current process with respect to the issuing of naturalisation certificates for newly naturalised Irish citizens; the current average waiting time to receive such certificates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34662/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:1128. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice her views on the turnaround times for the printing of naturalisation certificates; the average waiting time in each of the past three years for receipt of a certificate; if there are unusual delays occurring in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34879/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1105, 1112 and 1128 together.
I can advise the Deputy that over 10,000 people were naturalised at the most recent Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024 and that, regretfully, due to the large numbers involved there was some delay in issuing certificates as a result.
Information is not collated on the average waiting time for the receipt of a certificate of naturalisation, however, I can confirm that certificates of naturalisation have been issued via registered post to any person who was conferred with Irish citizenship at the June ceremonies.
My Department has also recently implemented new procedures which will reduce the waiting time for our new citizens to receive their certificates in future.
If any applicant has a query on their certificate, they can email citizenshipinfo@justice.ie.
Immigration Status
Ceisteanna (1106)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:1106. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice if the passport relating to a person (details supplied) can be returned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34570/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.
My officials and I are legally obliged, under section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential. Section 26(1) of that Act sets out that:
“the Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential”.
For the Deputy’s information, I can provide the following general information on international protection applications and passports associated with that process.
All applicants for international protection are requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection Office at the time of application, to attest to their identity, nationality and date and place of birth. Applicants who are refused international protection and permission to remain in the State have their original passport documents returned to them once a final decision has been made and notified in their case. Persons granted subsidiary protection status or discretionary permission to remain in the State have their original passport documents returned to them at the time they are being granted those statuses.
Passports are not routinely returned to those applicants who have been given a declaration of refugee status. The original passport documents held in respect of such persons are retained on the individual international protection files on the basis that any such person has a right, under section 55 of the International Protection Act 2015, to apply for a 1951 Convention Travel Document to facilitate international travel to any location other than to the relevant country of nationality.
There can be circumstances where an original passport can be returned to a recognised refugee. Where such a passport is being returned, the relevant party is clearly notified of the purposes for which their original passport document can be used and equally the purposes for which it must not be used.
The Deputy will appreciate the importance of the integrity of the international protection process being protected in every reasonable way and any policies and practices in place in my Department in relation to passports submitted by international protection applicants have been put in place in an effort to meet that operational objective. Notwithstanding the policy and practice positions outlined, I can advise the Deputy that any request made by a person in the international protection process for the return of a national passport for a stated purpose will be considered on its merits. The International Protection Office operates an email service for responding to queries: info@ipo.gov.ie
International Protection
Ceisteanna (1107)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1107. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice to provide data for the period 2019 to date on the number of cases involving age-disputed minors identified by the international protection services and by any other relevant body under the aegis of her Department dealing with international protection, asylum and refugee claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34576/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Where it appears to the International Protection Office (IPO) that an applicant is a minor, the person in question is referred to Child and Family Agency (TUSLA). TUSLA undertakes an assessment for eligibility for services and, for those deemed to be unaccompanied minors, TUSLA support the young persons in making an international protection application.
There have been cases where TUSLA have deemed a young person not eligible for services and the young person has then completed an application for international protection as an adult. In some instances additional information comes to light during this application process which requires a further age assessment to be undertaken. This would happen, for example, where evidence of their minority is provided through identity documents. The IPO databases do not allow for reporting on cases where the ages of applicants were, or are, under dispute.
The table below details the number of referrals made from the IPO to TUSLA since 2019.
Please note all data provided is correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
|
Year |
Referrals from IPO to TUSLA |
|
2019 |
40 |
|
2020 |
28 |
|
2021 |
38 |
|
2022 |
181 |
|
2023 |
185 |
|
2024* |
161 |
*To COB 4 September 2024
Immigration Status
Ceisteanna (1108)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1108. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if she has accepted assistance offered by an airline (details supplied) with respect to the sharing of photocopied images of passports or other identifying documents in an effort to reduce the number of persons presenting at Dublin Airport with no valid or identifying documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34577/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process.
For security reasons and to protect the integrity of the immigration system, my Department does not comment on operational procedures of the Border Management Unit or the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
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 July 2024, the Border Management Unit have carried out over 4,500 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.
Statutory Instruments
Ceisteanna (1109)
Pa Daly
Ceist:1109. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if she would consider amending the relevant statutory instrument (details supplied) and raising the threshold for the Small Claims Court from €2,000 to €5,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34579/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
Question No. 1110 answered with Question No. 1075.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (1111)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:1111. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice if her Department is considering new legislation to attempt to address the perceived spike in motorcycle thefts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34592/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Changes to the Road Traffic Act rest under the remit of my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Transport, as does responsibility for road safety policy.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. However, I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána investigates all motorbike thefts and tackles motorbike theft on a number of fronts, including targeted enforcement.
The Garda Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit of Organised and Serious Crime continually monitors offenders for all crime types related to the unauthorised taking of vehicles including motorbikes. This Unit supports Garda Divisions in the investigation of Motorbike Crime and identification of stolen motorbikes nationally.
The Garda National Crime Prevention Unit also provide information and advices surrounding vehicle safety during various presentations made throughout the year. Infographics regarding vehicle safety are available online on the Garda website, are published on Garda social media platforms, and are utilised during in-person events.
Question No. 1112 answered with Question No. 1105.
Closed-Circuit Television Systems
Ceisteanna (1113)
David Stanton
Ceist:1113. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 2 July 2024, when she expects Part 5 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 to be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34701/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 2 July sought an update on the publication of the operational code of practice for the installation and operation of community CCTV schemes, as well as the 36 community CCTV schemes that have been approved for grant funding by my Department to date, and the current status of each project.
In providing that answer to the Deputy, I noted that the parts of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act which have yet to be commenced, including Part 5 which deals with the authorisation and operation of CCTV, will be commenced in the coming months.
These timelines are subject to the requirement for the Garda Commissioner to develop Codes of Practice for the parts of the Act not yet commenced which will set out the procedures and standards to be followed, as well as the new rules around confidentiality, security, storage, access and retention of data and data subject rights.
Naturalisation Applications
Ceisteanna (1114)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:1114. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) will receive their certificate of naturalisation, having applied over two months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34724/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that certificates of naturalisation have been issued via registered post for any person who was conferred with Irish citizenship at the June ceremonies.
Over 10,000 people were naturalised at the Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024 and I appreciate there was some delay in issuing certificates as a result.
My Department has recently implemented new procedures which will reduce the waiting time for our new citizens to receive their certificates going forward.
If any applicant has a query on their certificate, they can email citizenshipinfo@justice.ie.
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 16,000 decisions to date in 2024.
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.
Departmental Regulations
Ceisteanna (1115, 1116)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:1115. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to provide a detailed response outlining the schedule of meetings and proposed work of the housing and justice interdepartmental group to consider further regulatory measures for owner management companies in the context of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects and the proposed statutory remediation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34747/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatrick Costello
Ceist:1116. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when she will commence the agreed programme for Government commitment to review of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34748/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1115 and 1116 together.
The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purpose of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments (MUDs) and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owner management companies (OMCs).
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to conduct a review of the MUDs Act, to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that it acts in the best interests of residents. Housing for All, the national housing strategy, also provides for regulations to be made under the MUDs Act relating to the management of annual service charges by OMCs; and expenditure incurred of a non-recurring nature by OMCs (i.e. ‘sinking fund’ expenditure).
The work of my Department in relation to the MUDs Act is guided by that of the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in view of its central role in this area. My Department therefore continues to engage constructively with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to both the review and drafting of Regulations under the MUDs Act.
In June this year, I also agreed with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, to establish an interdepartmental group to consider what further regulatory measures may be required for OMCs in the context of the remediation scheme for apartments and duplexes with fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The group held its first meeting in July and are due to hold its second meeting in September.
Question No. 1116 answered with Question No. 1115.
Official Travel
Ceisteanna (1117)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of flights she has taken to or from Shannon Airport, Cork Airport and Knock Airport since assuming office. [34761/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that I have not taken any flights to or from the airports in question since my appointment as Minister for Justice.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (1118)
Robert Troy
Ceist:1118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice to urgently review the laws concerning the rights of fathers (details supplied). [34791/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 is the principal legislation concerning guardianship.
While under that Act, a father of a child who is not married to the mother of the child does not automatically become a guardian of the child from birth, the Act has been amended over the years to include additional measures to facilitate non-marital fathers who have an on-going relationship with their children to become guardians of their children.
Section 2(4A) of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as inserted by section 43(c) of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015) provides for guardianship for a father who was not married to the mother of the child and was cohabiting with the mother for not less than 12 consecutive months. This 12-month period must include a period, occurring at any time after the birth of the child, of not less than three months during which both the mother and father have lived with the child.
It is open to the father of a child at any stage to make an application to court for guardianship of the child under section 6A of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964.
There is a provision allowing for a father who is not married to the child's mother and does not satisfy the cohabitation requirements to become a guardian if the parents jointly make a statutory declaration appointing him as a guardian.
Section 7 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provides that the father of a child can be appointed a testamentary guardian of the child after the death of the mother in accordance with a deed or will made by the mother.
These provisions of the Act are important in safeguarding the interests of children and parents.
I would point out that my Department has no role in the making of court orders in relation to guardianship. This is a function of the Courts, which are, in accordance with the Constitution, independent in the performance of their functions.
The requirements that must be met by parents who apply for passports for their children are a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Immigration Policy
Ceisteanna (1119)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1119. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if, following the meeting on 30 January 2024, Ireland submitted comments and or drafting suggestions concerning Articles 1-6 of the Working Party on Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN) discussion on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down minimum rules to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the Union, and replacing Council Directive 2002/90/EC and Council Framework Decision 2002/946 JHA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34836/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that I remain committed to strengthening efforts to counter and prevent migrant smuggling and, separately, trafficking in human beings. What begins as smuggling may become a trafficking situation when a person who has been smuggled is then subjected to exploitation through force, coercion, deception, etc., during or after the smuggling event. Criminals involved in smuggling or trafficking networks disrespect human life and dignity, taking advantage of vulnerability - all in pursuit of profit.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau has carried out successful investigations relating to illegal immigration and people smuggling. The Bureau remains fully committed to identifying the modus operandi of smugglers, and their travel routes as well as dismantling the Organised Crime Gangs involved in the smuggling of people and supply of fraudulent documents.
I launched the Third National Action plan to Combat Human Trafficking in November 2023, which aims to work towards ending human trafficking in the State as a key element of building stronger, safer communities. I have also brought forward a revised National Referral Mechanism, which was signed into law in July and will provide for a more streamlined response to the identification of victims of trafficking. This will enable the relevant authorities to gather more information and evidence in order to bring to justice the traffickers who prey on vulnerable people with no regard for their lives and safety.
As the Deputy will be aware, in November 2023, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a Directive to establish minimum rules to prevent migrant smuggling, which updates and modernises the existing EU criminal law rules of the ‘Facilitator’s Package’, consisting of Directive 2002/90/EC, establishing a common definition of the offence of facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit, and residence, and Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of these offences.
Objectives of the proposal include to: effectively prosecute organised criminal networks; harmonise penalties reflecting the seriousness of the offence; improve jurisdictional reach; reinforce Member States’ resourcing and capacities and improve data collection and reporting.
Discussions on the proposal in the Council began in January at the Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN). Officials from my Department have attended all six meetings on this Directive thus far, with the next due to take place this month after the summer recess.
Throughout the course of these deliberations on the proposed directive, my officials have put forward Ireland’s position at the meetings of the working party and provided written comments to the Presidency. Such representations are routine in seeking to ensure that the Directive is fit for purpose from an Irish perspective and that it respects the Irish Constitutional, operational and policy landscape.
My Department will continue to actively shape the draft at future COPEN working party meetings to ensure a final text incorporates Ireland’s views and that it is ultimately effective in its aim to prevent and counter migrant smuggling.
Domestic Violence
Ceisteanna (1120)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:1120. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the status of the proposed development of a domestic violence refuge in County Monaghan, including the proposed location for such a development and the expected timeframe for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34846/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A key action of the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is the doubling of refuge space numbers available during the lifetime of the Strategy to 280 refuge spaces.
As the Deputy is aware, prior to the establishment of Cuan, an Inter-Departmental Group was set up to manage and oversee progress on the delivery of additional refuge units. This Committee was initially chaired by the Department of Justice, with representation from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth. This Committee is now chaired by Cuan.
Through this Committee, Cuan and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to assist the development of local structures operating in the priority areas identified in the Third National Strategy and will support their advancement of the new refuges, with capital funding support continuing via the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Agency also has a dedicated team in place to support the development of domestic violence refuges.
As accommodation for victims of DSGBV falls under the remit of Cuan, I am referring this question to them for direct answer.
Residency Permits
Ceisteanna (1121)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1121. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice if a permanent residence application for a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34849/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person referred to in the Deputy's query submitted an application for permanent residence under the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) (Citizens’ Rights) Regulations 2020, was received by EU Treaty Rights Division on 13 July 2023.
The permanent residence application relates to the person’s claim to have an entitlement to a permanent residence document based on their United Kingdom national family member, as they have been residing together in the State for a continuous period of five years, in compliance with the European Union (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) (Citizens’ Rights) Regulations 2020
While every effort is made to issue a decision on each application as soon as possible, current processing times may vary having regard to the complexity of the application and the possible need for the EU Treaty Rights Division to seek further information. The person concerned can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in having their case brought to finality. In the meantime they have been granted a temporary Stamp 4 permission until 26 October 2024 while their permanent residence application continues to be processed.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at, IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.