Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:175. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the total amount of consultancy fees incurred by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41793/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Consultations
Ceisteanna (175)
Freagraí 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.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (176)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:176. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent by her Department on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41811/24]
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.
Prison Service
Ceisteanna (177)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:177. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners currently in prison who have previously served time in prison. [41818/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a snapshot analysis of the prison population is conducted on the last day of each month. The most recent analysis was conducted on 30 September 2024 and it is this analysis which has been used to provide the information requested by the Deputy.
On the 30 September 2024, the total number of people in custody was 4,975. Of these, 3,333 previously served time in prison.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (178)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:178. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of children admitted to women's refuges in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [41819/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
One of the overarching goals of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, which I published in June 2022, is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one and under the strategy we have committed to doubling the number of refuge units across the country.
This represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country.
To accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year, I formally established Cuan - the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency – at the start of this year.
Cuan is working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Housing Agency to put in place the necessary structures and supports for organisations to take forward plans.
Last month, I launched a new 12 unit refuge in Wexford - the first of 18 priority locations to complete construction. The opening of the new units in Wexford means there are 162 domestic violence units across the country, with four more expected to come online in Louth before the end of the year and construction of a further 12 units in Kilcross in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown also beginning before the end of this year.
There are at present 82 units undergoing funding approval through the Capital Assistance Scheme, with a further 10 proposals under review by colleagues in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
There are another 19 units that have been identified as potential development opportunities by Cuan and our planning and delivery pipeline is growing stronger all the time.
Given the number of projects in the pipeline, we are on course to deliver on the ambitious target of doubling the number of refuge spaces.
Cuan is now responsible for coordinating all Government actions set out in the Third National Strategy and has a dedicated team in place to support the development of domestic violence refuges.
As this question relates to work being carried out by Cuan and data held by Cuan, I have referred it to the agency for direct response.
Human Trafficking
Ceisteanna (179, 180, 181, 182)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:179. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons arrested, prosecuted, and convicted of human trafficking in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [41820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeadar Tóibín
Ceist:180. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of reports of human trafficking received by An Garda Síochána in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [41821/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeadar Tóibín
Ceist:181. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if she has undertaken to examine the rate of child trafficking in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41822/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeadar Tóibín
Ceist:182. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if her Department is aware of any instances of trafficking for organ harvesting in the State over the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41823/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 182, inclusive, together.
The prevention, detection and prosecution of the abhorrent crime of human trafficking is a priority for me as Minister for Justice and for this Government.
A number of significant measures have been taken to combat human trafficking, to create a more victim-centred approach to identifying and supporting victims, and to raise awareness and provide training for those who need it.
The new National Referral Mechanism was approved by Government in May 2021 and is a key component in combatting human trafficking. It provides for a number of agencies to be competent authorities identifying victims of human trafficking and for some NGOs to be designated ‘trusted partners’ and able to make referrals to the competent authorities. Legislation to put the revised NRM on a statutory footing was enacted during the summer.
The Third National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which I published last November, aims to work towards ending human trafficking in the State as a key element of building stronger, safer communities, and a number of government departments and agencies have significant roles to play in the implementation of the Plan.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the following table counts any charges/summons related to human trafficking created from 2015 to 2024 year-to-date:
|
Charge/Summons for Human Trafficking |
|||||||||
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Q1 - Q3 2024 |
|
47 |
67 |
121 |
175 |
417 |
83 |
303 |
41 |
80 |
72 |
As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is wholly independent in the performance of her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in the operations, decision making process, governance or oversight of the Office of the Director. As a result I am unable to provide any statistical information related to the work of, or decisions taken by, the DPP.
Likewise, management 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 and will be able to provide any information that is available to the Deputy in respect of the convictions enquired about. In order to be of assistance to the Deputy I have referred the question to the Courts Service for direct reply.
I am further informed by An Garda Síochána that the following table counts any incidents of Human Trafficking reported from 2015 to 2024 year-to-date:
|
Reported Incidents of Human Trafficking |
|||||||||
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Q1 - Q3 2024 |
|
35 |
38 |
45 |
46 |
40 |
43 |
51 |
46 |
52 |
41 |
Crime Counting Rules have been applied.
I should draw the Deputy’s attention to a change in 2017 in the recognition of cases of child sex abuse internationally as human trafficking - except in distinct circumstances as reflected in our domestic legal regime in certain offences under section 3(2) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 as amended, and the offences under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013 – that has, from 2018 onward, resulted in lower numbers of child sex abuse victims being classified also as victims of human trafficking relative to previous years. The change ensures that only cases of child sex abuse that can correctly be defined as human trafficking are classified as such, since that date.
In relation to the information sought on the rate of child trafficking in the State, An Garda Síochána has advised that from 2020 – 2023 inclusive, four years, there have been a total of 11 children assessed as victims of human trafficking.
The Deputy may be interested to know that the identification and protection of child trafficking victims in Ireland is a key priority and while the majority of actions in the new National Action Plan on Human Trafficking relate to both adult and child victims, there are a number of child-specific measures included under each of the Plan’s pillars.
Finally, in relation to the Deputy's question concerning the crime of organ harvesting occurring within the State over the past decade, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) advises that in the last decade the number of cases in relation to 'Human Trafficking – Removal of Organs' is below 10 and therefore too low to report.
Question No. 180 answered with Question No. 179.
Question No. 181 answered with Question No. 179.
Question No. 182 answered with Question No. 179.
Domestic Violence
Ceisteanna (183)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda call-outs to instances of domestic violence in each county in the State, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [41824/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) remains an absolute priority for this Government, for me as Minister for Justice and for the Garda Commissioner.
'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), sets out an ambitious, whole-of-government, five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.
The Strategy, which was co-designed with the sector, also has a significant focus on improving the system for victims of these terrible crimes and on ensuring there is a full range of supports and services available nationwide to support and empower victims and survivors.
A significant objective has been to encourage victims of domestic violence to come forward and to report the crimes that are being committed against them.
This is an important step because historically there has been an under-reporting of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. I welcome that more people who have been impacted are coming forward, reporting what has happened to them and accessing supports.
Under Budget 2025, I was pleased to announce that DSGBV funding has increased to €70m, of which €67m is allocated to Cuan.
This more than triples the funding for DSGBV services from when I first became Minister for Justice, and represents a further significant increase for 2025.
Increasing funding for Cuan to €67m will provide for additional resources to support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance strategy, with funding for 80 additional refuge spaces.
I have also strengthened our laws in this area, and introduced additional supports for victims, so that they have the confidence to come forward and report what has happened.
I have legislated for new standalone offences of non-fatal strangulation and stalking and I have increased the maximum penalty for assault causing harm, one of the most commonly prosecuted domestic violence related offences, from five to ten years. l have also strengthened the law on sexual offences and improved protections throughout the criminal justice process system for victims of sexual offences.
In addition, there are now divisional protective service units (DPSUs) across the country with specially trained officers who will engage with, and support, vulnerable victims and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions now has a specialist sexual offences unit.
In response to the Deputy's query, An Garda Síochána have advised that the data provided in response to Parliamentary Question 1466 on the 23 July, 2024, remains the most up-to-date information and that full year statistics for 2024 will not be available until after the year end.
For ease of reference, I have provided the available information in the table attached.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (184)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:184. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí who were assaulted while on duty in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41825/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (185)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:185. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons arrested for fraud offences in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41826/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them.
I am committed to building stronger, safer communities and ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024.
I am assured by the Garda authorities that the distribution of Garda resources is kept under constant review, in light of policing priorities and emerging crime trends.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of arrests related to Fraud/Economic Crime offences in the past ten years.
Please note that this data was taken from the PULSE system on 11 October 2024 and is operational and subject to change.
|
Year of Arrest |
No. Of Custody Logs |
|
2014 |
940 |
|
2015 |
1081 |
|
2016 |
1086 |
|
2017 |
979 |
|
2018 |
969 |
|
2019 |
1126 |
|
2020 |
1179 |
|
2021 |
1155 |
|
2022 |
926 |
|
2023 |
1008 |
|
2024* |
736* |
*up to 11 October.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (186)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:186. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the amount of cash and assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in each of the past 12 years; and the total amount returned to the Exchequer by the CAB in the same period. [41827/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Eradicating organised crime is central to building safer, stronger communities. I am absolutely committed to that goal, and strengthening and expanding CAB is an important element of this. It is essential to deprive criminals of the proceeds of crime and 2023 was a record year for the Criminal Assets Bureau in this regard.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. The Chief Bureau Officer is responsible to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for the administration and business of the Criminal Assets Bureau. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these functions.
Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.
Earlier this year, I announced plans to introduce legislation to further strengthen the State’s ability to seize criminal assets. The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2024 will make significant changes to existing legislation to strengthen the ability of the Criminal Assets Bureau to target the proceeds of crime and will speed up the process to dispose of the asset for the benefit of the State.
Throughout 2023, the Bureau placed particular emphasis on targeting the criminal groups engaged in serious and organised crime, as well as property crime, such as burglaries and robberies. A particular focus of the Bureau's activities centres upon rural crime and a number of the Bureau’s actions were in support of law enforcement in Regional locations.
CAB’s impact on those who cause such damage to communities across the country by engaging in criminality is evident in the fact that it forwarded in excess of €8.6 million to the Central Fund during 2023, which can be broken down as follows:
• €2.219 million under the Proceeds of Crime legislation
• €5.792 million was collected in Revenue
• €0.639m in Social Welfare recoveries
The below table, provided to me by CAB, outlines the assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau under Section 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 to 2005 and the amounts remitted to the Exchequer by the Criminal Assets Bureau for the period 2012 – 2023.
|
Year |
Section 2 Interim Orders EURO |
Total sent to Exchequer from Section 4(1) & 4A |
Taxes and Interest Collected |
Social Welfare Recoveries |
|
2012 |
2,110,334.78 |
4,850,540.17 |
€1,967,925.00 |
€393,797.00 |
|
2013 |
2,821,302.00 |
1,038,680.52 |
€5,418,000.00 |
€287,380.00 |
|
2014 |
6,760,182.00 |
467,152.37 |
€3,017,000.00 |
€335,911.00 |
|
2015 |
941,078.59 |
1,642,962.29 |
€2,038,000.00 |
€185,354.32 |
|
2016 |
643,063.07 |
1,412,920.41 |
€2,106,000.00 |
€297,430.12 |
|
2017 |
7,020,539.20 |
1,698,721.08 |
€2,374,000.00 |
€319,720.31 |
|
2018 |
8,263,582.30 |
2,271,799.92 |
€3,097,000.00 |
€302,673.36 |
|
2019 |
64,985,550.30 |
1,559,726.31 |
€2,206,000.00 |
€324,055.73 |
|
2020 |
5,814,206.00 |
1,838,507.25 |
€2,138,000.00 |
€317,236.57 |
|
2021 |
3,068,528.00 |
1,143,834.14 |
€4,041,000.00 |
€364,827.81 |
|
2022 |
5,814,599.00 |
2,065,265.03 |
€3,827,000.00 |
€445,423.00 |
|
2023 |
7,831,722.00 |
2,219,486.00 |
€5,792,000.00 |
€639,910.26 |
|
Total |
116,074,687.24 |
22,209,595.49 |
38,021,925.00 |
4,213,719.48 |
Missing Persons
Ceisteanna (187)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons reported missing in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; and the number of whom are still missing. [41828/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the pain and trauma experienced by all families of missing persons. I am deeply conscious of how difficult life is for loved ones who simply don't know what has happened to their relative. My Department is committed to working with all relevant state bodies to help more families find their missing relatives.
As the Deputy will be aware, by law the investigation of any missing persons case is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in any individual Garda investigation.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below details the number of distinct individuals that have been reported as missing to An Garda Síochána during the years 2015 - 2024 and the number of individuals who are still missing as of 11 October 2024.
|
Year Reported |
Individuals Reported Missing* |
Individuals Still Missing |
|
2018 |
3909 |
17 |
|
2016 |
3549 |
14 |
|
2017 |
3712 |
14 |
|
2019 |
4094 |
18 |
|
2020 |
3335 |
21 |
|
2021 |
3504 |
10 |
|
2022 |
4259 |
26 |
|
2023 |
4596 |
38 |
|
2024** |
3131 |
73 |
* Individuals may be reported as missing one or more times during the year indicated. The count is of distinct individuals regardless of how many times they were reported as missing during the year.
** Incidents reported from 1 January 2024 - 27 September 2024.
A missing person investigation commences when the incident is reported to An Garda Síochána and is constantly reviewed at Superintendent level, in the relevant Garda district at specific junctures within the investigation to ensure that all actions appropriate to the investigation are being pursued and that the appropriate resources have been assigned to the investigation.
It should be noted that all missing person investigations remain open until the missing person is located.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (188)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:188. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that have sought international protection/asylum in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; if a breakdown can be provided on the number who were successful or unsuccessful in their applications, and the number for whom a final determination has not yet been made on their application, in tabular form. [41860/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
I have significantly increased investment into the international protection system. I have implemented measures to improve efficiencies and throughput while also enhancing the application, interview, and decision-making process for applicants.
One of the priority areas of focus has been to recruit both civil servants and panel members to increase case processing. The IPO now has 545 staff, an increase of 157% over 2022. In addition, there are currently 208 Panel Members contracted by the IPO, an increase of 124% over 2022 figures.
Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package for end-to-end investment in the immigration system which will enable approximately 400 further staff to be recruited for roles across this process.
This will support reaching key targets, including the IPO making 25,000 first instance decisions in 2025 compared to over 14,000 cases in 2024.
Please note that although the Deputy has asked for figures from 2014 onwards, statistics pre-2017 are not readily available in the manner sought, as data would have to be extracted from a number of legacy systems. With the introduction of the International Protection Act in 2016 and the creation of the International Protection Office, a new database allows for easier collation of data in more recent years therefore we have provided figures from 2017 onwards only.
The table below details the number of International Protection applications received from 2017 to 10 October 2024.
|
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Applications |
2,920 |
3,674 |
4,782 |
1,566 |
2,648 |
13,642 |
13,266 |
16,034 |
Of the cases with the International Protection Office 70.5% of cases are pending less than 1 year and 95.5% of cases are pending less than 2 years.
The table below details the number of determinations made since 2017. It is important to note that there is no correlation between year of application and the year a decision is issued.
|
First instance decisions |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
Refusal |
830 |
1,737 |
2,067 |
1,429 |
778 |
866 |
5,144 |
6,458 |
19,309 |
|
Refugee status grant |
672 |
679 |
708 |
439 |
859 |
1,390 |
2,469 |
2,609 |
9,825 |
|
Subsidiary protection grant |
79 |
197 |
136 |
83 |
74 |
69 |
237 |
247 |
1,122 |
|
Permission to remain grant |
65 |
204 |
271 |
203 |
588 |
2,078 |
530 |
235 |
4,174 |
|
Inadmissible |
9 |
39 |
32 |
10 |
2 |
72 |
150 |
438 |
752 |
|
Withdrawal |
126 |
117 |
220 |
99 |
164 |
491 |
360 |
372 |
1,949 |
*as of cob 10th October - figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
The grant rate over this period was 40.72%
Departmental Functions
Ceisteanna (189)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:189. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice when An Garda Síochána expects to complete the transfer of certain immigration functions to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42070/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended that certain administrative immigration functions should transfer from An Garda Síochána to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department. These included the registration and renewal of immigration permissions as well as functions at Dublin Airport.
Earlier this week I announced that all immigration permissions that are due to expire from 4 November onwards can be renewed using my Department’s ISD online portal. This represents the transfer of all immigration renewals from An Garda Síochána to my Department; in practice this means that people across the country will no longer be required to attend in person at their local Garda Station when they need to renew their immigration permission.
This follows on from the transfer of responsibility for the registration and renewal of immigration residence permission for residents of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow in March 2024 and Cork and Limerick in July 2024. The transfer of responsibility for the remaining nationwide first time in-person immigration registration functions is anticipated to be completed by early 2025.
Furthermore, with effect from January 2024, the Border Management Unit of my Department has taken on additional functions at Dublin airport in respect of initial processing of International Protection applicants.
Nationwide, over 100 Gardaí undertake immigration duties, including the registration and renewal of immigration permissions. Civilianising the registration functions and functions at Dublin airport releases valuable Garda hours to focus on operational and enforcement matters, such as deportations and investigations.