Written Answers Nos. 133-152
133. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice for a comparison of the Garda personnel resources on the ground in Newbridge versus Portlaoise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43324/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEveryone deserves to be safe and feel safe in their own communities, and of course having a visible Garda presence in the community is an important part of that.
Garda funding has increased by over €500m, up 27% since 2020, bringing the total budget to €2.48 billion for 2025, building on the unprecedented allocations of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion for 2024. This consistent funding demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision to recruit the personnel it needs to carry out its vital policing work.
While the Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends.
There are currently over 14,000 Garda members across the country compared to 12,816 in 2015. This is an increase of around 9%.
The tables below have been provided to me by the Garda authorities and outlines the number of Garda by rank attached to Newbridge and Portlaoise Garda stations as of 30 June 2024, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Station |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
Total |
|
NEWBRIDGE |
43 |
8 |
1 |
52 |
|||
|
PORTLAOISE |
124 |
20 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
151 |
The Deputy may also wish to be aware of the table, which shows the divisional total of Garda by rank under the Garda operating model system for Kildare and Laois / Offaly as of 30 June 2024.
|
Division |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
Total |
|
KILDARE Total |
336 |
68 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
418 |
|
|
LAOIS-OFFALY Total |
304 |
63 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
381 |
Please be advised that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Garda members by Division, District, and Station 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 June from An Garda Síochána which have been published on the website:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
134. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the review into the old Cork Prison site. [43334/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the former Cork Prison facility closed in 2016 following the transfer of prisoners to a new facility built on a site adjacent to the former prison.
The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation.
The facility was closed in February 2016 following the construction of new prison facilities on a site opposite the old prison as part of the Irish Prison Service modernisation programme, and the old prison was decommissioned.
The facility, which has been unoccupied for almost 8 years, is in a poor physical state and unsuitable for use in its current form.
In late 2023, Engineering Consultants were engaged by the Estates Directorate to carry out a detailed assessment of the old Cork Prison facility and to provide a feasibility report on the site with various options for its use.
The draft report has been received by the Irish Prison Service and it is currently being considered by them.
135. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to each protestor removal team within the Dublin metropolitan region, in tabular form. [43361/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo be of assistance, I have contacted the Garda authorities who have informed me that currently there are 21 members, of Garda and Sergeant rank, trained in protest removal, attached to the DMR Public Order Unit. I am advised that Protest Removal Teams are sourced from the trained members, as required, to meet any operational requirements for deployment.
I am advised that a more detailed breakdown of these Garda members cannot be provided as data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10, for data protection and security reasons.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that, in order to further support front-line Gardaí, including Public Order Units, the Garda Senior Management Team has agreed on a range of measures, which includes the following:
• stronger incapacitant spray,
• expansion of the dog unit,
• increasing public order training,
• more tasers for public order policing, and
• provision of hand-held video cameras for public order units.
136. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to a consultation by An Garda Síochána in relation to planned changes to operational guidelines on firearm licensing; if she will ensure that a full public consultation will be facilitated to allow all relevant stakeholders and interested parties to engage; and when the next meeting of the Firearms Consultative Panel will be held, noting that An Garda Síochána has stated that it plans to consult with the panel regarding the planned changes to guidelines. [43379/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
137. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the progress in implementing the 22 recommendations outlined in the 2022 Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice report entitled An Examination of the Present Approach to Sanctions for Possession of Certain Amounts of Drugs for Personal Use. [43417/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of the strategy is led by the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. However, the Strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.
The Strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach to reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this Strategy supports vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across Government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs.
The Misuse of Drugs Acts and associated Regulations are the main laws regulating illicit substances, including controls relating to: cultivation, licensing, possession, administration, supply, record-keeping, prescription-writing, destruction and safe custody. As Minister for Justice, I am not responsible for this legislation.
I can inform the Deputy that officials in my Department engage with all stakeholders under the structures of the Drugs Strategy, namely the National Oversight Committee, chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, the Standing Sub-Committee, and associated working groups.
The 2022 Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice report, entitled ‘An Examination of the Present Approach to Sanctions for Possession of Certain Amounts of Drugs for Personal Use', contains a number of recommendations which fall under the almost exclusive responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health. One of the recommendations called on the Government to establish a Citizen's Assembly on drugs use, which has since been established and produced its report.
I welcomed the establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use to consider the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider society. Officials from my Department engaged with the Citizens Assembly during the course of its work.
The Deputy will be aware that the Assembly has completed its report and that this report is under consideration by the Joint Committee on Drugs Use. The Committee has published an interim report, the contents of which officials in my Department will consider and engage with colleagues in the Department of Health on.
138. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice to examine legislation regarding parental alienation and coercive control (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43424/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, 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.
A key component of the Family Justice Strategy is the development of a Family Courts Bill. The Family Courts Bill 2022, which is currently progressing through the Oireachtas, provides for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures. The Bill includes a set of guiding principles for the family court system to make the best interests of the child a primary consideration in all family law proceedings, to operate in an efficient and user-friendly manner and to encourage active case management by the courts.
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.
The Department committed to undertake both a public consultation and independent research on the topic of parental alienation. The findings of both were analysed, and arising from this, the Department developed a policy paper on how to address the issue. The policy paper, the research and the findings from the consultation are available on my Department’s website.
Both the paper and the research report recognise that parental alienation is a highly contested and divisive concept. While there is little concrete information on the exact extent of accusations of parental alienation within the Irish courts, the research report found that, similar to other courts internationally, there appear to be increasing claims of parental alienation in family law proceedings. It appears to arise particularly in custody and access disputes and in cases where allegations of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence feature.
Despite the highly contested nature of the concept, there was consensus in the public consultation that the means to address these concerns lie in improvements to the Irish family courts and family justice system.
Reflecting this, the policy paper puts forward six recommendations to address the issue of parental alienation, which are also linked to actions within the Family Justice Strategy. One of the recommendations in the paper is to conduct a review of expert reports in the family law process.
On 13 June 2024 I published a wide-ranging review of the role of expert reports in the family law process. This comprehensive review undertaken by my Department sets out 20 recommendations for reform.
The recommendations in the Review are ambitious and seek to address all of the issues raised in the Policy Paper on Parental Alienation and in the wide-ranging consultation carried out with stakeholders as part of the Review. When implemented, these recommendations will improve the quality of expert reports in family law proceedings and will standardise practises relating to how they are commissioned and by whom.
Their implementation will ensure that our constitutional obligation to hear children’s views and that their best interests be the paramount consideration are truly fulfilled. They will contribute to a reformed family justice system which is user-focused, consistent and – most importantly – places children at its core.
Following on from the Review of the Role of Expert Reports in the Family Law Process, my Department has established a Voice of the Child Working Group to ensure children’s constitutional right to be heard in family law proceedings continues to be upheld. In addition to examining other ways in which the voice of children may be heard in family law proceedings and in alternative dispute resolution processes, the Group will also develop a Voice of the Child Report Template and work on establishing the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project – key recommendations in the Review.
I am pleased to have secured €3 million in Budget 2025 to support the implementation of the recommendations of the Review of Expert Reports, including the development of the Children’s Court Advocate pilot project.
Officials in my Department are also supporting a Judicial committee chaired by the Honourable Ms Justice Nuala Jackson. The Committee intends to develop a set of guidelines for the Judiciary in relation to the use of welfare reports in the private family law process.
It has been widely acknowledged in all of the consultation and engagement on parental alienation that training for all who work in the family justice system is key to improved services and outcomes for families and children. To that end, my Department has established a working group to analyse the training needs of those working across the family justice system and to develop effective and relevant training programmes.
139. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she and-or her officials and the leadership of An Garda Síochána have had engagements with any of their equivalents in Northern Ireland in respect of a centralised intelligence sharing online platform; if any third party has been consulted on delivering same; the cost of same and the third party engaged on the project; and if the Department of an Taoiseach has been consulted in the context of the shared island project. [43467/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the methods utilised to share intelligence between An Garda Síochána and their counterparts in Northern Ireland are operational matters appropriate to the Garda Commissioner and it is not the practice to comment in detail on intelligence and security matters.
I am, however, pleased to say that there is close, ongoing cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland on a range of policing activities, notably in combating organised crime, ensuring road safety and in resource and capacity-sharing. This is further underpinned by a joint Cross Border Policing Strategy which has as its aims to improve public safety throughout the Island, to disrupt criminal activity and to enhance the policing capability of both police services on the Island. The strategy is currently under review with a view to publishing an updated Cross Border Policing Strategy.
The cross border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), established under the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement, is an excellent example of a successful cross border partnership that works in a practical way on the ground to tackle organised and cross jurisdictional crime. It promotes real-time collaboration between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in efforts to frustrate, disrupt and dismantle the activity of organised crime groups. It is led by senior officers from An Garda Síochána, Revenue, the PSNI, and HM Revenue and Customs with the Criminal Assets Bureau and the National Crime Agency involved as needed in operational activity. The JAFT reports are produced twice yearly. The most recent report relates to the period October 2023 to March 2024 and highlights a number of specific joint operational successes including in the areas of combatting drug trafficking, people trafficking, and rural crime.
There is also long-standing excellent cooperation between An Garda Síochána and their counterparts in Northern Ireland in counteracting terrorism on the Island. While the reduction earlier this year in the threat level in Northern Ireland from severe to substantial is to be welcomed, the overall level of threat remains of serious concern. Close operational relationships have been key to ensuring security on the Island. They have, and will continue to be central to saving lives and protecting communities. It is vital that this cooperation is preserved and built on for the future and I know that this view is shared by the Garda authorities who will continue to work effectively with their counterparts in tackling crime and promoting safety for all communities on this Island.
140. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection applications made to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [43515/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra141. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice to outline the average processing times for those seeking international protection in the State as of 18 October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43516/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra142. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice to outline the average and median processing times for appeals of international protection applications as of 18 October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43517/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 142, inclusive, together.
My Department has significantly increased investment into the international protection system. Measures have been implemented 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 558 staff, an increase of 163% over 2022. In addition, there are currently 229 Panel Members contracted by the IPO, an increase of 124% over 2022 figures.
Budget 2025 has provided a €25m package for end-to-end investment in the immigration system including Service Delivery, International Protection Office, International Protection Appeals Tribunal and the Legal Aid Board.
These significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the end-to end international protection process, with 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 an expected 14,000 decisions in 2024.
I introduced accelerated processing in November 2022 and it now applies to the following cohorts:
• 15 safe countries of origin - Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Malawi, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia and South Africa.
• Applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe.
• Citizens of those countries which provide the most number of applicants in the previous quarter (currently Nigeria & Jordan).
Under the accelerated process, applicants receive an interview date when they arrive and a first decision within three months. Under the normal procedure the median processing times for applications is 18 months.
The median processing time for International Protection Appeals in 2024 to the end of September is 9.4 months.
The Deputy may wish to know that processing times are measured as a median as there are a handful of cases where processing times are particularly long and this would disproportionally impact the average figure and not give a proper representation of processing time.
The table below outlines the number of applications for international protection broken down by month.
|
Month |
Applications |
|
January |
1,774 |
|
February |
1,567 |
|
March |
1,821 |
|
April |
2,023 |
|
May |
2,011 |
|
June |
1,404 |
|
July |
1,736 |
|
August |
1,692 |
|
September |
1,560 |
|
October* |
686 |
|
Total |
16,274 |
*Up to COB 18 October.
**Figures correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
143. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the numbers of sheep currently being grazed on the Curragh, County Kildare, that are being used to claim EU farm subsidies, in tabular form. [43498/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lands identified as the Curragh of Kildare are vested with the Minister of Defence under the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961.
Annual permission to graze sheep on the Curragh lands is granted by the Maor of The Curragh as part of the responsibilities conferred on the office by the Minister of Defence.
Applicants under farm schemes administered by my Department who claim a share of the lands of the Curragh, as part of their overall holding, are required to submit confirmation to my department indicating the total numbers of sheep they are permitted to graze on the Curragh. These claims are processed as part of the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes application.
In 2023, a total of 5,997 unique grazing rights were allocated to grazers of the Curragh lands and final processing of 2024 claims by my Department is still on-going.
144. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE staff, by job title, currently working in the agrifood regulator; the job titles of staff that are currently vacant within the regulator; and the estimated timeframe in which those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [43365/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs an independent statutory body, staffing levels and filling of vacancies are operational matters for An Rialálaí Agraibhia.
I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to An Rialálaí Agraibhia.
The Deputy may wish contact the Regulator through their dedicated e-mail address for Oireachtas queries, at oireachtas@agrifoodregulator.ie.
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on a payment to a farmer (details supplied) for a compulsory ACRES course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43448/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments to ACRES participants in respect of their attendance at a mandatory training course, provided under the ACRES Training Scheme, are made to the ACRES Trainer, who provided the course, to disburse to the attendees at the course in question.
The ACRES Training course attended by the person concerned is currently being reviewed and once this review is completed, payments will issue to the attendees.
146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when PGI status will be approved in respect of a food product (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43475/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe first step in the registration process for a geographical indication as part of the European Union’s quality policy is that an application is submitted to the relevant Member State's competent authority, which in this case is my Department. There has been extensive engagement with the applicant over a number of years to ensure that the application for the food product in question meets the regulatory requirements.
My Department considers that the application is ready to be published as part of the required National Opposition Procedure which allows any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest to lodge an opposition to the application. However, as a result of a recent change in EU regulation requirements, my Department is awaiting clarification on a administrative legal issue concerning the procedure to be followed. Once this matter has been clarified, it is expected that the application may be published.
Once published and the national opposition period completed, if, after assessment of any opposition received, my Department considers that the regulatory requirements are met, the application can be lodged with the European Commission.
At that stage, the Commission may, as part of its scrutiny, revert to the national authorities with comments or observations prior to the commencement of a European opposition period and if that occurs my Department will consult with the applicant.
The EU-level opposition procedure allows persons in other member states or third countries to submit an opposition to the proposed registration. The final decision on whether the product name can be registered or not is made by the Commission.
I am very pleased that another food product is close to reaching this next stage in the application process, and I hope it will serve to raise awareness of these important EU quality schemes throughout Ireland.
147. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds entered into races in Ireland in 2023; the number of greyhounds entered into the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43525/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the methodology and resources allocated to the cross check of data recorded in the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system (RCÉTS) carried out by Greyhound Racing Ireland; the frequency with which information on compliance in updating RCÉTS by owners and trainers is provided to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43526/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of instances where animal welfare pounds have reported greyhounds surrendered to the pounds in poor physical health or condition; the number of subsequent investigations and the number of subsequent sanctions imposed by Greyhound Racing Ireland on those found in breach of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43527/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra150. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of race entries not accepted at Rásaíocht Con Éireann-licensed stadia; the number of instances of prize money not being paid out due to owners/trainers not having updated outstanding records on Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system relating to greyhounds/pups in their care, for 2023 and to date in 2024 and by stadium, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43528/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra151. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds lost, stolen or died during 2023 and to date in 2024, as updated by owners/trainers in Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43529/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra152. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of employees per greyhound stadium, either owned or licensed by Greyhound Racing Ireland, both part-time and full-time employees, for 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43530/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 152, inclusive, together.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The questions raised by the Deputy are an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the questions have been referred to the body for direct reply.
