Written Answers Nos. 111-140
111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to tackle the rate of vacancy among local authority homes across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12020/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local Authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure all their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the housing (standards for rented houses) Regulations 2019.
Local authorities should endeavour to move to a position whereby rental incomes are ring fenced for the purpose of Management and Maintenance of their housing stock. However, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. The funding is available to support local authorities rather than replace funding from the local authorities own resources.
The emphasis of the programme is on those refurbishment works necessary to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 to ensure quick turnaround and re-letting times. All future works should be deferred and carried out under planned maintenance over the lifecycle of the asset.
Where a local authority chooses to do works over and above those which are necessary to comply with the rental standards it can impact re-let times and result in additional costs for the local authority.
As part of the Programme for Government, consideration is being given to the introduction of a new Voids Programme with a view to further improve turnaround times of vacant social housing units. However, given the very significant investment into the voids programme and positive impact this programme has had over recent years, it is expected that local authorities should have dealt with legacy vacancy and by the end of this year be in a strong position to complete the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.
119. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the Garda numbers of Tallaght and Rathfarnham Garda stations, for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12943/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 has unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continuing recruitment of Garda members and staff. I am delighted to note the recent response to the Garda recruitment competition. As the Deputy may be aware, 149 new Gardaí passed out of Templemore on 7 March and 201 new recruits entered training earlier this month.
The Garda Commissioner and his senior management team keep the distribution of resources under ongoing review and I understand that, when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan.
I know the Deputy will appreciate that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide must be taken into account, which include:
Local and national crime trends and workloads;
Policing arrangements and operational strategies;
Minimum establishment statistics;
Local population and trends, geographical area and size; and
Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns.
I am informed that, as of 31 January 2025 the latest date for which figures are available, the total Garda workforce is almost 18,000, the highest ever level. Additionally all Garda members now carry mobile devices with real-time access to apps which eliminate paperwork and allow Gardaí to carry out their frontline duties far more efficiently. Mobility apps allow Gardaí to access their email on the move, check a vehicle’s history and tax status, and enables them to work more efficiently with local business and community groups.
The number of Gardaí assigned to Tallaght Garda station for the years 2023, 2024 and on 31 January 2025 were: 231, 233, 228, respectively. The number of Gardaí assigned to Rathfarnham station for the years 2023, 2024 and on 31 January last were 41, 43, 44, respectively. At the same date there was one member of Garda civilian staff assigned to Rathfarnham, and 44 Garda staff assigned to Tallaght Garda station.
Garda staff work alongside Garda members to carry out vital roles in the organisation to increase availability of Gardaí to focus on frontline duties. The civilianisation process has allowed 900 highly trained Gardaí to be freed up to increase Garda visibility and capacity.
It is also worth noting that An Garda Síochána police the country on a divisional-wide basis, viewing their station buildings as locations within communities where the public can attend, and where resources are based but not constrained within. I am assured that policing for an area is delivered using all the resources in a particular Community Engagement area, supported by both divisional and national resources and units, as appropriate.
121. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice if he expects to see an increase in the number of gardaí assigned to stations in the Midleton, Fermoy and Mallow districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12858/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda resources. This includes the allocation of Garda members to a given Division, District or station. As Minister I have no role in this process and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to this matter.
I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Garda members is kept under continued review to ensure their optimum use. Among the factors considered are crime trends, population stats and operational policing demands.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 31 January, the latest date for which figures are published, there are 98 Gardaí assigned to Fermoy, 121 Gardaí assigned to Mallow and 114 Gardaí assigned to Midleton.
I can assure the Deputy that this Government will be resolute in its support of Gardaí. We want to build safe and secure communities, and a well-resourced policing service is critical to achieving that. In Budget 2025, an unprecedented sum of €2.48 billion has been allocated which is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, technology and equipment.
My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí out on our streets, including through increased recruitment. Earlier this month 201 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore, the largest intake since 2019. I was privileged to bear witness to 149 new recruits passing out of Templemore on 7 March last. The latest Garda recruitment campaign took place last month and I am delighted to note it attracted just over 6,700 applications. This shows there is still a huge interest in a career with An Garda Síochána and a second recruitment campaign will be held later this year.
I will also shortly be seeking Government approval to bring forward a Bill which will support greater Garda visibility by reducing the amount of time Gardai have to spend on court-related matters. The Miscellaneous Provisions Bill has the potential to significantly reduce time and resources Gardaí must spend on bringing persons in their custody to the courts, as well as Garda time spent in the court itself. This reflects our continued commitment to getting more Gardaí out of administrative roles and onto our streets.
A number of significant measures have already been taken to increase Garda recruitment and we can already see the positive effects which these measures are having. I can assure the Deputy that nothing is off the table and I will continue to work with the Garda Commissioner and his team to deliver on our targets of recruiting 5,000 Gardaí over the next five years. As we see more people join the organisation, we will see more Gardaí on the streets of towns and villages across the country.
122. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the action he will take to address overcrowding, inhumane treatment and the systemic failure of rehabilitation services revealed in the latest report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12672/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and has committed, in the Programme for Government, to increasing capacity by 1,500. The report referred to by the Deputy sets out the current situation with regard to the impact of over-crowding.
As a result of this, the Irish Prison Service budget was increased by €79 million, or 18%, in Budget 2025 and the capital budget is €53 million in 2025, an increase of €22.5 million on the original 2024 allocation. In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 300 new spaces with over 100 of these added in the last 12 months and 50 to come onstream very soon.
The Irish Prison Service aims to recruit 300 prison officers in 2025, in addition to the 271 prison officers recruited in 2024. An additional €6.2m has been provided to fund 130,000 additional staff hours in our prisons.
The Programme for Government also commits us to establishing high-dependency units within the Irish Prison Service to address severe mental health and addiction challenges and to hiring more therapeutic and medical staff, including psychiatric and addiction nurses, GP’s and psychologists. All people committed to prison are subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team, which includes a mental health assessment that supports the development of an individual healthcare plan for prisoners while in custody.
The Prison Service provides adult-education supports and services ranging from basic literacy and numeracy education, up to third level qualifications. Work Training in prisons provides a range of purposeful activities in areas such as catering, laundry, industrial cleaning and industrial skills. A growing number of these include specific training and qualifications for prisoners.
My Department is implementing a range of actions to increase the use of alternatives to custodial sanctions including the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform and the commitments under the Programme for Government. These include to implementing electronic monitoring for appropriate categories of offender and to continuing to roll out nationally the voluntary restorative justice programme.
In Budget 2025 the Probation Service received an additional €4m aimed at expanding crime diversion programmes. Their total budget is now over €60m supporting step down facilities, restorative justice, and community-based alternatives to imprisonment, I intend to shortly set out a roadmap with a view to increasing the uptake and availability of community service orders, which will further contribute to the provision of non-custodial sanctions.
The Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and Drugs Strategy 2023-2026 both represent a collective commitment to the well-being, rehabilitation and safety of both prisoners and staff. Combined with action on the recommendations from the High Level Task Force on Mental Health and Addiction and the Review of Penal Policy 2022-2024, this will further enhance outcomes within the prison service.
124. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice the current number of gardaí assigned to the Tuam and Loughrea Garda districts at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12712/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy first priority as Minister for Justice is to have more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment and civilianisation where possible.
While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I look forward to engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan.
I understand that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include:
Local and national crime trends and workloads;
Policing arrangements and operational strategies;
Local population and trends, geographical area; and
Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 31 January 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a total Garda workforce of almost 18,000 staff, the highest level ever recorded.
As of 31 January, there was a total of 610 Gardaí assigned to Galway.
On the same date, there were 56 Gardaí assigned to Tuam district, including 47 Gardaí, 8 Sergeants, and 1 Inspector and 79 Gardaí assigned to Loughrea district.
129. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the plans in place to improve Garda facilities and capability in the Dublin Metropolitan Region east division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12738/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year.
The Garda Commissioner keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and I will be engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. When allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 31 January, there was a total Garda workforce of almost 18,000.
As of the same date, there were 340 Gardaí assigned to the DMR East Division, of whom 164 were assigned to Blackrock, and 176 assigned to Dún Laoghaire.
A number of significant measures have been taken to increase Garda recruitment and we can see the positive effects these are having already. I will continue to work with the Garda Commissioner to deliver on our target of recruiting 5,000 Gardaí over the next five years.
Last week, we saw 201 trainee Gardaí enter Templemore. This is the largest intake since 2019. The latest Garda recruitment campaign took place last month and attracted just over 6,700 applications. This shows there is still huge interest in a career with An Garda Síochána.
A second recruitment campaign will be held later this year.
On 7 March, 149 probationer Gardaí attested from the Garda College in Templemore. Of these, 98 were assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region, with 3 of these assigned to DMR East.
Garda staff working alongside Garda members carry out vital roles to increase availability of Gardaí to focus on frontline duties. The civilianisation process has allowed 900 Gardaí to be freed up for frontline policing duties.
As of 31 January, there were 55 Garda staff assigned to DMR East, this represents a 34.15% increase on 2020, when there were 41 Garda staff assigned.
In relation to the Garda fleet, there has been an increase of around 11.5% in the Garda fleet assigned to DMR East since 2020. There are currently 86 vehicles allocated to the DMR East Division, including 37 marked cars, 29 unmarked cars and 17 vans.
Under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all decisions related to the upgrade of the Garda Estate. Works on the Estate are undertaken by the OPW in cooperation with the Garda Authorities. This includes planning and completion matters.
In 2024, capital works were completed at a cost of €585,808 on Adelphi Plaza as an accommodation solution to support the roll out of the Garda Síochána Operating Model in DMR East.
Under the NDP, the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital funding into An Garda Síochána to deliver a Garda station modernisation and refurbishment programme; to delivering strategic ICT and digitalisation projects; and to providing modern, fit-for-purpose Garda resources.
131. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if he will introduce a payment for loss of earnings, childcare and others costs for those undertaking jury service, due to the impact on jurors of the failure to cover the costs incurred by jury service, given the highlighted impacts on jurors in reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12802/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJury service is one of the most important civic duties that an individual can be asked to perform, and it exists to protect an individual's rights and to involve the public in the administration of justice.
Information for potential jurors on jury duty is posted with jury summonses and potential jurors are advised that more detailed information can be found on the Courts Service website. No expenses are paid to people called for jury duty, but lunch and refreshments are provided for those who ultimately serve on a jury.
While there are no plans to introduce payments along the lines referred to by the Deputy, the information provided by the Courts Service includes information regarding expenses and explains that employers must continue to pay an employee while they are engaged in jury duty.
Section 9 of the Juries Act 1976 outlines that a County Registrar may excuse a person summoned from attendance if the person shows to the registrar’s satisfaction that there is good reason why they should be so excused. Self-employed persons, full-time carers and persons with serious illnesses, among others, can seek to be excused by the County Registrar. The Courts Service website provides information on how to apply which I note can now be done online.
I also welcome the significant improvements to the jury experience in recent years. This includes the introduction of a digitalised jury summons and response process via an online jury portal, which is also an accessible and easy way for jurors to learn about the trial process and what to expect. The Courts Service has also invested in the provision of improved jury facilities in modernised courthouses across the country, which take into account privacy, security as well as refreshment needs for jurors.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of jury service, which is informed by research on the topic including the Law Reform Commission’s valuable Report on Jury Service, as well as submissions made by stakeholders including the Bar Council and Law Society, and legislative and policy developments in related areas over the past number of years.
132. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice when the EU asylum and migration pact will take effect in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12885/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a faster, more streamlined, and fairer system for addressing the challenges faced in this area.
The Pact will harmonise asylum procedures and processes across the EU and comes into effect in June 2026. Ireland, along with all the other Member States, has until then to implement the necessary changes to our systems and our legislation.
A dedicated team and a Pact Implementation Programme Board was established by my Department to coordinate this multi-faceted national programme.
The Programme Board has focused on seven strategic work streams:
Policy and Legislation
Change, Technology and Innovation
Asylum Processing Including Border Procedure
Appeals
Returns
Organisational Design And Resources and
Reception And Infrastructure.
I will bring a national implementation plan setting out the State’s proposed approach to meeting the requirements set out in the Pact to Government for approval in the coming weeks. I also intend to seek Government approval in the coming weeks to the publication of the General Scheme of an International Protection Bill to replace the 2015 Act and entirely overhaul the system for processing applications for international protection.
Implementation of the Pact will benefit the State by delivering a digital-first, rights-based, fair and effective international protection system, where those who are entitled to protection receive it quickly and those who are not entitled to protection must return to their country of origin. In the meantime, increased focus, along with investments and system enhancements are yielding results and will assist in putting the necessary capacity in place in advance of June 2026.
133. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an bhfuil sé i gceist féachaint athuair ar úsáid bráiséad rúitín mar chuid den chóras bannaí agus an féidir leis trácht ar an ábhar. [11953/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá sé do-ghlactha amach is amach, ar ndóigh, go ndéanann daoine cionta le linn dóibh bheith ar bannaí. Sárú díreach atá ann ar a ngealltanas nuair a dheonaigh an chúirt bannaí dóibh.
Gealltar sa Chlár Rialtais go gcuirfear clibeáil leictreonach i bhfeidhm do chatagóirí cuí ciontóra, d’fhonn róphlódú i bpríosúin a laghdú.
Tá tús curtha le tionscadal i mo Roinnse chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar conas is féidir monatóireacht leictreonach a chur in úsáid i gcomhréir le forálacha reachtacha atá ann. Tá grúpa stiúrtha bunaithe, arna chomhdhéanamh d’ionadaithe earnála a mbeidh baint acu leis an seachadadh. Tá tús curtha le hobair ag meas na nithe praiticiúla oibríochtúla atá le breithniú, lena n-áirítear an teicneolaíocht atá le húsáid, maidir le catagóirí iomchuí ciontóra, chun bonn eolais a chur faoi na chéad chéimeanna eile.
Déantar socrú lenár ndlíthe, go háirithe an tAcht um Bannaí, 1997 (arna leasú), maidir le bannaí a dhiúltú in imthosca áirithe de réir an Bhunreachta. Leagtar amach sa dlí na himthosca inar féidir bannaí a dhiúltú agus, mar atá tugtha le fios agam roimhe seo, tugtar cumhachtaí don Gharda Síochána leis, freisin, chun agóid a dhéanamh i gcoinne bannaí a thabhairt.
Tá an breitheamh ceannais go hiomlán neamhspleách ag feidhmiú a bhfeidhmeanna breithiúnacha dóibh, agus is ábhar don chúirt amháin é an cinneadh bannaí a dheonú nó a dhiúltú i gcás áirithe. Ní foláir a nótáil go nglactar an-dáiríre le srian a chur ar shaoirse duine roimh chiontú, ag cur thoimhde an Bhunreachta san áireamh, go meastar gach duine a bheith neamhchiontach go dtí go gcruthaítear i gcúirt dlí an duine a bheith ciontach.
Tá forálacha láidre san Acht um Bannaí, faoi mar atá sé, maidir le déileáil le sáruithe ar bhannaí agus maidir le teacht roimh sháruithe ar bhannaí.
I gcás nach gcomhlíonann duine aonair aon choinníollacha a bhaineann le bannaí, féadfaidh an breitheamh barántas binse a eisiúint, ag sainordú don Gharda Síochána an duine a ghabháil agus a thabhairt os comhair na cúirte. Ina theannta sin, is féidir le Garda duine a ghabháil láithreach gan bharántas i gcás cúis réasúnach a bheith ag an gcomhalta chun drochamhras a bheith ar an gcomhalta go bhfuil coinníoll banna sáraithe ag an duine, nó go bhfuil an duine ar tí coinníoll banna a shárú, agus go measann an Garda go bhfuil an ghabháil riachtanach chun díobháil d’íospartach nó d’fhinné, nó cur isteach nó imeaglú ar íospartach nó ar fhinné, a chosc.
Táim tiomnaithe dár ndlíthe bannaí a choinneáil faoi athbhreithniú agus déanfar leasuithe fónta breise a aithnítear a thabhairt isteach de réir mar is cuí.
134. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice his views on the provision of a security clearance certificate that had been available in Ireland prior to April 2024, similar to what is available in other EU countries (details supplied); if this can be reviewed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12517/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolice Certificates are issued on a non-statutory basis by An Garda Síochána and are an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, who is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business.
I have checked this with the Garda authorities and they advise that there has been no change in policy regarding Police certificates.
The certificate, which is valid for 12 months, states your name, address, date of birth and also includes information about whether or not you have a criminal record in respect of this jurisdiction. They are not issued for the purposes of vetting or security clearance.
A Police Certificate is issued by the Superintendent or Assistant Principal Officer within the Division where the relevant applicant resides, or formerly resided, in Ireland.
Information about the process is available on the Garda Síochána website and outlines the limited purposes that Police Certificates are issued for, such as for Foreign Consular Authorities or Foreign Visas and immigration matters, or for Employment in the EU institutions.
A Police Certificate cannot be construed as Garda Vetting, a security clearance or a character reference. Garda vetting is not conducted for people on an individual basis. It is only conducted in respect of people working in full-time, part-time, voluntary or in a student placement capacity in a position in an organisation, through which they have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.
I am advised that an application for a Police Certificate takes approximately three weeks to process and the requirements for what to include are also outlined on the Garda website.
I am conscious of the issues being faced by people in situations seeking a more robust criminal record certificate system for the purposes of obtaining a job and I can say that my officials are actively examining what measures could be introduced to address the matter.
135. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice if his Department will expand wraparound services for prisoners to support rehabilitation, reduce re-offending and assist with re-integration into society. [12473/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to building stronger, safer communities, by progressing policies aimed at reducing offending and diverting people away from the criminal justice system through the provision of effective rehabilitation.
There are no quick fixes to reducing reoffending and evidence shows that different targeted interventions are needed, including addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.
To support rehabilitation, reduce reoffending and assist with reintegration into society, people in custody have access to a growing range of medical and rehabilitative services. These include methadone substitution treatment, counselling, psychological intervention, peer to peer support programmes, psycho-education and the Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme provided by Merchants Quay Ireland, available in the Medical Unit in Mountjoy Prison.
Treatment provided to people in custody who may be struggling with addiction is in line with the National Drug Strategy, the Irish Prison Service Drugs Strategy 2023-2026, the Irish Prison Service Health Needs Assessment and the High Level Task Force on the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system.
The Irish Prison Service also works closely with Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous who provide support to people in custody across the prison estate.
These interventions are not solely with the power of the criminal justice system to respond, but also require action, including follow up access to services on release, by other Departments and agencies.
My Department is implementing a range of policies to achieve this. The Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform includes the increased use of alternatives to custodial sanctions while the recommendations of the High-Level Taskforce consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector.
Building Pathways Together, the 2025-2027 Criminal Justice through Reintegration Strategy, was launched in November 2024. The strategy seeks to provide effective interventions to ensure that those who have ceased offending, and those who are looking to move away from a life which involves offending, have the appropriate supports and opportunities open to them to make the success of their efforts more likely.
It has been developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service, and in consultation with key stakeholders, including Government Departments, agencies and those with lived experience of the criminal justice system who have faced barriers to reintegration.
136. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the figures for knife crime convictions from 2020 to 2024; if he is considering progressing legislation similar to the UK's !stop and search" campaign to deter knife crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12429/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 9 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 amended the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 to increase the sentences for a number of offences under the 1990 Act related to knife crime.
The maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife with the intention of unlawfully intimidating or injuring another person, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence, increased from five years to seven years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the offence of manufacturing, importing, selling, hiring or lending offensive weapons increased from seven years to ten years.
I have been informed by the Courts Service that, owing to the changes to the law during 2024, a complete report of the figures for the years in question is not available.I can however inform the Deputy that there were a total of 4,323 convictions recorded in the District Court for offences under sections 9, 10 and 11 of the 1990 Act for the years 2020 to 2024.
In terms of 'stop and search', it is important to note that Garda members already have the power to stop and search a person whom they suspect may be carrying a knife or other weapon. However, the powers of search for Gardaí are spread across a number of legislative instruments and some are grounded in common law rulings. I intend to bring forward the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill to the House, which will codify these powers from across the statute book into a single Act, making it easier for Garda members and the public to know under what legislation a search is being undertaken.
137. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice for details on the selection of the human rights observer on board a deportation flight (details supplied); their organisational affiliation; their qualifications to undertake this role; if a report or similar from the observer will be produced; if the Minister will undertake to publish such a report if one exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12463/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is one of my central priorities that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons who have been refused permission to remain is an essential requirement for the immigration system to work effectively.
A person is only deported when all available avenues for appeal are exhausted. Deportation Orders are issued after a person has been offered the opportunity to return voluntarily, in most cases with reintegration supports to their Country of origin, and they have not availed of this option.
Charter flights will significantly increase capacity to conduct more enforced deportations and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.
The Charter operation referenced by the Deputy took place in February and was the first charter operation in five years.
While there is no legal obligation to have a Human Rights Observer on board a charter flight, it is considered to be good practice, and a practice that my Department implemented.
My Department was keen to have an independent Human Rights Observer who was objective, neutral, independent and not have worked in, or provided services to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Department of Justice or organisations that have directly provided services to the deportees.
My Department secured the services of a former senior civil servant from another government department to act as the Human Rights Observer on this charter. This person has relevant legal qualifications and wide, relevant, international experience, including in relation to human rights.
The Human Rights Observer has submitted a report on the conduct of the operation to the Head of Immigration Services Delivery of my Department; consideration will be given to the publication of the report in due course.
138. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the capacity of each prison in the State; the extent of overcrowding in each prison; the steps being taken to address this overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12808/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and has committed, in the Programme for Government, to increasing capacity by 1,500.
The information sought by the Deputy regarding prison capacity and the numbers of prisoners in custody is collated daily by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published on its website. As of Tuesday, 18 March, the prison population sits at 114% of capacity.
The Irish Prison Service budget was increased by €79 million, or 18%, in Budget 2025 and the capital budget is €53 million in 2025, an increase of €22.5 million on the original 2024 allocation. In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 300 new spaces with over 100 of these added in the last 12 months and 50 to come onstream very soon.
The Irish Prison Service aims to recruit 300 prison officers in 2025, in addition to the 271 prison officers recruited in 2024. An additional €6.2m has been provided to fund 130,000 additional staff hours in our prisons.
Officials in the Irish Prison Service and in my Department are continuously working to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage the current capacity issues in our prisons and are committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison while ensuring a safe working environment for staff.
The Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, officials in the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release. The legislative basis for temporary release is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.
While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, we also need to continue to invest in our prison estate, to ensure that it is modern and fit for purpose and that it has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts.
139. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice if he plans to accept the proposal to increase personal injury award guidelines by 16.7% notwithstanding the impact on premiums throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12934/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersonal Injuries Guidelines are drawn up by the Judicial Council, which is independent in its functions.
In accordance with the Judicial Council Act 2019 (as amended), the Judicial Council has conducted a review of the Guidelines. Following on from the review, the Council has submitted draft amendments of the Guidelines to me. As required by the Act, I will shortly be laying the draft amendments before the Houses, after which a resolution proposing the draft amendments can be considered by the Houses. The legislation provides that the draft guidelines must be approved by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas, before they can be formally adopted by the Judicial Council.More generally, I want to assure the Deputy that insurance reform continues to be a key priority for the Government. The Programme for Government commits to the publication of a new Action Plan for Insurance Reform, with a focus on encouraging further competition in the market and working with stakeholders to enhance transparency and affordability across all types of insurance.
140. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Justice if he will sanction the use of live facial recognition technology by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12575/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives.
This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use of body-worn cameras by An Garda Síochána, for Garda use of automatic numberplate recognition and for the reform of Garda use of CCTV.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to allow for the use of biometric technologies in certain, very controlled circumstances as a tool to process evidence in serious cases.
Work is well advanced on the drafting of a Bill to amend the Recording Devices Act to provide for retrospective use of biometric technologies, including facial recognition. The General Scheme of the Recording Devices (Amendment) Bill, published in 2023, provides for retrospective searching of images which are legally in the possession of An Garda Síochána through the safe and ethical use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in limited circumstances only. It does not provide for the use of live FRT, although I am considering bringing forward further legislation to provide for live FRT, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.
