Written Answers Nos. 659-678
669. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí assigned to the Clare side of the Clare-Tipperary Garda division each year since 2020; the number of non-civilian Garda staff based in Clare at the end of each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34422/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra670. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí assigned to the drugs unit of the Clare side of the Clare-Tipperary division; the ranks of each of those Gardaí; if any are appointed detectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34423/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra672. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí assigned to roads policing in the Clare-Tipperary division for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form, broken down by numbers assigned in County Clare and County Tipperary; the number of positions in roads policing vacant in the division, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34425/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 669, 670 and 672 together.
An Garda Síochána employ a divisional model and do not police on a station by station basis. The Garda Operating Model was introduced after recommendations from the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, and based on feedback from Gardaí at all ranks.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, the number of Garda staff for each Division/Station and the number of Gardaí assigned to the Roads Policing Unit for each Garda division, is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
The Deputy should access the files:
• “Garda Members by Division District Station 2009 to 30 April 2025” under "Garda Workforce" for a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers by Garda station and by rank going back to 2009.
• "Roads Policing by Division 2009 to 30 April 2025" under the "Roads Policing Unit" for a breakdown of total Gardaí assigned to the Roads Policing Unit by division going back to 2009.
• "Garda Staff by Division and Station 30 April 2025" under the "Garda Staff" for a breakdown of Garda staff numbers by station going back to 2010.
In relation to the number of Gardaí assigned to Divisional Drugs Units, I am advised by An Garda Síochána that this information cannot be shared on security grounds.
I am informed that it is the experience of the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), that such information is invaluable to local drug trafficking networks and can at times be taken into account when active in their respective criminal enterprises.
I am also informed by the Garda authorities that this information can facilitate the identification of all officers deployed full time on such duties, and in turn the work patterns of such officers.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
671. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of simple possession searches for drugs undertaken in Clare for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of drugs sale and supply searches undertaken in Clare for 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34424/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a priority for the Government and my Department.
In addition to the legislative and other measures introduced by my Department, unprecedented funding has been provided to An Garda Síochána which has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.
This additional investment ensures that An Garda Síochána can continue to target those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country. It also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact our communities, and prosecuting those involved at every level, through Operation Tara.
The Garda authorities have provided the following total searches under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977/1984 for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 in the Clare/Tipperary Division.
|
Search Incident Type |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Search Under Drugs Acts 1977/1984 |
2726 |
2236 |
1546 |
They have also provided the following information which gives a breakdown of the offences detected for the same years, as requested.
|
Detection Incident Type |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Possession of Drugs for Sale and Supply |
165 |
150 |
159 |
|
Simple Possession |
563 |
546 |
551 |
It should be noted that drug possession detections will likely, but not necessarily, originate from a drug search incident.
673. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason the IPAS statistics weekly arrivals report has not been published for the last month; and will he make these reports available. [34491/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed that information about IPAS on the gov.ie site is still in the process of being transferred from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to my Department and that process will be ongoing for a short period.
Overall IPAS statistics on international protection accommodation were updated on 20 June 2025, with relevant reports for June 2025. These reports are available here.
www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/collections/statistics-2004-to-2025/#latest-ipas-statistics-weekly-report.
674. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of his memorandum to Government seeking an amendment to the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 to implement Valerie’s Law, which would remove guardianship rights from people who killed their spouse; if he will outline a putative timeline for the implementation of Valerie’s Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34493/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1 April 2025, I secured Government approval for the referral of the Scheme of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny, and for the formal drafting of a Bill once pre-legislative scrutiny is complete. The General Scheme has been published and is available on Gov.ie: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice/press-releases/minister-jim-ocallaghan-secures-cabinet-approval-of-the-general-scheme-of-the-guardianship-of-infants-amendment-bill-2025.
The General Scheme of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025, was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for pre-legislative scrutiny on 19 May, and my officials have briefed the Committee on the Bill. My officials will continue to engage with the Joint Committee as it conducts its pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme.
The proposed legislation delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to “examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child”. It upholds a fundamental principle that those convicted of the most serious crimes should not retain automatic legal authority over the children they have left behind. The proposal to legislate is also part of ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.
676. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the year in which his Department was made aware of the review of asbestos surveys of Garda buildings by the Office of Public Works, An Garda Síochána and State Claims Agency. [34519/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to say at the outset that under both the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the recently commenced Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. It is also worth noting that the Garda estate is provided and managed by the Office of Public Works. Neither I nor my Department have any role in these matters.
For the information of the Deputy, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by An Garda Síochána and the Office of Public Works (OPW).
In late 2016, the State Claims Agency (SCA) completed a Review of Asbestos Surveys of Garda Buildings. The Review prioritised 12 stations that the OPW, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, needed to address. I am informed that there is no record of this Review having been provided to the Department of Justice at that time.
The OPW re-surveyed the 12 Garda Stations in early 2017 and was satisfied that works to remove asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were not necessary at that time. In all 12 cases there were either no ACMs detected, they had already been removed, or they were given a status of “manage in situ”, to be removed if works were planned that would disturb the ACMs.
I understand that this approach is consistent with appropriate ACM management and practice. ACMs are often managed in situ and only removed if they are damaged, deteriorated, or going to be disturbed by any planned refurbishment works.
Where such refurbishment works are to be undertaken, an asbestos removal specification is prepared by an asbestos consultant. Removal is completed in a controlled environment, with subsequent air quality testing carried out to ensure the building can be safely reoccupied. This is a certified process.
The Office of Public Works and An Garda Síochána regularly engage on matters regarding Garda accommodation. This includes issues relating to the age profile of the Garda estate, as highlighted by the Policing Authority in its 5th Report on Changing Policing in Ireland from 2018. This report referred to remedial works, including the removal of asbestos and radon, being carried out on older stations.
As the Deputy is aware, Santry Garda Station was closed on 30 January due to concerns relating to asbestos and was subsequently reopened on 5 February on confirmation that the building was safe for occupation.
677. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when was the number of times the Garda Commissioner has reported to him matters under section 41 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005. [34520/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra678. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of times a matter has been reported to a minister under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in each of the years 2016-2025 inclusive, in tabular form. [34521/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 678 together.
Section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 included provisions that require the Garda Commissioner to provide information to the Minister for Justice on certain matters including:
(a) matters relating to significant developments concerning—
(i) the preservation of peace and public order in the State,
(ii) the protection of life and property in the State, and
(iii) the protection of the security of the State;
(b) significant developments that might reasonably be expected to affect adversely public confidence in the Garda Síochána;
(c) matters relevant to the accountability of the Government to the Houses of the Oireachtas;
(d) any other matters that, in the Commissioner’s opinion, should be brought to the Minister’s attention.
These provisions establish a statutory framework for the Commissioner to provide information to the Secretary General and the Minister. The Commissioner provides a wide range of information which may fall under these provisions.
The table below outlines the number of reports submitted to Ministers for Justice under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, by year, between 2016 and June 2025.
|
Year |
Total |
|
2016 |
9 |
|
2017 |
5 |
|
2018 |
0 |
|
2019 |
1 |
|
2020 |
1 |
|
2021 |
13 |
|
2022 |
11 |
|
2023 |
19 |
|
2024 |
29 |
|
2025 |
10 |
|
Total |
98 |
On 2 April 2025, I commenced the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 which repealed the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in its entirety.
