Written Answers Nos. 386-398
386. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of public order training courses held for gardaí within the Dublin Metropolitan Region, DMR, north division in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21896/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including training of personnel. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
The figures in the table below have been supplied to me by Garda Authorities.
|
Year |
No. of Public Order Training Courses |
|
2021 |
14 |
|
2022 |
Nil* |
For clarification, the DMR Region provided fourteen Level 2 recertification courses wherein the DMR North were allocated places on each course.
*I am advised that the Garda National Public Order Unit Level 2 training for 2022 has not begun but plans are in place for training to commence in Q3 2022.
387. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if funding has been made available to replace any of the helicopters or aircraft in the Garda air support unit during 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21897/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.
I can advise the Deputy that while no funding has been made available to replace any of the helicopters or aircraft within the Garda Air Support Unit during 2022, the requirements in this regard are kept under ongoing review in the context of the investment being made in An Garda Síochána and the Commissioner's operational priorities, as well as overall planning for capital expenditure under the National Development Plan.
388. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number and percentage of the Garda fleet within the Waterford division that are aged less than one year, between one and three years, three to six year, six to ten years, and over ten years of age as of 22 April; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21898/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
Budget 2022 provides in excess of an unprecedented €2 billion, of which I am informed that €12m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet, which will mean more high visibility policing in our towns and cities.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the Waterford Divisional fleet by age.
Waterford Divisional Fleet by age as at 29 April 2022
|
Age |
No. of Vehicles |
% |
|
< 1 year |
6 |
8.5% |
|
1-3 years |
17 |
23.9% |
|
3-6 years |
20 |
28.2% |
|
6-10 years |
27 |
38% |
|
10+ years |
1 |
1.4% |
|
Waterford Division |
71 |
100% |
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.
389. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the application process for a gambling regulator CEO; the number of applications; if a successful applicant has been chosen; and when it is envisaged a successful applicant will take up the role. [21925/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the status of the application process for a CEO for the gambling regulator; the number of applications that have been received; if a successful applicant has been chosen; and, if so, when the successful applicant will take up the role. [22027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 393 together.
The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps.
The Government has approved the Gambling Regulation Bill for priority drafting and publication.
The Bill will set out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new independent, statutory body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland – to implement a robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling sector. Drafting of the Bill is now underway.
The General Scheme has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny.
A Programme Board has been established to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel so that the Authority commences operations as soon as possible after enactment. There is a pathway mapped for this legislation progressing, which will facilitate the Authority being established and operational in 2023.
Last October, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned the recruitment of the CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and the process is now well underway. The Public Appointments Service in conjunction with an Executive Search Agency is managing the recruitment, applications for which have now closed, in line with its normal processes, including confidentiality. The start date and on boarding process for the new CEO Designate will be determined once the successful candidate has been identified.
391. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Justice the steps that she is taking to ensure that the new immigrant investor programme does not make the public donation category more restrictive for public good projects such as hospitals and sports clubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21967/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest. To date, more than 1,400 IIP applications have been approved for investment with a value of over €1 Billion.
All immigration related programmes are kept under constant review to ensure their effectiveness and appropriateness, taking into consideration international and EU level developments.
The IIP has been subject to a number of reviews, both internal and external, in recent years and the second phase of the external review is being considered by my officials. Any actions and recommendations beneficial to the IIP will be assessed and evaluated and consideration will be given to their introduction.
In the meantime, applications to the IIP continue to be accepted and examined by an independent Evaluation Committee and, where assessed positively, are submitted to me for approval.
392. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she has received the new valuation report in respect of Thornton Hall; if she will provide the Comptroller and Auditor General with the details of the valuation in view of the fact that the site was the subject of a special report by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. [21980/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that an updated valuation report was completed recently in respect of the land and buildings in Thornton Hall.
I can confirm that this recent valuation, which was for €6.5m, is reflected in the Prison Vote Appropriation Account for 2021, which was submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General's Office at the end of March in accordance with the statutory deadline.
394. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of gardaí who are involved in roads policing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22031/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. However, the information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
395. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice the average processing time for family re-unification visas for those who are holders of critical work permits working here; her views on whether this is a disincentive for those seeking to work here in critical employment categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22075/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders, should be processed within six months of application.
The Visa Division of my Department is currently well within the six month processing timeframe in the Dublin Visa office. Processing times are updated on my Department's immigration website every Tuesday at: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.
When processing these applications, every effort is made to process Join Family visa applications at the same time as the associated employment visa application, where resources allow.
A 12 month target applies for applications to join Category B sponsors, such as Non Critical Skills Employment Permit holders or Stamp 4 holders not covered by other more favourable arrangements.
The processing of family reunification applications requires detailed and often complex assessments. Accordingly, these business targets do not constitute a legal obligation. Nor do they suggest that a case not completed within the processing timeframe will result in a default decision in the applicant's favour.
396. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners incarcerated in each Irish prison for each of the past five years; the official capacity of each Irish prison for each of those years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra398. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons sentenced to prison terms for each of the past five years; the duration of each sentence in five year terms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22126/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 398 together.
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service. The information is currently being collated and verified so I will write to the Deputy once that information is to hand.
397. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff employed in each Irish prison for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that for security and operational reasons the Irish Prison Service is not in a position to provide a breakdown of the staff resources allocated to individual prisons.
However, the number of Prison Grade staff employed by the Irish Prison Service for the period 2017 – 2021 (as at 31 December of each year) is outlined in the table below.
|
Year |
Prison Officers* |
Other Grades** |
Total Number of Staff |
|
2017 |
2,025 |
1,083 |
3,108 |
|
2018 |
2,077 |
1,095 |
3,172 |
|
2019 |
2,183 |
1,233 |
3,416 |
|
2020 |
2,166 |
1,153 |
3,319 |
|
2021 |
2,175 |
1,157 |
3,332 |
* Prison Officers & Recruit Prison Officers
** Governor Grades, Assistant Chief Officers, Work Training Officers, Chief Officers, Trade Officers, Tutors, Medical Staff, Psychology Staff, Chaplains and Prison Administrative Staff.
