Results 2,261-2,280 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for myself, my Department and this Government that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. This year, we are beginning to see application numbers noticeably reduce. There have been 43% less applications in the first four months of 2025...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 700 and 701 together. The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, over 9,000 of whom are children with their families. Ireland and other EU Member States have responded to a very sharp and sustained increase in the number of people applying for international protection from early 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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. There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that the information provided in Parliamentary Question 902 of 13 May 2025 relates to the number of people that have been granted permission under section 56 of the 2015 Act. Statistics on those that arrive in the State to take up residency on the basis of their family reunification permission are not recorded in the manner requested by the Deputy. While the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Dog Unit is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and has a national remit. It operates under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the operational strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services. There are currently 28 dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit, inclusive of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The restricted dog breed list is maintained by regulation (SI 442/1998) under the Control of Dogs Acts. Under the Act, Local Authorities are responsible for the control of dogs. Each Local Authority is required to appoint a Dog Warden or Wardens who, under Section 28 of the Act, are responsible for enforcing its provisions. The Regulations outline a requirement to keep any dog of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Mounted Unit is based at Áras An Úachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and has a national remit. It operates under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the operational control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services. There are currently 10 horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit. I am advised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) is a key part of Ireland’s response to the global humanitarian migration crisis in central and southern Europe. Since it was established in 2015, the IRPP has supported more than 4,500 refugees to resettle in Ireland. People are referred to the IRPP by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) after they have been granted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, responsibility for the Property Services Regulatory Authority, the Property Services Appeal Board and Multi Unit Developments will transfer from my Department to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There is ongoing engagement between the two Departments with a view to bringing proposals to Government to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It has not been possible to gather the required information. I will write to the Deputy when the information is available.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputies. In fairness, the 2024 Act was just commenced last month. Under section 114 of that Act, there is an obligation on me to make regulations in respect of the establishment of local community safety partnerships. I assure Deputies that officials in my Department are finalising those regulations. I will use a term I used previously; I believe I will be able to sign them...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy. If he will permit me, I will return briefly to something Deputies Carthy and Gannon raised. They talked about exit interviews from An Garda Síochána. What I should have mentioned in my answer was that exit interviews were done in 2024 and the main reason gardaí left was referred to as "family circumstances", namely, gardaí found it difficult to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy makes a very valid point. The whole logic behind establishing the LCSPs was to ensure we broadened it out so that it was not just a member of An Garda Síochána who was having to answer questions related to the HSE or other statutory agencies. As any member of a local authority will know, when it comes to responding to issues that arise in our community, it is very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I had a look at the statistics on the number of gardaí leaving the force. This year and last year, we are talking about between 1% and 2% leaving. Based on the calculations we have seen to the end of March, we are probably looking at somewhere in the region of 140 gardaí resigning from the force this year and with around 14,000 on the force. That is around 1%, which is extremely...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is a valid point. There was some feedback from departure interviews as to why gardaí were leaving. My recollection is that 47% or 48% just got a better offer in the private sector. Regarding the Commissioner's figure of 18,000, we need to take into account that there are many civilians working within An Garda Síochána. They are not gardaí but they do work that was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am obviously very accountable to the House, as I should be. Any information that my Department can provide will be provided. I will look into the issue the Deputy raises about getting further information from An Garda Síochána. Sometimes that just takes a bit of time but I have no difficulty with being accountable in this House for what gardaí do. There is nothing we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy McGrath for this important question. I commend him on asking it because in order to achieve what we want to in the criminal justice system, we need an appropriate number of members of An Garda Síochána in the force. The Deputy asked a question about Templemore, which I will answer presently. He has also consistently and effectively campaigned to get more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is commendable that every Deputy in this House wants to see more gardaí in their constituency. I agree that there has been a noticeable increase in the visibility of gardaí in Dublin city in recent months. It has been commented upon. It has had a positive impact because individuals feel a greater sense of security and safety when they see members of An Garda Síochána...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the lack of capacity, each year, there can be four or five intakes into Templemore. It can take more than 200, probably up to 225 or so per intake. If there are five intakes a year, we will hit 1,000 a year if we get the stream of individuals coming through. The Deputy is right that capacity is tight. At present, the problem is not capacity in Templemore. The number coming through can...