Results 5,941-5,960 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 14 February, 2007. The position remains unchanged. Correspondence recently received from the legal representative of the person in question does not materially alter this position.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme in June 2005 in response to the demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. This Scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The scheme...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of persons killed on Irish roads between 7am and 12 noon in 2005 and 2006. Year Fatalities 2006 74 2005 71

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that maintenance works to the external lighting at the entrances to Inistioge Garda Station were carried out in April 2006. Garda authorities inform me that no further application in respect of the external lighting has been received by the Garda Accommodation manager in respect of Inistioge since that time. However, any further requests for...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 25 Garda forensic collision investigators trained in An Garda Síochána. A further 12 members commenced training on 19 February, 2007. It is planned that, on completion of the training courses in 2007, there will be trained forensic collision investigators attached to each Garda Division in the country. I am further informed...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department's decentralisation programme runs from 2004 to 2009 and involves the transfer of around 900 posts from twelve agencies and units under the aegis of my Department to seven locations around the country. Any decisions on the disposal or use of Dublin office space, post decentralisation, will be taken in consultation with the Office of Public Works. Those decisions will depend on a...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the disclosure made by the Garda Cental Vetting Unit (GCVU) in this case was not a vetting disclosure but, rather, a disclosure pursuant to Section 4 of the Data Protection Act 1988, as amended. The two kinds of disclosure are qualitatively different and are intended for quite distinct purposes. A vetting service is provided by the GCVU to...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot...

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Service: Prison Drug Treatment Service (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy — 'Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons' — will see existing drug treatment programmes, including the provision of methadone maintenance programmes where clinically indicated, being expanded and enhanced. This policy envisages a multifaceted approach towards tackling the problems associated with substance misuse in the prison environment....

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Commissioner is proceeding with the recruitment and training of 1,500 members of the Garda Reserve. The first group of 36 Garda Reserves completed their training and were formally attested as members of An Garda Síochána on 15th December 2006. They have been deployed in Dublin (Store Street and Pearse Street), Cork (Anglesea Street), Galway City and Sligo. The second group...

Written Answers — Garda Reports: Garda Reports (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 16 together. I published last November the two important reports recommending radical reform of the top management structure of An Garda Síochána. The reports are by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána Advisory Group chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes. By way of background, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established in July...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the views expressed by the President of the Garda Representative Association which I believe were reported late last year in the media. I reject the reported remarks out of hand. The record will clearly show that under this Government An Garda Síochána has never been better resourced. Deputies can judge for themselves the level of investment in An Garda Síochána under this...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of designated full-time Community Gardaí assigned at 31 December, 2005 and 2006 was 453 and 497 respectively. The 2006 figure is almost 4% of the current personnel strength of An Garda Síochána and represents an increase of 44, or 10% in the number of Gardaí assigned to community policing duties over the previous year's...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The current Garda recruit training programme is of two years duration and is made up of 5 separate but integrated phases. The time devoted to each phase of training and the location of each phase of training is as set out as follows:- Phase 1 involves 22 weeks in the Garda College. Phase 2 involves 24 weeks in a Training Garda Station. Phase 3 involves 12 weeks at the Garda College and 4...

Written Answers — Departmental Evaluations: Departmental Evaluations (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the final report of the completed pilot project by the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency (NDVIA) was received by my Department on Thursday 25th January 2007. Following the delivery of the report, further funding for the project on an interim basis was agreed by my Department and representatives of the NDVIA. Officials of my Department are now...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Equality Authority has been designated as the National Implementing Body for Ireland to organise its participation in the European Year of Equal Opportunities for all. The Equality Authority in its role of National Implementing Body is responsible for defining the national strategy and priorities of the Year, while ensuring a balanced treatment of all nine grounds under Irish equality...

Written Answers — Prisoner Costs: Prisoner Costs (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The average cost of keeping an offender in custody in this jurisdiction is calculated by averaging out the current running costs of the prisons and places of detention against the average number of offenders in those institutions. These costs include certain items which are fixed no matter what the number of offenders in custody, e.g. utilities, staff salaries, etc. It also reallocates the...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the volume and street value of heroin seized for 2005 and 2006 is as set out in the following table: Heroin seizures made by An Garda Síochána 2005-2006 Year Quantity Estimated Street Value kgs €m 2005 32 6.4 2006* 136 27.2 * The figure for 2006 is provisional and may be subject to change pending the publication of An Garda Síochána's...

Written Answers — Prisons Inspectorate Reports: Prisons Inspectorate Reports (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention recently submitted a report to me on a visit he carried out in Castlerea Prison. In his report the Inspector concluded that the prison is well managed. However, as well as pointing out a number of areas where there have been significant positive developments, he did raise some issues where further improvements could be made. I am happy to say...