Results 2,461-2,480 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: As of 1 March 2005 the maximum available bed capacity of the prison system was 3,357. There were 3,257 persons in custody on that date. That does not however imply the existence of 100 readily available spaces. Two thirds of the available spaces were in Portlaoise Prison which mainly houses subversive and other high security prisoners and is not suitable for the general population. Cloverhill...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 178 together. A decision has been taken in principle to dispose of the current Mountjoy complex including the training unit and St. Patrick's Institution. A final decision has not yet been made regarding the facilities that will be provided for prisoners at the new site.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: At this stage no final decision has been made as to the precise number of prisoners to be accommodated on the new site. The existing Mountjoy complex has a total capacity of over 900 prisoners and the new facility will cater for more than that number.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A declaration of acceptance of Irish citizenship as post-nuptial citizenship was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 10 October 2003 from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. Officials in the citizenship section wrote to the representatives of the person concerned by registered post on 10 January 2005 informing them that it was their view that the person...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has not paid fees or remuneration to the person whose details are supplied.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question is free to leave the State at any time. As a visa requiring national he must be in possession of a valid Irish visa to allow him travel to the State. It is not the policy of my Department to assist persons who do not have leave to remain in the State with a re-entry visa prior to travelling.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The application was recently approved and the refugee was notified in writing of the decision.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that Donabate forms part of the Swords subdistrict and that personnel attached to Swords Garda station are charged with the responsibility for the provision of a full policing service in the neighbourhood. The personnel strength of Swords Garda station, all ranks,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: This Government remains firmly committed to supporting working parents with their child care needs through increased capacity, choice and service quality. These aims are the hallmark of the Government's child care strategy. To this end considerable progress has already been achieved in terms of increasing the supply of centre based child care places and in enhancing the awareness of quality...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 309 of 1 March 2005. As outlined in the response, an implementation plan in respect of the decentralisation of the immigration and asylum sections of my Department was prepared last year and submitted to the decentralisation implementation group. A copy of the report is available on my Department's website. Progress has been made with regard...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy has not supplied a visa application reference number, nor has an examination of visa applications on hand yielded a visa application by a person of the same name as supplied by the Deputy. Therefore, it would appear that my Department has not received an application in respect of this person to date. Each application is assessed individually based on its own merits, and until such...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the Laragh, Glendalough and Sallygap areas of County Wicklow are policed by gardaí attached to Rathdrum and Roundwood Garda stations. The personnel strength of Rathdrum Garda station as at 8 March 2005 is four — all ranks. The personnel strength of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A declaration of acceptance of Irish citizenship as post nuptial citizenship was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 6 December 2004 from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. The current processing time for such declarations is approximately ten months from the date of lodgement and it is likely, therefore, that the processing of the declaration of the person...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the revised arrangements for the consideration of applications for permission to remain by the non-national parents of Irish-born children, born before 1 January 2005, successful applicants will be issued with a letter confirming permission to remain for an initial period of two years subject to the following conditions: that they will obey the laws of the State and will not become...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 was submitted by the group to my Department some time ago. The EOCP is a seven-year development programme which aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and training. The level of demand for capital...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question, as a non-EEA national, is subject to the immigration laws of the State despite being the spouse of an Irish citizen. I understand she applied for a visa for the stated purpose of a visit to the State and that a visit visa was approved. A visit visa permits the holder to travel to the State and, subject to the discretion of an immigration officer, to remain in the State...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A study group under the chairmanship of the assistant commissioner, northern region has been established to examine various issues associated with possible new boundary alignments in the Cavan-Monaghan and Louth-Meath divisions. The study group is in the preliminary stages of its work and has, to date, only looked at various possibilities to facilitate the establishment of a consultative...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Fingal County Council area, traditionally referred to as north County Dublin, encompasses parts of the Garda divisions of the Dublin metropolitan regions north and west and the southern part of the Louth-Meath Garda division. Garda management are of the opinion that the effective delivery of a police service to these areas is not in any way impeded or diminished by the present Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the Raheen-Dooradoyle areas of Limerick are policed by Roxboro Road Garda station. The personnel strength of Roxboro Road Garda station as at 7 March 2005 was 87 — all ranks. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that they have no plans at...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that three incidents of public disorder have been reported since September 2004 in the area in question. A court date is awaited in respect of one incident and a further two incidents involving a juvenile are being dealt with under the juvenile liaison scheme. I understand from the Garda authorities that gardaí at Santry Garda station patrol the...