Results 4,361-4,380 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Again, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter of Garda numbers in Donegal. We will always endeavour in the Department of Justice to ensure the Garda Commissioner is deploying gardaí fairly throughout the country as they are needed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Budget 2022 will see over €2.062 billion allocated to An Garda Síochána next year. This funding will include provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff. This increase in the number of Garda members and staff will deliver significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide and improved services to the public generally. In Dublin,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Since 2018, there has been an 11% increase in the number of community gardaí. The number of community garda members I have obtained from An Garda Síochána is 326. Four hundred and fifty additional gardaí will be recruited this year, and the budget has allowed for an allocation of funding for another 800 new Garda recruits for next year and 400 Garda staff. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising the important matter of Garda numbers in his area. As stated already, I do not have any powers regarding the distribution of gardaí or their designation. The 450 additional gardaí being recruited this year, the 800 to be recruited next year, and the 400 additional Garda staff that will be recruited will bring the total number to 14,600 fully attested...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising the important matter of the number of citizenship applications outstanding for longer than 12 months. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it. My Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The Department is bringing in a number of reforms to try to speed up the process and make the application process simpler. Certainly, since I came into the Department I have pushed for all of the applications to be as simple and straightforward as possible and to minimise the need for any kind of legal advice. Many applicants are involved in the system at different stages. I favour the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Our aim is to get the timeframe for processing applications down to six to nine months. Provision has been made in the budget for additional staff in the immigration services to get those numbers down. We are working through ICT and other processes to make the system move more quickly and to streamline the entire system. I understand that the length of time it is taking to process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution and management of Garda resources between the various Garda Divisions. Neither I nor the Minister for Justice have any direct role in these matters, but we are assured that the Garda authorities keep this distribution under constant review, to ensure the optimum use of available Garda members....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding. This has enabled sustained and ongoing investment in An Garda Siochana, including in County Carlow. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and I am very conscious of the impact it can have on the quality of life for local communities, including in Dublin’s inner city. We want people to feel safe and be safe in Dublin, whether they live or work in Dublin or want to visit and enjoy our capital city.  As the Deputy may be aware, Minister Humphreys...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: It should be understood that in setting up the provisions to tackle anti-social behaviour on foot of the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, provision was made for a number of preliminary interventions - warnings, good behaviour contracts and referrals to the Juvenile Diversion Programme - which were intended to address the problem behaviour. The rationale was that if these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department's objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. My Department is fully committed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department's objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. My Department is fully committed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and I am very conscious of the negative effect it can have on the quality of life for our local communities. We are clear that incidents of assault or intimidation are completely unacceptable, and that people must be safe and feel safe in their communities. An Garda Síochána continues to implement high...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department's objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. My Department is fully committed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, I established a subgroup of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum earlier this year to examine measures which can be taken with regard to the misuse of vehicles such as scramblers and quad bikes in communities. The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum delivered a community based proposal to tackling the misuse of scramblers and other vehicles. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to bring forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government, to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents with due consideration of Ireland's European Union and Common Travel Area commitments. Proposals for the draft scheme and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, a key pillar of the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is building stronger and safer communities.  I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, both rural and urban.  While An Garda Síochána has provided very dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to bring forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government, to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents with due consideration of Ireland's European Union and Common Travel Area commitments. Proposals for the draft scheme and the...