Results 10,261-10,280 of 10,346 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together. The Irish Prison Service Psychology Service has 40.4 authorised posts and 14 Assistant Psychologists posts. In 2024, a total of 3,990 referrals were made to this service for assessment and or intervention. As of the end of May 2025, the number of people in custody waiting to see a psychologist was approximately 2,100. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pathology Service (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While I cannot comment on individual cases, I am advised that the Public Appointments Service ran a competition for the position of Acting Deputy State Pathologist in 2007. I am informed that as a result of that competition the position was filled in line with the eligibility criteria. The essential eligibility criteria for this position were outlined in the booklet issued in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am acutely aware of the capacity constraints in our prisons, and of the challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. The current Programme for Government commits to increasing the capacity of our prisons by 1,500 spaces. The Irish Prison Service have already begun work to achieve this. Since January 2022, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. An increased and a visible Garda presence is central to the Government's aim to build safe and secure communities for all of our citizens to enjoy. In February this year, the first Garda recruitment competition for 2025 was launched. This is the fourth such competition in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-trained Garda Síochána is a key aspect of this policy. A Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established, chaired by my Department, to support the achievement of increased recruitment and ensure that these recruitment campaigns are impactful. They are working to progress...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 648 together. I am currently considering the amendments to the Personal Injuries Guidelines proposed by the Judicial Council and consulting with colleagues in Government in this regard. In the course of this, I have considered the latest reports from the Central Bank of Ireland’s National Claims Information Database and am aware of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 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: Private Security Authority (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The guidelines issued by the Private Security Authority (PSA) on identity badges are intended to help licence holders and their employers understand the legal requirements on the wearing of identity badges issued by the PSA. These guidelines reflect the requirements set out in section 30 of the Private Security Services Act 2004 that an identity badge should clearly indicate the licence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the lead government agency on cyber security. Its primary role is to monitor, detect and respond to cyber security incidents of all types in the State, and to lead in the management of major cyber security incidents across Government. The NCSC has an annual non-pay budget of €10.7 million, comprising of €7.9m current and a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) facilitates...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Administration (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the below table provides a breakdown of the number Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) issued for the offences of parking or stopping in a disabled parking bay, those paid within 28 days of date of notice, those paid after 28 days, and the number that remain unpaid as of 8 July 2025. Year FCNs Issued Paid Within 28...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Administration (8 Jul 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: Citizenship Applications (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, particularly considering the current processing times. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. In the recent past, there was a backlog of older cases due to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 656 to 658, inclusive, together. I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and organised criminal activity remains a top priority for the Government and my Department. An Garda Síochána continues to implement Operation Tara across the country, which focuses on disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks at all levels. Significant resources have been committed to this effort, including an unprecedented allocation of over...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. As part of the naturalisation application process, an applicant is required to detail any offences they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Budgets (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 662 and 663 together. A detailed breakdown of the budgetary allocations in my Department following the recent transfer of functions from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), can be found in the Revised and Further Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service. These documents are published by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system has had to rapidly grow by almost 400% over the last four years, as application numbers increased rapidly from 2022 onward. This necessitated urgent commissioning of a wide range of accommodation options across the country to meet need and avoid the serious risk of homelessness for people without support or a network here in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department requested further documentation from the person cited on a number of occasions. This information was recently received and the application can now proceed. The person concerned can check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or...