Results 14,161-14,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors, including crime trends,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Legal Aid (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Partnership Government states that a more rigorous and objective means testing process for applications for criminal legal aid will be introduced along with increased sanctions for the making of false declarations by applicants. Proposals for new Criminal Legal Aid legislation are currently being prepared to update and strengthen the system of granting legal aid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Minister for Justice and Equality I have regular discussions with the Garda Commissioner in relation to various aspects of policing, crime and the security of the State. In accordance with long-standing practice and precedent I do not propose to give details of those discussions.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the inquiry conducted by Mr Justice Frank Clarke of the Supreme Court under section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, into the conduct of GSOC designated officers. I can confirm that I have received the report of Mr Justice Clarke. As a first step, the Attorney General was consulted on how to proceed in relation to the report. It is my intention,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that literacy supports form an important element of the prison education curriculum. The literacy curriculum concentrates on the needs of the individual and aims to improve self-esteem and build confidence. All prisoners who come into the Education Centre of each prison have an individual interview to assess their educational attainments, needs and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that broad programmes of education are provided in each prison, which generally follow an adult education approach. The aim of the Education Service is to deliver a high quality, broad, flexible programme of education that helps prisoners cope with their sentence, achieve personal development, prepare for life after release and establish an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: While monitoring and certain decisions regarding the management of sanctions is undertaken by members of the Judiciary in some jurisdictions, sentencing courts in this jurisdiction are constrained, following a Supreme Court ruling, on reviewing sentences they have passed. However, as the Deputy will be aware, we have had a dedicated Drug Treatment Court operating in Ireland for some time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 223 to 225, inclusive, together. As the Deputies are aware, I have no role in relation to executing court orders. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. It is therefore not open to me to comment or intervene in any way on the conduct or decision of a particular court...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 113, 213 and 228 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that under last September's Government decision which established the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), approximately 2,600 asylum seekers are to be taken in from migration hotspots in Italy and Greece under the new EU relocation programme and 520 refugees are being taken in from Lebanon under Ireland's Refugee Resettlement programme. The mechanism by which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Projects Funding (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The total funding available to my Department in respect of Traveller and Roma initiatives for 2016 is €2,205,000, of which €1,350,000, in respect of funding for Traveller community groups and national-level NGOs, transferred to my Department from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on 01 January 2016. This was in addition to a sum of €550,000...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 111 and 123 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that payroll costs for new Garda recruits include a basic allowance of €184 per week plus a living allowance of €77.92. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale €23,750 rising to a maximum of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" tocontinue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the average annual cost of an available staffed prison space for 2015, was €68,628, which is a slight decrease on the equivalent 2014 figure of €68,959.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Committals (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons imprisoned for sentences of less than six months in each of the years 2011 to 2015 is set out in the table; figures for 2016 are not available yet. The number of committals is higher than the number of persons imprisoned as a person may be committed more than once. Year Number of persons imprisoned for sentences less...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Facilities (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 152 together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as of the 12thFebruary 2016, 98% of all prisoners have 24-hour access to toilet facilities. The number slopping out has decreased from 1,003 at the end of 2010 to just 56 on 7 April 2016, (Limerick 32 and Portlaoise 24). I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that construction of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Inspectorate (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The budget for the Garda Síochána Inspectorate for 2016 is €1,255,000 of which €83,640 relates to rental costs.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Legal Aid (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Legal Aid Board seeks a minimum contribution of €30 for legal advice and €130 for legal aid (which includes the advice contribution of €30). The contribution payable by a person in receipt of legal aid or advice is set by the Minister for Justice and Equality by way of the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2016. The minimum legal aid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Administration (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together. The Deputy will be aware that the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the respective Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had inquiries made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had inquiries made and I am informed that the Courts Service is aware that the...