Results 14,581-14,600 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services to victims of crime, including victims of domestic and sexual crime, within the criminal justice system. Our commitment in this area is reflected in the additional funding that has been secured by my Department under Budget 2022. A total of €4.9m is being...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 109 together. I can assure the Deputies that the Government is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible policing right across Ireland.  Prioritising visible policing in rural and urban communities will ensure community policing is at the forefront of our police service and an integral strand of our social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that family law reform is a major element of my Department's Justice Plan 2021.  The forthcoming Family Court Bill will provide for a dedicated Family Court structure, as set out in the Programme for Government. This Bill intends to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a...

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

Heather Humphreys: Any acts of violence and anti-social behaviour on or near public transport are completely unacceptable. There are a number of tools at the disposal of the Garda Commissioner, who is operationally responsible, to respond to such incidents. The Commissioner is also responsible, as the Deputy will be aware, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, and...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes recruitment and personnel matters. As Minister, I play no direct role in these independent functions. However, I am informed by Garda Authorities that as of 30 September 2021, 3,974 sworn members of An Garda Síochána...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the prevention and investigation of criminal activity, including cybercrime and related offences, are operational matters for An Garda Síochána. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has significantly stepped up its dedicated resources in the cyber area in...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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 and the filling of any vacancies. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters, but I am 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: Antisocial Behaviour (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that both I and the Government are committed to the safety of the public, whether they live or work in Dublin or want to visit and enjoy our capital city. The Government is determined to tackle anti-social and violent behaviour, and I am very conscious of the impact such behaviour can have on the quality of life for local communities, including in...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 145 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda resources. I have no direct role in these matters. I understand that as of 30 September 2021, there are now 3,382 Garda staff...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Budget 2022 (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that the capital allocation for the Justice Vote Group encompasses An Garda Siochána, Courts, Prisons and Justice Votes. The capital expenditure ranges across a number of areas such as ICT, transport investment and capital building and refurbishment works. The capital allocation for Justice in 2022 of €270 million will facilitate a programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are no plans to accommodate 18 and 19 year olds together on a separate wing within Wheatfield Prison. The creation of such separate unit, in Wheatfield or in any other Prison, would be a major policy decision which would require careful consideration and assessment given its operational implications for the...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, who...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the construction of the new Garda station at Macroom is to proceed on the basis of a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which also includes the construction of a new Garda Station in Clonmel.  Planning permission for the new Garda station in Macroom was granted in March 2021. There is ongoing engagement between my Department, An Garda...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the training of Garda members and staff, and personnel matters such as promotions. As Minister, I play no direct role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the distribution and deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 144 together. As the Deputies will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m. A...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The resources provided by the Government to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Investment is required to significantly increase digital services in my Department in line with our strategy. This will include developing a fully digital, customer-centric immigration service, as well as integrating digital systems across the justice sector to increase efficiencies and provide data-informed insights to support policy development. The implementation of a new ICT strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of this heinous crime. My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal...

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

Heather Humphreys: I am acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on the communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy, which emphasises a health-led approach to addressing the challenge of drugs in our society, is the...