Results 241-260 of 11,589 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána recruit 5,000 members across the next five years. The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 includes unprecedented funding of €2.59 billion which will support the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. At the end of August, the total Garda personnel strength stood at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced on Wednesday 2 April 2025, provides for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) within each local authority area. The regulations for these Safety Partnerships came into operation on Monday 30 June. 36 Partnerships are in the process of being established in local authority areas across the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda personnel. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. No applicant is deemed to be 'successful' until a formal offer to attend an intake at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of community sanctions, reducing offending, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, and providing effective rehabilitation. I am acutely conscious of the impacts of increased resources in one area of the criminal justice system on other areas, and I am working to ensure that all agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department recognises that possession of illicit drugs for personal use must necessarily be viewed as a public health issue, and not just as a matter for the criminal justice system. Additionally, while punishment for those who commit crime is a central element of our justice system, the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders is at the core of our penal system. For these reasons, my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The health and well-being of all people who apply for international protection is a priority for myself and my Department. The EU Migration and Asylum Pact has been designed to establish a common approach to migration and asylum that is based on solidarity, responsibility, and, importantly, respect for human rights. Ireland’s National Implementation Plan (NIP) is anchored in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in 319 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the whole country. Over 21,000 people from Ukraine are in State-supported accommodation. These accommodation systems are demand-led and sensitive to international crises, conflicts and migration trends. From 2022 to the end of 2024, there was a sudden...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The proposed Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse seeks to establish a harmonised legal framework, which will set out the responsibilities for providers to assess and mitigate risks and, where necessary, to detect, report and remove such abuse on their services. The proposal builds on the Digital Services Act, which lays down horizontal rules in relation to illegal content and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Remand prisoners are individuals held in custody who are either awaiting trial for a crime they have been charged with, or who have been convicted of a crime and are awaiting sentencing. A Remand Warrant is a warrant to hold a prisoner or accused person in custody with instructions to return them to a District Court on a particular day and a Trial Warrant is a warrant to hold a prisoner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in 319 IPAS centres around the country, 9,500 of whom are children. Since 2024, once a centre is in operation, IPAS has not published details of the capacity or occupancy of our accommodation centres, to preserve the privacy and security of residents and staff. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The use of recording devices by An Garda Síochána, including those that are mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is provided for under Part 2 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2024. The legislative framework for use of drones is to be further supported by a Code of Practice which is to be prepared by An Garda Síochána. The drone...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities across Ireland, including in rural Ireland, is a top priority for the Government and my Department. An Garda Síochána continues to implement an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy through Operation Tara. The focus of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the vehicles allocated to and removed from the Garda Fleet from 2021 to 2025 as of 30 September 2025. All vehicles are operated up to the manufacturers durability limits or uneconomic repair, irrespective of age. A comprehensive service repair and maintenance programme is in place to ensure that all vehicles are operating...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Since its establishment last year, Cuan has been working to accelerate the delivery of refuge spaces across the country. A key priority for Cuan is the development of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister, it is my priority to ensure that the courts are adequately resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. In 2023, the Government approved and appointed an additional 24 judges as proposed by the Judicial Planning Working Group. Following an impact assessment of these appointments, Government approval was secured to increase judicial numbers by a further 20...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Community safety is a top priority for my Department. Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe and rural Ireland is no exception. Supporting the work of the National Rural Safety Forum, my Department has published the second Rural Safety Plan 2025-2027. The Plan’s vision is to ensure people and communities in rural Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, places of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of resources and the management of Garda Stations including opening hours under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. However, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and I engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. The collation of data on convictions is a function of the courts. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Reforming our criminal justice system to make it more victim-centred is a central focus of the Zero Tolerance Strategy for combatting Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), which builds on reforms already introduced in this area. The Programme for Government commits to working with An Garda Síochána to ensure a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A Community Service Order (CSO) requires an individual to perform unpaid work in the community as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence. In line with legislation governing Community Service, an individual must be assessed as suitable in advance of a community service order being imposed. The Probation Service has statutory responsibility to carry out these assessments. The subject of...