Results 4,581-4,600 of 9,443 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The unwinding of prison restrictions and the resumption of physical visits is a priority for the Irish Prison Service and my Department.  As the Deputy will appreciate, this is kept under ongoing review and is subject to a number of critical factors including the risk of the Delta variant, the need to maintain infection control measures, the roll out of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 and 575 together. The Irish Prison Service has introduced a wide range of measures to address the risk presented by Covid-19 in a prison environment.  These measures have at all times been guided by the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and are consistent with the prison specific guidance for the management of Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Deputy will wish to note that the Irish Prison Service has entered into an agreement with Dublin City University to undertake an audit of the literacy and numeracy levels of people in custody and a PhD scholarship has recently been awarded to a postgraduate researcher to undertake this audit under the supervision of the University. Education in prisons is delivered in partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2020 was €80,445, a 6.7% increase on the 2019 cost of €75,349.  The figure includes all elements of net expenditure incurred to the Irish Prison Service vote within the year, (such as salaries, utilities/maintenance, ICT,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is provided in the attached table and was compiled on 8 July 2021. <a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/quest ions/supportingDocumentation/2021-07-14_pq57813072021_en.pdf ">Number of Prisoners currently in the prison system</a> <a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: All people committed to prison are subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team, which includes a mental health assessment. The information provided as part of this process is recorded on the person’s individual medical record on the Prison Healthcare Management System. This information allows for the development of an individual healthcare plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Table 1 below provides the number of Psychologists employed by the Prison Service as at 31 December for each year from 2011 to 2020. The number provided for 2021 are correct as at 30 June 2021.  Table 1 - Number of Psychologists employed by the Irish Prison Service Grade 2011 2012 2013 2014 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Irish Prison Service aim to provide healthcare services to those in custody on an equivalent basis to that which is available to those eligible for General Medical Services in the community, including the use of medication as clinically indicated. I am advised that all medications prescribed for persons in custody are used in line with best practice guidelines, as issued by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of persons in custody peaked in February 2011 at 4,621, before falling back to 3,525 in January 2015. However, since 2016, the number of persons in custody had been steadily increasing until March 2020 when this trend was ended with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, as part of its response to the challenges posed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (13 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made. The Courts Service has informed me that probate matters are dealt...

Proceeds of Crime (Investment in Disadvantaged Communities) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I welcome the debate and the opportunity to discuss these issues. Targeting the money is central to fighting organised crime. Those who mastermind crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and fraud depend on hiding and converting the proceeds of those crimes. By pursuing the proceeds, we can bring those responsible to justice and...

Proceeds of Crime (Investment in Disadvantaged Communities) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is a good shift. I thank the Deputies for introducing this Bill and their contributions this evening. Organised crime has destroyed lives and undermined communities all over Ireland. It affects every community but those that are already disadvantaged have borne the brunt of the harm. It is absolutely right, therefore, that we recognise and seek to alleviate that harm through increased...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. As part of the programme for Government commitments we have established a high-level task force on the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system. This is a key goal within the justice plan 2021. As Deputies know, the task force is chaired by Ms Kathleen Lynch, a former Minister of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Work is ongoing on early intervention and the multidisciplinary approach. As I said the pilot crisis intervention team is being developed in a Limerick Garda station, along with the high-level task force to which I alluded. Gardaí are provided with training throughout their career in dealing with people who have mental health issues. All trainee gardaí are trained over two days...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am aware of the annual report of the Mental Health Commission and the use of section 12 of the Mental Health Act by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will understand, the proportion of applications for involuntary detention reflects the unfortunate reality that gardaí often encounter persons with severe mental health issues and will be called upon by members of the public, or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The roll-out of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes while ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of statutory data protection considerations. Since 2017,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: On the matter of funding being provided to Carlow, since the establishment of the grant aid scheme in 2017, the Department has provided funding to one community CCTV scheme in County Carlow, namely, the scheme at St. Mullin's. The Deputy's question was in relation to additional Garda CCTV cameras being provided in Carlow. I understand there are currently 14 CCTV cameras in Carlow town...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. As I said, these are matters for the Garda Commissioner as they are operational matters. To update the Deputy, as of 31 May 2021 there were 337 gardaí assigned to the Kilkenny-Carlow division. This represents an increase of almost 19% since December 2015 when there were 284 Garda staff members assigned to the division. A detailed breakdown of the Garda workforce...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Protection (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, the commission of investigation, which is investigating the extent to which organisations, including State bodies and individuals, were aware of the child sexual abuse committed by an individual during the 1980s, is an independent body. The Minister and I do not have any role in the conduct of its investigation. I understand that, for its convenience, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Protection (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I regret the upset and anger caused by this breach. In particular, I regret that those concerned found out through the media, as the Deputy rightly outlined. To avoid this and as a courtesy, those concerned should have been notified of the loss at the time that it occurred. I understand that the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, met victims and their legal representatives in April of this...