Results 4,641-4,660 of 18,746 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Missing Persons Bureau attached to Garda Headquarters is responsible for data relating to missing persons. The District Officer (Superintendent) in the area where the person has been reported missing takes direct responsibility for all issues connected with the investigation in relation to the missing person. Where any young person under...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that three types of less lethal weapons are currently available for use by the Garda Síochána Emergency Response Unit. These are bean bag shot, OC pepper spray and OC pepper spray shot. I announced yesterday that I have authorised the addition of Conductive Electric Devices to the range of less lethal weapons available to the ERU. These...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The current Inspector of Prisons' term of office is not due to expire until the 24th April, 2007. As the Deputy will be aware Part 5 of the Prisons Act, 2007, which, amongst other things, provides for the statutory appointment of an Inspector of Prisons, has recently been passed by both houses of the Oireachtas. It is my intention to commence this section of the Act from 1 May, 2007 and to...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are a total of ten horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit at present. The cost of running the Garda Mounted Unit in 2006 was approximately €1.19 million. The total number of personnel assigned to the Garda Mounted Unit as at the 30th March 2007 was 17, comprising 2 sergeants, 13 Gardaí and 2 civilian personnel.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Wide Area Network (WAN) is used to deliver access to the Garda Information System (GIS) which includes, inter alia, access to PULSE, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Systems and email. Access to the GIS is currently available in over 320 locations. All Gardaí have access to internal email via the GIS. Access to external...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are 26 dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit, 13 of which are general purpose search dogs. The remaining dogs perform specialised search functions related to searches for drugs, firearms and explosives, tactical searches and victim recovery. Although the Garda Dog Unit is primarily based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region it has a...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average salary of a Garda member, on the mid point of the Garda pay scale and including rent, boot, uniform and unsocial hours allowances, is €55,636. The salary scale in respect of each rank is as set out in the attached tables. The starting salary for a new member on attestation is €25,288. The pay and allowances made in respect of Garda...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The following funding has been made available by my Department since 2002 for awareness programmes to tackle domestic violence. Year Direct Advertising Grants Number of Projects/ campaigns â'¬ â'¬ 2002 30,000 69,000 8 2003 6,500 100,000 16 2004 89,000 87,000 13 2005 133,000 94,000 31 2006 387,000 289,000 40 2007 18,000 12,000 2 The amount of the awareness funding programme for...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The reform of the courts system referred to in the Agreed Programme for Government is well underway. In this regard, I am happy to acknowledge the remarkable development of the courts system since the creation of the Courts Service less than ten years ago. Notable achievements include the great progress in improving the overall stock of Courthouses around the country. Many of our county...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current strength of the Garda Air Support Unit is one (1) Inspector, five (5) Sergeants and nineteen (19) Gardaí. At present there are no civilian personnel attached to the Unit. There are three (3) aircraft, one (1) fixed wing plane and two (2) helicopters available to the Unit with a third helicopter due for delivery later this year. The...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the information sought is at present being compiled by the Irish Prison Service and the Garda National Immigration Bureau. The provision of the relevant data is complicated by the need to cross reference and check information emanating from their two separate databases. Following this exercise, the information will be matched against the database in the...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service places strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training for prisoners. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible for those in prison and to give opportunities to acquire skills which will help them secure employment on their release. The Work and Training programme covers the services necessary for the smooth operation of the prison...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Community Policing is a central feature of current policing policy and members of Community policing units are encouraged to engage with the local communities where they are assigned. Current policing policy is predicated on the prevention of public order offences; the prevention of crime including crimes of violence against persons and property and the maintenance of an environment conducive...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Information relating to those prisoners with the lowest levels of educational accomplishment on committal in each of the years 2002 to date in 2007 are set out in the table below. These figures are based on prisoners' self report information which is recorded in relation to each prisoner on their committal. Following on from this each student coming into the Prison Education Centre will have...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will appreciate, vacancies arise and fall to be filled on State Boards and other bodies under my Department's aegis on an ongoing basis. Having reviewed the vacancies which exist or are scheduled to arise during the period in question, the information requested is as follows: State Board/Body Vacancies Existing/Envisaged Equality Authority 12 Criminal Injuries Compensation...

Written Answers — Overseas Students: Overseas Students (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: One of the main principles of Ireland's immigration system is that persons coming to Ireland should not be an undue burden on the resources of the State. In line with this general principle, the established policy in relation to the attendance of overseas students in Irish primary and second level schools is that visas should only be granted to those who are attending fee paying schools on...