Results 881-900 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law. The State is currently accommodating over 32,000 people in 321 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, over 9,000 of whom are children with their families. Since 2024, once a centre is in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Online safety for children is a Government priority. It is essential that children do not see illegal, harmful or inappropriate content while being able to safely avail of all the benefits of the online world. Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s online safety and media regulator, is at the core of Ireland’s online safety framework, which comprises the Online Safety and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Gardaí and staff. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1538, 1539, 1540, 1541 and 1542 together. It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I strongly support the introduction of robust legislation at EU level to tackle online child sexual abuse and exploitation. As the prevalence of online child sexual exploitation and abuse continues to grow, the need for effective legislation and international co-operation becomes even more important. The proposed Regulation seeks to establish a harmonised legal framework, which will set...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A Garda member who has completed 30 years of service may opt to retire (voluntary retirement) on full pension at age 50 if they joined before 1 April 2004, or at 55 years of age if they joined on or after that date. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a cumulative figure of 2,650 Gardaí will become eligible to retire over the period January 2025 to December 2030. That,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda authorities have provided the following information on the number of applications to join An Garda Síochána as part of each recruitment campaign since 2022 and so far in 2025. As you may know, Garda recruitment was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19. Garda Recruitment Campaign Number of Applications 2025 6,784 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána publishes data on the allocation and breakdown of Gardaí, including the allocation of Probationer Gardaí, on their website. This can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resourc es-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strengt h-breakdown-2025/garda-strength-breakdown-2025.html. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The number of retirement extensions received and approved between 2020 and 2025 are included in the table below. The Deputy may wish to note that there was a change in the Garda Síochána (Retirement) Regulations 2024 which came into effect on the 3 September 2024, stipulating that Gardaí, appointed on or after the 1 April 2004, could continue serving until the age of 62....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána has provided me with the table below which shows the intakes since the Garda College reopened in 2022 and the number of Gardaí who attested from January 2023 to the latest ceremony on 22 August last. A number of factors influence the number of people who attest in each ceremony including trainees reverting from one intake to another due to academic or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres are subject to rigorous inspection and oversight. Centres are contractually obliged to be maintained to National Standards, with independent inspection and quality control through either Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) or IPAS-commissioned inspections. HIWA inspection reports can be found on the HIQA website:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for international protection accommodation is now completed. The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection by moving away from commercial properties to State-owned centres. State-owned centres...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1553, 1554, 1555, 1556, 1557 and 1558 together. The Department's International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) has not received an offer of accommodation at Newenham Terrace, Infirmary Road, Cork and is not examining the property for use as international protection accommodation. The Department can confirm that the other properties listed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based remains a priority for this Government, for my Department and for the Garda Commissioner. The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) - which ensures that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy as it relates to the number of Gardai by rank attached to Meath-Westmeath divisional protective services bureau, but it has not been received on time. I will write to the Deputy directly once this information is made available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for County Louth, is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resourc es-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strengt h-breakdown-2025/garda-strength-breakdown-2025.html. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publish information in relation to Community Policing by Division which is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resourc es-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strengt h-breakdown-2025/garda-strength-breakdown-2025.html. The Deputy should...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following table outlines the number of Gardaí who have resigned and retired in each of the past 15 years. Figures include Voluntary, Compulsory, Cost Neutral Early Retirements, Resignations, Resignations not suitable for appointment and Resignation in lieu of dismissal. Year Number 2010 379 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to grow Garda numbers, including funding the recruitment of 5,000 members over the next five years, supporting and expanding the Garda Training College in Templemore, and widening the talent pool applying to join An Garda Síochána. The Group’s work is nearing completion and I look forward to the...