Results 9,161-9,180 of 15,493 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Citizens Information Services (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: While it is not my area and I am not fully up to speed on this, I do appreciate that providing services in Arklow and Bray is not the same kind of support for people living in Wicklow town. At the same time, they really have tried to make sure there is as much support available as possible while the service is not immediately available in the town. Arklow Citizens Information centre is open...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy. CCTV systems are very important in local communities. The legislation to which the Deputy referred, the general scheme of the Garda Síochána (digital recording) Bill 2021, has been approved by the Government and was published in April 2021. We are ensuring that it will be brought before the Houses this term and the aim is to complete the Bill's passage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I join the Deputy in thanking members of the Garda in Clare and other counties for the work they do in seizing these types of criminal assets from criminal gangs. It has been raised time and time again by the Deputy and many of our colleagues that it would be important to communities to see the assets going directly back into communities which are negatively impacted by these gangs. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The intention is that the pilots will run for two years. That is to allow the communities to come together to set up community safety partnerships, to put a plan in place and embed that plan. That is well under way. I visited Longford recently, where they are on target to have a plan in place. They have engaged with members of the community, from Comhairle na nÓg to the local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy said, the two issues he raised relate to various other Departments. At the same time, my Department has taken responsibility for leading in the response to and the implementation of this report. We are engaging on a regular basis with the Departments of Education and Health and the HSE, to make sure that we can follow through and implement the recommendations that are set out....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Carey for raising this issue. As he is aware, budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new community safety innovation fund, which will enable local communities to seek funding for innovative projects which will improve community safety in their areas. Community safety is about people being safe but also, as I have mentioned a number of times this evening, it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am acutely conscious that the roll-out of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefited many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It ensures people are safe and supports the Garda in its work. It also supports local authorities, particularly in trying to address illegal dumping. A number of Bills are being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I hope my legislation will be enacted this year. That will ensure that the GDPR issues are addressed. It will set out in a clearer way the role An Garda Síochána and the local authorities have in community CCTV. In some areas there has been a reluctance to take on these schemes because of the uncertainty in the local authorities and An Garda Síochána. The Circular...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I acknowledge his contribution and commitment to the implementation of this strategy. I also acknowledge the community in Drogheda. As the Deputy will be aware, the implementation of the recommendations of the report are key actions in my Department's justice plan, which was published this week. I am grateful to the former director of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I also acknowledge the people who are working, not just those on the board but also the community members. If we are to make the progress we need, it is important that everybody comes together and works together, as has happened to date. I thank everyone for their co-operation and their collaborative approach. Resourcing is one element. The Deputy has rightly mentioned the possible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I reassure Deputy Ó Cuív and Deputy Murnane O'Connor that there will be engagement from the interdepartmental group soon. It is working to identify how we can improve the overall process. There will then be engagement with county councils and those already working on the ground. It is really important that Tusla remain deeply involved in this process. While the delivery of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am very much aware that Deputy Murnane O'Connor is very passionate about making sure her county and the community she works with has a refuge and accommodation for women and their families who are fleeing violence and instances of domestic abuse. A number of streams of work are under way at present. As I have outlined previously, we are working...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Initially we need to engage with the groups working on the ground in Carlow that are ready to go with progressing and opening up a new refuge and new accommodation. I said a decision had been taken to bring services to the Department. A decision was subsequently taken to establish an agency that will be responsible for the delivery of services. This agency will work very closely with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Drug Dealing (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: First, in terms of Garda numbers, there has been an increase across every county in the country, and Limerick is no different. The number of members of all ranks assigned to the Limerick division is 596, which is a 7.6% increase since 2015. As well as that, the number of Garda staff has increased from 51 to 78, which is an increase of 52%. That obviously allows more gardaí to be out...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Drug Dealing (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the deployment of gardaí and resources and how they are deployed are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister for Justice, I must make sure the resources are available and that gardaí are coming out of Templemore. As I mentioned earlier, more than 10,000 people have applied to the recent Garda recruitment campaign. That is very welcome....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is my goal that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one. It is an ambitious one but I am deeply committed to working with everyone in this Chamber, our partners in the sector and my Government colleagues to try to achieve that. We have prioritised tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all of its forms, ensuring people,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I set out in my initial answer to highlight, as the Deputy has said, how complex the area is and that it is not just about refuge spaces. There are many other elements to it and the strategy is a very significant part of that. I appreciate the accommodation piece is very significant. I assure the Deputy and others that while we are dealing with a great crisis in Ukraine, we are certainly...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: We are looking at everything and we have an opportunity essentially to start from scratch, but taking on board the fantastic work that has already been done by so many community and voluntary groups and organisations. Working with Tusla, we have an opportunity to look at the structure and system, see where it works and where it does not, how we can improve it, where we need to step in as a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Drug Dealing (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage drug dealing has on communities. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety and to individuals. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: In many instances, local authorities work with communities to ensure funding is available. It is important to note that the Deputy's question relates specifically to community CCTV and there is a separate programme specifically for An Garda. In areas with high crime levels or a large number of incidents, the Garda can go through a process of setting up its own CCTV. The Deputy referred...