Results 10,041-10,060 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Public Services: Public Services (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information required by her is set out below: Public Service Provision outsourced to Private Sector Expenditure Accommodation and services to asylum seekers under the Government's Direct Provision System €69.5 million (approx).Please note that this figure relates to the twelve months of 2011 and not the last calendar year as requested. Figures for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The current saving against budget, in my Department, to the end of June 2012, is €1.166m. This saving against budget primarily arises in the areas of IT, telecommunications, office premises expenses and shared services. It is not yet certain if these savings will continue to year end.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is available on pages 85-104 of the 2012 Revised Estimates for Public Services and can be accessed via the following link http://per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Rev-20121.pdf . I understand that the 2012 Revised Estimates for Public Services is also available in the Houses of the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provided for the superannuation benefits of public servants, who retired within a 'grace period' which ended on 29 February 2012, to be unaffected by the pay reductions introduced for all public servants with effect from 1 January 2010 under that Act. In the period...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the main categories of services provided for under my telecommunications budget for 2012 include bills for land line rental and calls, mobile phones, PABX services and telephone and mobile phone maintenance. I can also inform the Deputy that my Department has availed of the central Government contracts which are in place and which have delivered considerable value...

Written Answers — Gambling Legislation: Gambling Legislation (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is, I know, aware that I am preparing comprehensive legislation to update the law on gambling, including betting. The protection of young and vulnerable persons will be a major consideration in the new legislation. Section 23 of the Act provides for a prohibition of betting with persons under the age of eighteen while section 29 deals with persons under eighteen years being present...

Written Answers — Drug Dealing: Drug Dealing (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy that the Government and the Garda authorities are fully cognisant of the damaging and negative impact that drug dealing and related anti-social behaviour can have on our city centres. It affects not only those who are a part of the business or residential community in the area but also those who visit our city centre on a daily basis, whether for business or pleasure....

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together. Set out in the tables below is the most recently available data, as provided by the Garda authorities, in relation to the information requested. The tables show the total number of recorded incidents and arrests in relation to offences under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and 1984 (illegal sale or supply offences) by Garda...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programmes: Drug Treatment Programmes (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that I am familiar with the Better City for All Report. I am aware that the Report highlights the clustering of treatment services in the inner city and makes a number of recommendations which are aimed at minimising any negative impact of such clustering on the city centre. The Report also acknowledges that treatment services are a major part of the solution to the...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Co-operation: Cross-Border Co-operation (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: A financial analysis of the scenario posited by the Deputy would require consideration of a wide range of factors, including legal issues and policy considerations, and is not practicable in the absence of a clearer understanding of what might be involved. That being said, I am happy to inform the House that the level of cooperation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI has never been...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The number of sick days taken by staff in my Department is set out in the table below. Year Total number of sick days Average number of sick days per employee 2009 24,399 10.42 2010 19,218 9.09 2011 18,700 8.32 The breakdown of the information in the manner requested by the Deputy is not readily available and to provide such detail would require the allocation of a disproportionate and...

Written Answers — Bingo Licences: Bingo Licences (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: Part IV of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 (as amended) provides for the licensing and conduct of lotteries (other than the National Lottery). However, as a result of the Supreme Court's judgement in Bolger v. Doherty (1965)(it held that bingo was a lottery), Part IV of the 1956 Act also applies to bingo. Various types of lottery are catered for, one of which requires a permit from a Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision and deployment of Garda transport are matters for the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda vehicles are retired for a variety of reasons, including where vehicles are considered beyond economic repair, as a result of accidents and, on safety grounds, where patrol vehicles have reached an odometer reading of 300,000...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: Under the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 - 2007, the Commissioner is required to submit, before November of each year, a policing plan for the forthcoming year. Any proposals for the closure of Garda stations or the altering of Regional or Divisional boundaries must be set out in that plan. While the Policing Plan for 2013 has not yet been submitted to me, I expect that it will contain measures...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Fiacla is running for 12 months initially, with effect from February 2012. The Operation is the subject of regular review by senior Garda management. The Operation is focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the Courts. Operation...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 30 June 2012 was 13,567 full-time members with a further 1,012 Garda Reserve members and 166 in training. I am further informed that the number of full time members who retired between 2009 and to-date in 2012 and those who have declared their intention to retire in the remainder of the year is as set...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda Management liaise closely with the event-organisers when considering and determining the appropriate deployment of Garda resources at such events, on both public and non-public duties. This involves planning meetings, site inspections, major emergency planning and training and other issues. Full operational policing plans and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: A Value for Money Review (VFM) of the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the recommendations arising from this review will inform future plans for the Reserve. In December last I initiated a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces, encompassing a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from three to two. As I have previously outlined, this re-organisation will necessarily impact on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: Since the announcement of the Government decision on barrack closures my Department has written to each Government Department, various agencies and local authorities seeking expressions of interest in acquiring any of the properties to benefit the local community as a whole but with particular emphasis on job creation measures. Some discussion has taken place in relation to Mullingar Barracks...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (19 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, the Government stabilised the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. In response, I initiated a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces both permanent and reserve. It is not viable to retain a three brigade structure within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. Accordingly, the re-organisation encompasses...