Results 11,061-11,080 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 128 to 135, inclusive, together. I can advise the Deputy that according to the most recent snapshot of the prison population taken on 31 January 2015 there were 734 prisoners in custody aged 18-24. I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that records of prisoner participation in vocational training and education programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. I can inform the Deputy that the Incentivised Regimes Policy was introduced on a phased basis across all prisons in 2012 and is now operational in all institutions. Incentivised Regimes provides for a differentiation of privileges between prisoners according to their level of engagement with services and quality of behaviour. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together. I can advise the Deputy that the information requested is not readily available. I will forward the reply to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the following table shows the existing vacancies for workshop and work training posts in each Prison. Prison Total number of posts Vacancies Arbour Hill 12 0 Castlerea 26 0 Cloverhill 27 0 Cork 23 1 Dóchas 12 0 Limerick 24 2 Loughan House 11 0 Midlands 67 5 Mountjoy 48 4 Portlaoise 27 0 Shelton Abbey 11 0 St. Patrick's Institution 25 0 Training...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of hours the library in each prison is scheduled to be open is set out in the table. The libraries for Arbour Hill, Dóchas, Mountjoy and the Training Unit are open as the demand requires. Scheduled Opening Hours (per week) % hours open January - December 2013 Arbour Hill On demand As required Castlerea 32 100 Cloverhill 35.5 44 Cork 37.5 83 Dóchas On demand...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Education Unit in each of the prisons offers a broad and flexible programme of education to prisoners, ranging from basic literacy classes to Open University courses. With regard to Open University, there is a uniform application procedure with associated guidelines and prisoners must demonstrate the proven academic ability required to complete a third...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, following the refusal of their asylum claim, the person concerned proceeded to lodge an application for subsidiary protection. I am also advised that this subsidiary protection application was formally withdrawn on 8th December, 2014. The case file of the person concerned was then passed to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reform (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Report of the Independent Review Group chaired by Mr Kevin Toland. Following the publication of the Groups report in relation to the performance, management and administration of my Department, a Programme for Change to address the Group's recommendations is continuing. The objective of this Programme is to assist the Department to migrate to a new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illness Benefit Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand from the Commissioner that the member in question, when completing his application for Illness Benefit on the commencement of his most recent absence on 11thDecember 2014, mandated this benefit to the Garda Vote. The member raised this issue directly with the pay section in the FSSC, Killarney who on receipt of the relevant documentation from the Department of Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulation (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 established the Property Services Regulatory Authority to control, supervise and regulate Property Services Providers (i.e. Auctioneers/Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Property Management Agents). Any person wishing to provide a property service must be licensed by the Authority and meet certain minimum qualification standards. The new PSRA...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have however been informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is a mandatory sentence for murder and there are presumptive minimum sentences for a number of offences. However in general the legislature sets out the maximum sentence that can be imposed and it is then a matter for the judiciary to decide what is the appropriate sentence in a particular case taking into account all the circumstances. The Superior Courts have developed a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that none of the persons specified served as special advisors in my Department nor received any severance payments from my Department. A special advisor to my predecessor received a severance package of € 10, 160 upon the termination of their employment in 2014.

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is now.

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's party had 12 years.

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Hear, hear.

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: What issue?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (25 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Charities Regulatory Authority is not currently accepting applications for charitable registration from education bodies within the meaning of the Charities Act 2009 and this has been signalled on the Authority's website, www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie. I am advised that the Authority will be meeting with the Department of Education in the near future to discuss future...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Transfers (25 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, I have requested the Director General of the Irish Prison Service to provide me with a full report on all of the circumstances surrounding the escape of the prisoner (details supplied) during a hospital appointment at Tallaght Hospital on 17th February 2015. I will carefully consider this report when I receive it, including any recommendations it may make in...