Results 1,121-1,140 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The High Level Task Force (HLTF) on Mental Health and Addiction published their final report in September 2022. The report identified where further improvements can be implemented in order to enhance the treatment available to those with mental health and addiction difficulties within the criminal justice system. It outlined 61 recommendations to be implemented from 2022 to 2027. The First...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service remains committed to providing safe and secure custody to those in its care, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and dealing effectively with any complaints prisoners may have during their incarceration. Complaints from prisoners in custody are managed in line with the IPS Prisoner Complaints Policy and overseen by a dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Measures to address homelessness and the provision of accommodation to people experiencing homelessness are the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The IPS have advised me that they maintain regular contact with that Department and local authorities to assist planning for the release of prisoners who have identified themselves as homeless or at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Budgets (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, it has not been possible to compile the information in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2105 and 2106 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. Since the closure of the programme, my Department has continued to process remaining applications for consideration and final decision. The IIP is fundamentally a programme for investors,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy may be aware, the review of the National Development Plan has very recently been completed and the justice sector will receive funding of €2.18 billion from 2026-2030. The intention is that further details of projects to be funded will be provided later in the year.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department and I engage extensively with EU counterparts on migration issues across a wide range of working groups and other formats, including meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, the most recent meeting of which took place in Copenhagen last week. Migration is a shared European challenge that requires shared European solutions. A particular focus in recent years has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in the exercise of their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2112 and 2113 together. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in the exercise of their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2114 and 2124 together. At the outset I want to assure the Deputy that it is absolutely my intention that the Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) will be established as soon as practicable. The Partnerships are the cornerstone of our policy on community safety and so it is vital we get them up and running so that they can begin work on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy it is my intention to continue the investment in the end-to-end international protection process to speed up decision making. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities across Ireland is a top priority for the Government and my Department. The Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, guided by the whole of Government national drugs and alcohol strategy. While this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cybersecurity Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department continuously evaluates and adapts its strategies to deal with ongoing cyber threats to Irish citizens and our essential national infrastructure. We are at an advanced stage of drafting the National Cyber Security Bill which will ensure a significant increase in the cyber security and resilience of the most essential sectors of Irish society. The National Cyber Security Centre,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to full time equivalents directly employed by my Department is set out in the table below. Grade FTE Secretary General 1 Deputy Secretary 2 Assistant Secretary 12 Director 3 Principal Officer ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: All IT functions in my Department, including cyber security, are led and managed by civil servants of the Department. Where specific expertise is not available internally, these teams are supported by specialist contractors to ensure continuity of service and access to critical skills. My Department is committed to developing IT staff capability in line with Connecting Government 2030 - A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and to feel safe in their communities. Community CCTV plays an important role in achieving this goal. Since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ireland opted into the Temporary Protection Directive on 11 April 2003. Under Article 4 of the Temporary Protection Directive, where the reasons for temporary protection persist, the Council may decide by a qualified majority, on a proposal from the Commission to extend temporary protection for a further year. Similarly, the Council may at any time decide by a qualified majority to end...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2127 and 2128 together. An Garda Síochána publishes data on the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for each Garda station in the country. This can be found at the following link: The Deputy can access data dealing with the “Community Garda by Division 2008 to 30 May 2025” for a breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2129, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135 and 2136 together. In line with Programme for Government commitments to deliver 1500 additional prison spaces, €495m is being allocated to the Irish Prison Service under the NDP for 2026-2030 with projects planned at Castlerea, Cloverhill, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, Wheatfield, Midlands, Dóchas and the old Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Details of properties owned by my Department that are currently vacant is provided in the below table. Property Address Westview House Audley’s Place, Cork City Old Cork Prison Rathmore Road, Cork City Thornton Hall Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin The Westview House property in Cork City is...