Results 15,221-15,240 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Witness Protection Programme: Witness Protection Programme (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The witness security programme was established in 1997, in response to the activities of organised criminal gangs, to facilitate people who are prepared to give evidence against alleged offenders. The programme continues to operate under the direct control and administration of the Garda Commissioner. It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to comment on...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question was recently granted permission to reside in the State for a further period of six months following consideration of all the circumstances particular to his case. Notification of this issued on 3 May 2005. This permission to reside does not however extend to the two adult family members referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, EOCP, was submitted by the group in question to my Department in September 2004. The EOCP is a seven year development programme which aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and training. This application has...

Written Answers — Departmental Building Projects: Departmental Building Projects (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is endeavouring to purchase a site, the subject of this question, from Kildare County Council. I wish to confirm that funding is available from my Department for the purchase of the site and for the building of a premises to meet the needs of the project in question. Planning permission has been obtained in accordance with the plans and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, EOCP, is a seven year development programme and provides grant assistance towards the staffing costs of community based not for profit child care services which have a clear focus on disadvantage and which can demonstrate that they are supporting disadvantaged parents to access employment, education or training. The Deputy may be aware...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 258 on 18 May 2005 regarding the permanent placement of staff temporarily assigned to other institutions as a result of the closure of Fort Mitchel place of detention. The position regarding permanent placement for the staff temporarily assigned to other institutions as a result of the closure of Fort Mitchel place of detention is currently...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I have already stated, as a result of the rejection by the members of the Prisoner Officers Association of the proposal for organisational change in the Prison Service, I have instructed the director general of the Prison Service to immediately close the current facilities on Spike Island and at the Curragh. The Deputy will be aware that, following on the Government decision of November...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 145 and 146 together. It has not been possible within the timeframe available to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Athy Garda station as at 17 May 2005 was 16, all ranks. Athy Garda station is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and there is a mobile patrol which patrols the Athy sub-district, dealing with and responding to calls on a...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for first registration which was lodged on 17 June, 2004. Dealing number D2004SM005092P refers. I am further informed that a reply was received on 3 May 2005 to queries which had issued to the lodging solicitors on 22 June 2004. I am also informed that further queries issued to the lodging solicitors on 17 May 2005 and that...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications for naturalisation on behalf of Wayne and Ryan Campbell were received in the citizenship section of my Department in September 1999. My predecessor as Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, considered their applications under the terms of Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956 and 1986 and decided not to grant certificates of naturalisation in these instances. These decisions were...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Questions Nos. 726 and 781 on Wednesday, 26 January 2005 and Question No. 129 on Thursday, 14 April 2005. The person concerned is awaiting deportation following a comprehensive examination of her asylum claim and of her application to remain temporarily in the State. Representations made regarding her medical condition, while not deemed to...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has no record of the most recent visa application to which the Deputy is referring reference number 0231150. However, an application with reference number 1516744 in respect of a person of the same name and date of birth as the applicant referred to, was approved under the delegated sanction scheme by the Department of Foreign Affairs on behalf of my Department in January 2005....

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 150 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Carlow-Kildare division as at 31 December 2002, 2003, 2004 and as at 18 May 2005 is as follows: Date Strength 31/12/2002 323 31/12/2003 323 31/12/2004 323 ...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of vehicles allocated to the division are as follows: Vehicle Type Number Car 37 Van/Personnel Carrier 3 Motorcycle 5 4x4 1 I am further informed that the Kildare-Carlow division has a fleet of modern vehicles and that the average age of vehicles in this division is 2.25 years. Transport resources are allocated by...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 11 interview rooms in six Garda stations in the Carlow-Kildare Garda division which have been equipped with the specialised audio-video equipment for the recording of Garda questioning of detained persons. I understand from the Garda authorities that a working group is examining the extension of these facilities to other Garda stations.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department in July, 2004. The average processing time for such applications is currently 24 months. It is likely therefore that a decision will be made in this case sometime around July, 2006. I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy as soon as I...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (18 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Garda authorities have informed me that high priority is given to the policing of anti-social behaviour. In Dublin, Operation Encounter is a Garda initiative aimed at providing high visibility Garda foot patrols in areas where large numbers of people socialise late at night and in the early morning. It is aimed at dealing effectively with public order issues, especially problems associated...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (18 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Garda authorities have informed me that the Garda mountain bike unit was introduced on a pilot basis on 5 June 2001 in the Tallaght and Raheny Garda districts of the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR. In February 2002 a review conducted by the Garda authorities found that the deployment of Garda personnel on mountain bikes was successful in tackling and responding to certain types of offences....

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (18 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State, based on marriage to an Irish national, was received from the person concerned in September 2004. To ensure fairness, applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 months to process.