Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

Departmental Data

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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716. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of funding for one youth diversion programme per year, including capital costs in tabular form. [34064/22]

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based projects that offer vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. There are currently 105 YDPs across the State. The Projects are funded through my Department; however as the Deputy may appreciate, the funding needs of individual YDPs differ based on a range of criteria, such as the geographical area in which the Project operates, the number of referrals to the YDP and the number of the 'hard to reach' cohort of these referrals, amongst others. 

My Department offers funding appropriate to the needs of each YDP and as determined by standard budgetary processes. Funding fluctuates based upon the YDPs' determination of their needs against the available budget for Youth Justice services annually. Therefore it is not possible to provide the estimated cost for funding one YDP for a year.

To be of assistance, however, the average amount of funding allocated to YDPs in 2021 was €174,000. This includes all funding provided by the Department. 

Budget 2022 provides an additional €6.7 million in funding for Youth Justice services. I announced on 22 June that over 50 YDPs will benefit from this additional funding to:

- extend the boundaries of some YDPs to increase coverage, as provided for in the Youth Justice Strategy;

- increase funding to engage with the harder to reach cohort of referrals;

- provide additional early intervention supports;

- provide family supports to the relatives of those young people engaged with the YDPs;

- further develop the Solas initiative in Dublin.

Of this €6.7million, approximately €780,000 has been set aside to establish a limited number of additional YDPs this year to ensure that the service is available to every child or young person in the State who would benefit from it.

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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717. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of hiring an additional 100 staff to the probation service. [34065/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The below table sets out the information requested by the Deputy, in the format requested by the Deputy, namely an estimated cost of hiring an additional 100 staff to the Probation Service. This estimate is broken down into the numbers and specific grades requested by the Deputy. It should be noted that resources would not, in the normal course, be recruited or assigned on the basis set out in response to this PQ as it would not necessarily meet the operational requirements of the organisation.

Number of  Staff Grade Average annual salary (including ER PRSI) per person Cost by number
x10 Probation Officer €54,180.18 €541,801.85
x10 Senior Probation Officer €76,816.06 €768,160.61
x10 Clerical Officer €36,004.08 €360,040.76
x10 Community Service Supervisor €44,041.43 €440,414.30
x10 Executive Officer €45,172.92 €451,729.20
x10 Higher Executive Officer €61,414.54 €614,145.37
x10 Service Officer €30,585.17 €305,851.69
x10 Assistant Principal Officer €84,846.64 €848,466.42
x10 Assistant Principal Probation Officer €89,025.45 €890,254.50
x10 Assistant Director €96,555.75 €965,557.54
TOTAL €6,186,422.23

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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718. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of providing administrative support to the current restorative justice programme, including all associated costs such as capital costs et cetera. [34066/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Restorative justice is a criminal justice process which has been shown to help victims recover from crime, reduce reoffending and save public resources and it is now widely accepted that restorative justice is compatible with the traditional criminal justice systems of both common law and civil law jurisdictions.

The Programme for Government commitment to deliver restorative justice safely and effectively is one of the strategic objectives for my Department over the next three years. Five high level actions were identified and outlined in the Justice Plan 2021, four of which have been completed to date.

The Department of Justice funded a group of restorative justice experts and researchers to map the delivery of restorative justice in Ireland, and to publish their findings on a new website. This website was launched in January 2021. It includes the findings of a mapping exercise, and around 35 case studies illustrating the use of restorative justice and restorative practices in criminal justice settings, among other resources.

Policy options have been developed for an appropriate mechanism and process to create awareness and availability of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice system, with consistency of service ensuring quality in training and practice. My Department is currently finalising a policy paper in this regard and intends to publish policy proposals soon.

Following publication of the policy paper and consideration of its contents, the next steps to delivering a mechanism and process to create greater awareness and availability of Restorative Justice interventions at all stages of the criminal justice system will involve the development of an Implementation Plan, in line with Action 98 in Justice Plan 2022.

Ireland is part of a Council of Europe initiative (Restorative Justice: Strategies for Change - RJS4C), which supports the development of restorative justice in 10 countries in Europe. Project partners collaborate with a stakeholder group of policymakers, practitioners, researchers, activists and other parties to co-create and implement new national strategies. The Irish project team comprises academics and a staff member of the Probation Service.

In October 2018, the Probation Service established a National Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit which provides support and training to Probation teams across the country. This Unit is located in the Probation Service Headquarters in Haymarket, Dublin 7 and comprises a small team including 1 Assistant Principal Probation Officer, 1 Senior Probation Officer and 1 Probation Officer.

The Unit provides leadership and support for the consistent and integrated provision of a range of restorative justice models including family/restorative conference, offender reparation panel, victim offender mediation and ‘bespoke’ restorative interventions. The Unit also provides a central point of contact for an effective response to victim queries and requests.

The estimated operating cost of the Restorative Justice & Victims Services Unit per year is €220,021.70. A breakdown of this cost is displayed in the below in Table A.

Table A - Cost of Existing Staff – Restorative Justice & Victims Services Unit

Officer Cost
1x Assistant Principal Probation Officer €89,025.45
1x Senior Probation Officer €76,816.06
1x Probation Officer €54,180.18
TOTAL €220,021.70

In addition to direct support and training provided by the Restorative Justice and Victims Services Unit, the Probation Service provides €627,000 in funding to four community-based organisations to provide dedicated restorative justice programmes. Details of the CBOs and their funding allocations can be seen in Table B.

Other Probation Service funded CBOs use restorative approaches in their work with clients to promote respectful relationships and address the harm caused by their offending.

Table B

CBO Name Location Description of Service Funding Allocation
Restorative Justice Services Dublin Funding allocated to Restorative Justice Services in 2022 €396,000
Restorative Justice in the Community Tipperary, Laois & Offaly Funding allocated to Restorative Justice in the Community in 2022 €163,000
Le Chéile Limerick Funding allocated to Le Chéile for the Restorative Justice Project Worker in 2022 €43,261
Wexford (Cornmarket) Wexford Funding allocated to Cornmarket for Project Worker for Restorative Justice Service and Probation Clients €24,947.93*
TOTAL €627,000

* The total salary for this project worker is €49,895.86 (basic salary €44,931 + PRSI €4,964.86). For the purpose of this response, this figure shown is 50% of the salary as the project worker deals with restorative justice work 50% of the time and probation client referrals the other 50% of the time.

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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719. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of hiring an additional 10% staff to the Irish Prison Service per annum, including all associated costs such as uniforms et cetera. [34067/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the recruitment of an additional 10% of staff to the Service would amount to approximately 300 Recruit Prison Officers (RPOs) per annum.

The estimated full year cost of basic pay for 300 new RPOs, as per the entry point of the most recent pay scale of 1 February 2022, would be of the order of €11.3m. A breakdown of this cost is outlined in Table 1.

The vast majority of RPOs are assigned to the 360 Hours Additional Hours (AH) band, and the cost of same per RPO is set out in Table 2. The Deputy may wish to note that premium payments are an average figure and the level of such payments payable to any officer will depend on individual deployment and work patterns

Based on the average AH and premium payments outlined in the table for a single RPO, the total estimated additional costs in terms of AH and Premium Payment for 300 RPOs would be in the region of €6.1.m per annum. This is outlined in Table 3.

The combined cost of pay, AH and allowances for 300 RPOs over a full year is in the region of €17.4m.  All figures quoted are inclusive of employer's PRSI, which amounts to approximately 10% of the overall cost.

In addition to the above pay costs, there are a number of ancillary non pay costs associated with the recruitment of a single RPO, such as training, uniform costs, subsistence and accommodation costs, etc.  These costs are set out in Table 4.

Therefore the total overall costs, both pay and non-pay, of recruiting 300 RPO’s to the Service over a full year based on current pay rates, conditions and assumptions outlined above would be of the order of €19.4m. Pay costs would increase in subsequent years in line with incremental progression.

The recruitment of RPO's  by the Service has been ongoing since 2017, and has regard to such factors as service needs and exit levels from the organisation. In 2021, 133 RPO's were recruited and in 2022, it is expected that a total of 138 Officers will be recruited.

Table 1. Basic Salary cost RPO.

Basic Salary Cost  - RPOs Point 1
Salary €31,337
Operational - 8% of Basic salary €2,507
ER PRSI €3,740
1 RPO €37,584
300 RPOs €11,275,115

Table 2 AH and Premium Payments - RPO Per Year.

AH & Premium Payments - For 1 RPO Per Year
AH Band 3 -360 Hours per annum €9,491.71
Premium Payments (e.g. Sunday, Night Work etc) €8,869.58
ER PRSI €2,028.92

Table 3 - Cost for 300 RPOs Per Year.

For 300 RPOs Per Year
AH Band 3 €2,847,513
Premium Payments €2,660,874
ER PRSI €608,677

Table 4 Training Costs

Training (Completion of Higher Certificate in Custodial Care – HCCC – mandatory for all RPOs). €4,188.00
Provision of Uniform. €642.03
Subsistence, Food, Accommodation for duration of training period. €1,815.00
Total current Cost per RPO €6,645.03
Total current Cost 300 RPO €1,993,509.00

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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720. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of providing one fully qualified psychotherapist to one crime victim support service per annum, such as one service (details supplied) funded by the Department of Justice. [34068/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought information on this issue raised by the Deputy from Tusla but the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand. 

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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721. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of providing one fully qualified psychotherapist to one domestic violence survivor support service per annum, such as one service (details supplied) funded by her Department. [34069/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought information on this issue raised by the Deputy from Tusla but the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand. 

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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722. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of establishing one domestic violence refuge in Roscommon, including all associated costs such as staffing, resourcing, capital spend et cetera. [34070/22]

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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723. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of funding one domestic violence refuge in Cork per year, including all associated costs such as staffing, resourcing, capital spend et cetera. [34071/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 723 together.

It is my intention that every person who needs a refuge space will have access to one.

As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla published a review of accommodation for victims of domestic violence in February 2022.

Implementation of findings from this review is being led by my Department and will be taken forward in the context of the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Addressing the range of needs for those who experience domestic violence, particularly for people with complex or additional needs, is identified as a recommendation from the domestic violence accommodation review, and relevant actions are included within the forthcoming national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

To date, funding the revenue cost of refuge services has been provided through Tusla. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Housing Authorities have been key stakeholders around capital funding of new refuge developments.

In 2022 Tusla has allocated a total of €164,354.40 to Roscommon Safe Link for the provision of services to those fleeing domestic violence.

Also in 2022, Tusla has allocated a total of €1,538,319.46 to the Domestic Violence Service providers in Cork for service provision to those fleeing domestic violence. This includes funding to Cuanlee Refuge of €510,999.

There are many factors which influence the average cost of funding one domestic violence refuge, including location and age of a building, maintenance, number of units, type of units, on site services for clients, security, number, and range of staff needed. This, along with the role of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Housing Authorities in capital resources, means there can be substantial variation in the average costs of refuge provision.

Tusla will work with the interdepartmental group established under the aegis of the Minister for Justice to consider implementation of findings from the domestic violence accommodation review.

Tusla acknowledges the need to increase the provision of refuges and that key to this will be ensuring organisations can access funding.

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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724. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of hiring increasing International Protection Office staff by 10% per annum. [34072/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The total estimated cost of increasing the overall staff levels in the International Protection Office by 10% is €745,673, based on the current staff costs of €7,456,736 per annum. 

The Deputy may wish to note that this estimated cost includes employer’s PRSI contribution at 11.05% per annum in line with PRSI rates published on GOV.ie at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ffa563-prsi-class-a-rates/.

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