Written answers

Tuesday, 27 February 2024

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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332. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average wait time for garda attendances at a scene, following a call to both emergency services and local Garda stations, in each county. [8753/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including responses by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy which ensures that Garda resources are available to respond to calls for service from the public, including situations where a local resource is not immediately available.

Calls for service, whether received through a local Garda station or the 999 ECAS system, are routed through the Regional Control Rooms and prioritised for response. Higher priority calls will always take priority over lower priority calls.

The Garda authorities inform me that An Garda Síochána aim to answer 80% of 999 calls within 7 seconds and deploy resources immediately giving an estimated time of arrival. An Garda Síochána will take appropriate steps to deal with all incidents and ensure that emergency and life threatening calls receive priority. They will endeavour to get to callers within 15 minutes in urban locations and as soon as possible, given the distance to be travelled, in more rural areas.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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333. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) has been requested to supply another statutory declaration, different to the original one supplied with their application and proof of residency having already completed their e-vetting request; if this was sent in error; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8818/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to by the Deputy has been requested to supply an updated statutory declaration in support of their application for naturalisation.

This document has been requested as the initial application relied on a Stamp 2 immigration permission as part of their overall reckonable residency. As the Stamp 2 is not reckonable for residency purposes, the person concerned did not meet the required permissions on the date of their application. Since the application has been received the applicant has accrued sufficient reckonable residency.

With this in mind, the Citizenship Division of my Department have requested a new statutory declaration, with supporting documents up to the date the statutory declaration is signed, in order for their application to proceed.

This was outlined to the applicant in a letter issued from the Division on 14 February 2024.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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334. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) is required to complete another on-line e-vetting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8840/24]

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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337. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how long the e-vetting process takes in the naturalisation process; the length of time for which e-vetting is valid; if she is aware of the issue with inputting the county on the on-line form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8843/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 337 together.

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.

I am advised by my Citizenship Division that the eVetting of the person concerned has been submitted to the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) and no action is required of the individual.

I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that the current average turnaround time for processing vetting applications is 4 working days for 85% for all GNVB applications.

If any applicant has an issue with the digital forms they can contact Citizenship Division directly at citizenshipinfo@justice.ie

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

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