Written Answers
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20 November 2019 Written Answers. The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised]. Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, answered orally. 20/11/2019WRA00500State Visits 20/11/2019WRA0060012. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the area of the bud- get of An Garda Síochána from which the estimated €15 to €18 million cost of the visits of the President and Vice-President of the United States of America will come from; the details of the expenditure in view of the high cost and the fact that the visits were of a short duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47533/19] 20/11/2019WRA00700Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The Deputy will appreci- ate that high level visits to Ireland are of significant importance in the development and main- tenance of our relations with other States. Such visits are to be welcomed and offer important opportunities to us, as a small outward-looking State, for positive engagement with partners. In terms of the cost associated with the visit to Ireland of President Trump and Vice Presi- dent Pence, the Deputy will appreciate that there is an obligation on the State to take appropri- ate measures to ensure the safety of every visiting dignitary, in line with risk assessment. Simi- lar measures and courtesies are as a matter of course also extended to Ireland, when members of Government travel on official visits to other States. The Garda authorities have informed me that the costs compiled to date in respect of Presi- dent Trump’s visit total approximately €11.5 million. I understand that the cost of Vice Presi- dent Pence’s visit stands at approximately €3 million. Such costs arise across a number of sub- heads, generally including salary including overtime, travel and subsistence, communications costs, equipment costs, station services and so on. As I have previously indicated, additional funding will be provided to the Garda Vote before the end of this year to meet the costs to An Garda Síochána associated with the visits. I am grateful to my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for taking this into account. 20/11/2019WRA00800Direct Provision System 20/11/2019WRA0090013. Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ad- dress the number of persons living in direct provision centres; his further plans to cease using hotels as emergency centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47798/19] 1 Questions - Written Answers 20/11/2019WRA01000Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy David Stanton): As the Deputy will be aware, the State has a legal obligation to offer accommodation, food and a range of other services (including utilities and healthcare etc.) to any person who claims a right to international protection in Ireland while their legal claim is being examined. These services are demand led and generally it is difficult to predict demand far in advance. I am advised that as of 10 November 2019, there were 6,052 persons being provided with accommodation by my Department in the 39 accommodation centres located nationwide. Due to an unexpected rise in applications (up 60% to date this year), these centres are at full capacity, therefore a further 1,523 persons are residing in 37 emergency accommodation loca- tions in hotels and guest houses. Every effort is being made to re-accommodate applicants in emergency locations to a dedicated accommodation centre as quickly as possible. To meet the associated increase in demand for accommodation, my Department has initiated two processes to source additional accommodation. Firstly, we have sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in pro- viding accommodation and related services to people in the international protection process. Premises assessed as suitable under this process may be offered a short-term contract (usually one year). Secondly, we have run procurement competitions through the Government’s procurement portal, Etenders, on a regional basis throughout the country to procure accommodation. These contracts will be longer term with a minimum contract duration of 2 years on offer and a maxi- mum contract duration of 4 years. My Department is committed to reducing the length of time applicants spend in the inter- national protection process, and has introduced a number of measures aimed at achieving this. The International Protection Act, 2015, introduced the single procedure process for the de- termination of protection applications. The aim of the single procedure process is to help reduce waiting times significantly by considering all elements of a person’s protection claim together, rather than sequentially. In addition, a number of other measures have and are being taken including increases in staffing levels at the International Protection Office (IPO) and a new streamlined system for processing Safe Country of Origin (SCO) cases. An applicant who applies for international protection today can expect to receive a first instance recommendation/decision within approximately 15 months, provided no complica- tions arise. Prioritised cases are being processed in just under 9 months. Prioritised applications include those from countries such as Syria and Eritrea and from especially vulnerable groups of applicants, such as unaccompanied minors. My Department is working hard to try to achieve target of 9 month in the vast majority of cases. I can also say that my Department has, in conjunction with a number of charities and NGOs who were awarded funding for projects, assisted a total of 675 people to transit from state provided accommodation to permanent homes in the community. This figure relates to the pe- riod from the beginning of the year to the end of October. My Department also secured an additional €1m in Budget 2020 for Immigration Service Delivery which includes provision for additional staffing to fast-track applications thus reduc- ing pressure on Direct Provision. 2 20 November 2019 20/11/2019WRA01100Court Accommodation Provision 20/11/2019WRA0120014. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the OPW has carried out a recent assessment of Carndonagh courthouse, Carndonagh, County Donegal; if issues have been identified; his plans to remedy same; the timeframe involved; if the OPW will work with the Courts Service to ensure a temporary venue is made available in Carndonagh and that court sittings continue to be held in Carndonagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47796/19] 20/11/2019WRA01300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Charles Flanagan): As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, includ- ing the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and been advised by the Courts Service that immediate health and safety issues were identified by the Of- fice of Public Works following an inspection of Carndonagh Courthouse. Unfortunately, court hearings could not continue at the courthouse in the short term. The Courts Service is undertaking condition surveys of approximately 65 courthouses na- tionwide. In view of the circumstances in Carndonagh, priority has been given to this court- house and I understand that the survey was carried out on the 30th October 2019. However, the Courts Service await the structural report from this review before any decision can be made on works to Carndonagh Courthouse. I understand the sitting of Carndonagh District Court which sits once per month has been transferred to the nearest Courthouse, Buncrana Courthouse, just under 20 kilometres distance from Carndonagh. Carndonagh District Court will continue to sit in Buncrana Courthouse until the review is complete. 20/11/2019WRA01400Cyberbullying Issues 20/11/2019WRA0150015. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to re- vise harassment laws here taking into consideration the impact of cyberbullying on the mental health of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47527/19] 20/11/2019WRA01600Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I appreciate the deeply harmful effects which cyberbullying can have on persons who experience that or other harmful online behaviours. These experiences can be devastating for those concerned. In that context, I welcome the successful conviction last week in the Dublin Circuit Crimi- nal Court of a man for a sustained campaign of harassment conducted against a number of female journalists and writers. It is important to see successful use of the criminal law in such cases, as I am conscious of the potential for a chilling effect in relation to these matters, includ- ing in particular for women and female candidates for election. A whole-of-government response is appropriate to addressing these complex issues. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government’s Action Plan for Online Safety 2018 - 2019 identifies a range of positive actions to address online safety issues, including cyber-bullying. There is a general consensus that the appropriate response to addressing such online issues is one that encompasses educational and awareness raising campaigns, as well as effective actions and policies on the part of internet companies. 3 Questions - Written Answers In relation to harassment laws specifically, the Deputy may be aware that the Law Reform Commission published a report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety in 2016 which recommended a number of legislative changes in order to deal more effectively with the nega- tive aspects of increased use of online communications. Many of the recommendations outlined in this report were provided for in a Private Mem- bers Bill sponsored by Deputy Brendan Howlin - the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017.