​Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has welcomed the release of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa from Egyptian prison late last night.


Commenting on his release O’Brien said, “I and my colleagues in Fianna Fáil are relieved and delighted to learn of Ibrahim’s release from prison.


“As part of a cross-party delegation, I had the opportunity to visit Ibrahim in prison some months ago and I am glad that this long, challenging and arduous journey for Ibrahim and his family has finally come to an end.


“Ibrahim’s family, friends and particularly his sisters tirelessly campaigned for his release and we must now ensure that Ibrahim is returned to Ireland as soon as feasibly possible so he can be reunited with his loved ones.


“I very much commend the work of the Ambassador and his team in the Embassy in Cairo, together with the magnificent efforts of our diplomatic staff here in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.


He concluded, “I look forward to his return to Dublin in the coming days.”

​QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will instruct his department and the relevant bodies to come to a timely agreement on the location of a secondary school (details supplied) in Malahide and Portmarnock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) educate together

REPLY

As the Deputy is aware, the project for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.
Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this school.  As with other site acquisitions in the area, due to the scarcity of suitable sites this process has proven to be quite challenging and in that context has taken some time to date. Potential site options have been identified. 
Officials from my Department are due to meet with senior officials in Fingal County Council shortly to discuss. 

​QUESTION


* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each garda station in the Dublin northern division and in the Dublin western division as of 30 September 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to each division since recruitment resumed in 2014.

- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19 October, 2017.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each garda station in the Dublin southern division and in the Dublin eastern division as of 30 September 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to each division since recruitment resumed in 2014.

- John Lahart T.D.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19 October, 2017.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each garda station in the Dublin north central division and in the Dublin south central division as of 30 September 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to each division since recruitment resumed in 2014.

- Seán Haughey T.D.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19 October, 2017.


REPLY

I should say at the outset that the distribution of Gardaí is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner.
I can say however that this Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime.  The substantial increase in Garda numbers is tangible progress on achieving this  Government's vision of an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
I am pleased to say that Budget 2018 will support the continuation of this high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. A further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College, an additional 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training early in 2018.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána.  We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including the Divisions of the Dublin Metropolitan Region, in the coming years.
Notwithstanding the Commissioner's responsibility for the distribution of Gardaí, I have provided for the record a breakdown of the detailed information requested by the Deputy in tabular form in relation to the number of Gardaí allocated to each Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region as of 31 August 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, as provided by the Garda Commissioner. 
The Garda Divisions referred to form the Dublin Metropolitan Region and I am informed by the Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Region on that date was 3,467. There are also 181 Garda Reserves and 208 civilians attached to the Region. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. 
I am further informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 631 of whom have been assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region.  I have also provided in tabular form a breakdown of the allocation of these new recruits by Division within the DMR. In addition, another 200 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest later this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.  

To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when grant aid under the sports capital grant programme 2017 will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.　
　

REPLY
　
The 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. The level of demand means that the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.　
All of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks

edit.

QUESTION
Question No. 206　

Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas　
　
To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the detail of the report that has been commissioned by the government to examine barriers experienced by persons that emigrated and wish to return here; the expected publication date of this report; the cost of commissioning it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.　
- Darragh O'Brien.　
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd October, 2017.　
Ref No: 41278/17　

REPLY　
Indecon was appointed to this project following a competitive tendering process undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The report will focus on identifying solutions to disproportionate or unnecessary administrative burdens that negatively affect people wishing to return to Ireland to live. 　
This economic report will complement the work that the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad has already done in this area, and in particular, the report will review and propose measures to address difficulties in areas that are not immediately within the remit of Departments to alleviate. The report will inform Government policy and actions in relation to difficulties it finds. 　
Indecon (Ireland) will be paid €73,627.80 for the report and this will be financed from the Department’s budget for diaspora affairs.　
The report is expected to be published before the end of the year. 　
Anyone wishing to highlight an example of a specific administrative difficulty they may have experienced in moving home to Ireland, that could be of relevance in the context of this report, is invited to write to the Irish Abroad Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or email [email protected].

Question

Question No. 205　
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas　
　
To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken by his department to facilitate Irish persons living abroad return here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.　
- Darragh O'Brien.　
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd October, 2017.　
Ref No: 41277/17　　

REPLY　
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Emigrant Support Programme, provides significant funding and support to organisations, including Crosscare Migrant Project and Safe Home Ireland, which work with citizens who wish to return to Ireland. Over the last decade over €4 million has been allocated to Irish based organisations working with returning emigrants.　
In addition, the Minister of State for the Diaspora chairs the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad which works to ensure that Government works in a joined up way to realise the objectives of our Diaspora Strategy. This includes addressing issued affecting the Irish abroad and those seeking to return.　
Over the past year the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad has focused its work on addressing government procedures reported to be negatively affecting returning Irish emigrants. Work is continuing in a number of Departments on addressing issues that have been raised at the Interdepartmental Committee. 　
To build on the work of this Committee in addressing such barriers the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has commissioned an economic report on barriers to return. In particular, the report will review and propose measures to address difficulties in areas that are not immediately within the remit of Departments to alleviate. The report will inform Government policy and actions in relation to difficulties it finds.　
In addition to assisting to address potential barriers, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is always looking for new and innovative ways to assist Irish people abroad and those returning. 　
To support returning emigrants in a practical way, the Department has established a mentoring programme for returning emigrants to help them set up business in Ireland and contribute fully to local communities and economies across the country. The programme will be open for applications next month.