James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The increase in knife seizures comes as a result of greater targeted efforts by An Garda Síochána in trying to get knives off our streets as opposed to indicating an increase in crime rates. As I stated, the number of people requiring an overnight stay in hospital because of knife injuries is down significantly, indicating that the number of serious incidents is reducing. I will make inquiries on the Deputy's comment that the rate of hospitalisations has increased by 10%.

Knife crime is largely youth-oriented and we have published a draft youth strategy. We hope to refine it and have it published in final form in the next month or two. That will help to target those vulnerable young people who are exposed to knife crime and perhaps getting involved in those kinds of incidents. It is about redirecting them and education and awareness programmes will be very much part of that process.

See this speech in context