Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are targeted measures in place to reduce the prevalence of illegal fireworks both nationally and locally, and particularly in Dublin North-West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54149/25]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister of State make a statement to the House on targeted measures that may be put in place to reduce the prevalence of illegal fireworks, locally and nationally?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the question. We are well aware of the misery and distress the use of illegal fireworks can cause around this time of year. We also hear and see enough to know that they pose a real risk to the health and safety of young people and to the elderly and vulnerable. They also terrify family pets, service dogs and other animals.

Our Department runs an annual awareness campaign that seeks to inform and educate the public about the serious dangers associated with fireworks and the penalties people can face for selling or using them. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, was pleased to launch that campaign two weeks ago at the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre.

In addition to this awareness raising work in the run up to Hallowe'en, very good work is undertaken by local authorities and community groups to organise safe, fun events for children and young people in our communities around Hallowe'en. The Deputy will be familiar with the Finglas Fright Night and the Otherworld Hallowe'en Festival in Ballymun. I also very much welcome the return of the Big Scream festival in Dublin’s north inner city and the Bram Stoker festival supported by Dublin City Council.

An Garda Síochána's Operation Tombola combats the illegal importation, sale and use of fireworks through a nationwide policing plan focused on the prevention and detection of the sale of fireworks and associated public order and antisocial behaviour issues during the Hallowe'en period. The operation encompasses all aspects of the policing of the Hallowe'en period each year. It combats the importation, sale and distribution of illegal fireworks through intelligence-led operations, searches and seizures, as well as focusing on preventing associated public disorder and antisocial behaviour. Over the past decade, under Operation Tombola, the Garda has carried out 1,218 fireworks seizures.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. He is correct that we are heading into the autumn season and Hallowe'en festivities. Increasingly every year, that season opens earlier. I heard reports in late August of this year of fireworks being used in my area.

The Minister of State outlined the impact that fireworks had on animals, family pets, livestock and so on. They have an impact on other children as well, who feel less safe, particularly on Hallowe'en night. There is also a danger to people because, effectively, these are unregulated illegal products. They pose a danger.

Are the penalties in place, particularly for importation and sale, sufficient? They currently stand at €10,000 or up to five years' imprisonment. If one were to go to any part of Dublin in the next couple of weeks, one would not know that fireworks were illegal. I accept it is a complicated matter but I believe we need to review the penalties involved.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I accept what the Deputy said about the season starting earlier and earlier each year, which is regrettable. That is true of the community in which I live, which is a rural part of Limerick. Some elderly neighbours were very put out by it.

Under Operation Tombola, the Garda has carried out 1,218 fireworks seizures to an estimated value of €225,000. These seizures have undoubtedly contributed to reducing the harm associated with the illegal use of fireworks. The penalties for importing, selling or using unlicensed fireworks are significant and Part 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides the Garda with the power to arrest people found with unlicensed fireworks and sets out significant penalties on conviction, as the Deputy alluded to, including fines up to €10,000 or up to five years' imprisonment for possession with intent to sell or supply.

There is some amount of regulation in the area. I will write to the Deputy after this session to inform him what we have in the area of regulation.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I would welcome that correspondence. I point out the considerable work of Dublin Fire Brigade in trying to dissuade people. I also acknowledge the work of the local authorities, particularly Dublin City Council, in respect of pro-social activity. I encourage anybody in the city to come to either the Finglas Fright Night or the Ballymun Otherworld festival. They are fantastic family-fun events that are packed with culture and lots of local community celebrations. They are very positive. They have effectively eliminated bonfires in our area by providing an alternative.

The issue of fireworks is complex. We do not necessarily want to be displacing significant amounts of Garda time, which we know is under pressure in a range of other areas.

It is a difficult situation for people to accept, namely that something is illegal and the law is being broken in such a significant way. Perhaps a review by the Department of this area is required.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to make the point to the Deputy that we are in the process of establishing local community safety partnerships throughout the country. That is a step up or ramping up of the former joint policing committees. I know the Deputy is aware that 36 community safety partnerships will be stood up. They are in the process. Some are up and running and some have had their first meeting. Many of the local authorities are in the process of finally pulling together and populating them. They will have broader stakeholder and community representation than the previous joint policing committees, so there will be opportunities for residents' associations, community groups, local authority members and members of An Garda Síochána to all play a meaningful role. They will be supported by full-time administrative staff, funded by the Department of justice and working with our local authorities. That will be another very important forum to deal with this issue.