Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 has been used to date by the Garda Síochána; the number of times the object referred to in the legislation has been a caravan or other temporary dwelling; if it has been used principally to address unauthorised camping by members of the Traveller community, as was suggested it would be when the legislation was introduced; the number of times the use of the legislation has resulted in court proceedings; the number of times a caravan or caravans has or have been confiscated and impounded by the Garda under the powers conferred by the legislation; and the breakdown of these figures by Garda divisional areas. [13458/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times the powers granted to the Garda Síochána under section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 have been invoked by members of the Garda Síochána; the number of times any such invocation has resulted in arrest or charge; the breakdown of this figure by Garda division; the number of times such arrest or charge resulted in subsequent court prosecution or conviction; the breakdown of this figure by Garda division; the number of times a caravan or caravans has or have been confiscated and impounded under the legislation; the breakdown of this figure by Garda division; the categories of classification which are used in the statistics and records maintained regarding the identity of persons against whom section 24 powers have been invoked; if categories of classification referred to in the statistics and records maintained identify a class of persons affected as Travellers, the number of such Travellers who have been identified in the statistics as affected by the section; if categories of classification referred to in the statistics and records maintained identify classes of persons as non-Traveller, the number of such non-Travellers who have been identified in the statistics as affected by the section; if no such categories of classification are apparent from the statistics, if he proposes to direct that such categories now be compiled to ascertain the impact of the legislation on the Traveller community; and the provisions which have been made administratively for guidance and oversight for members of the Garda Síochána in the invocation of this provision. [13459/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the directions consideration or administrative guidelines which have been put in place by him or the Garda Commissioner regarding the disposal and storage of property seized under section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. [13460/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 to 392, inclusive, together.

The most recent figures for the numbers of incidents recorded by the Garda Síochána under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 for the years 2002 to 2004 are set out by Garda division in the following tables. Section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 became law on 27 June 2002. The Garda authorities inform me that no temporary dwellings were removed during 2002 and 2003. The provisional figures for 2004 show one removal in the Clare division and two removals in the Cork city division, all relating to caravans.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested on the identification of classes of people as Travellers or non-Travellers affected by the introduction of the legislation and the information requested on the principal use of the powers being used against the Traveller community is not readily available and could only be provided by a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.

Following the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 copies of the legislation were disseminated to members of the Garda Síochána. The power provided for in section 24 is a discretionary power and each case must be considered by local Garda management on its own merits and acted upon accordingly.

Statistics for 2004 are provisional or operational and liable to change.