John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 23 June 2011, the reason the statistical information sought is not readily available, in view of the fact that considerable expenditure has been incurred by the taxpayer in upgrading the PULSE system for the new firearms licensing system and the fact that the information sought must have been available to the Garda Commissioner to have enabled him to lay his report on the operation of the licensing system before Dáil Éireann; when the statistical information sought will be available to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21577/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that my officials have recently written to Deputy McConalogue with the information requested in his Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 23 June 2011.

At my request, the Garda Authorities have provided the following table detailing the number of applications for restricted firearms certificates received in each of the Garda Divisions from 1 August 2009 to 30 June 2011:

I can inform the Deputy that information on applications for firearms certificates was not required for the Garda Commissioner's Annual Report on the operation of the Firearms Acts. Section 31 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires the report to specify the number and classes of certificates and authorisations issued, rather than applied for, under the Firearms Acts.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the legal costs incurred by the Garda Síochána to date in defending firearms licence appeals in the District Court, or, in the absence of the precise cost; an estimate of the District Court costs to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21578/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the District Court is the designated appeals venue under the Section 15A of the Firearms Act 1925 (as amended). It has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on the matter and I will write to the Deputy when it becomes available.