Written answers
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
Crime Levels
8:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reported incidents of domestic violence in each of the past five years and to date in 2012; the successful prosecutions arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14281/12]
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to incidents of domestic violence reported to An Garda Síochána. Prosecutions in such cases arise following a breach of the domestic violence barring or protection order. In the usual course of events following an incident of domestic violence, the victim may apply to court for a barring or protection order. Where such an order is breached, the victim may report the matter to An Garda Síochána and a prosecution may arise.
Two sets of statistics therefore arise - one relating to applications to court for barring and protection orders which are civil law matters; the second relating to prosecution for breach of barring and protection orders which is a criminal law matter.
The completed full-year figures available with regard to applications for court orders under the Domestic Violence Acts 1996 and 2002 are as set out in a tabular statement:
| Year | Category | Applications | Granted | Refused | Withdrawn |
| struck out | |||||
| 2006 | Barring Orders | 3,132 | 1,357 | 93 | 1,682 |
| Safety Orders | 3,050 | 1,221 | 103 | 1,726 | |
| Protection Orders | 3,137 | 2,845 | 99 | 193 | |
| Interim barring orders | 605 | 544 | 26 | 35 | |
| 2007 | Barring Orders | 3,355 | 1,420 | 115 | 1,820 |
| Safety Orders | 3,553 | 1,556 | 296 | 1,701 | |
| Protection Orders | 3,794 | 3,235 | 363 | 188 | |
| Interim barring orders | 692 | 586 | 78 | 28 | |
| 2008 | Barring Orders | 3,096 | 1,251 | 580 | 1,265 |
| Safety Orders | 3,328 | 1,502 | 617 | 1,209 | |
| Protection Orders | 3,354 | 2,955 | 256 | 138 | |
| Interim barring orders | 623 | 445 | 71 | 107 | |
| 2009 | Barring Orders | 2,855 | 1,106 | 89 | 1,660 |
| Safety Orders | 3,322 | 1,339 | 116 | 617 | |
| Protection Orders | 3,134 | 2,867 | 120 | 256 | |
| Interim barring orders | 545 | 451 | 56 | 38 | |
| 2010 | Barring Orders | 2,726 | 1,064 | 88 | 1,574 |
| Safety Orders | 3,561 | 1,457 | 80 | 2,024 | |
| Protection Orders | 2,926 | 2,672 | 134 | 115 | |
| Interim barring orders | 530 | 431 | 38 | 61 | |
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the relevant statistics directly to the Deputy.
Domestic Violence may also be disclosed by the victim in their interactions with the health, housing, education and community sectors. The National Strategy on Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014 includes action to promote opportunities for safe disclosure and increased understanding of domestic violence. It also includes specific action to improve the level and quality of data captured and used, to ensure that policy and service development takes account of the full scale of domestic violence, not only that reported to and prosecuted by An Garda Síochána.
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