Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the bones found in the waters off Hook Head and Helvick Head in 2010 and 2011 have not been sent for analysis or identification; the reason the families who have lost loved ones at sea had not been communicated with regarding the discovery of these bones; if he will assist in having the remains tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44308/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the last three years, there have been a number of human bone and skull finds off the coast of counties Wexford and Waterford.

Enquiries to establish the identity of the human remains referred to have not yielded any positive results to date and consideration is now being afforded by the Garda authorities to having nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis conducted on these remains, having regard to whether such testing might yield positive results. While DNA testing is of huge benefit in the identification of missing persons, the scientific advice is that testing in this instance may not be successful as the extraction of DNA profiles from bones that have been in the water for a long time is extremely difficult, as the sea has been found to cause substantial degrading of DNA material. The outcome of the assessment insofar as these remains are concerned is awaited.

I am very much aware of the concerns which have been expressed in relation to these remains and my Department has conveyed these concerns to the Garda authorities. I am confident that in cases of missing persons, whether at sea or on land, An Garda Síochána does all in its power to assist families of those who have been lost and, in particular, would contact families when they have any information of substance to impart.