Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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163. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the 22% reduction in the number of Garda summonses in the first three months of 2013 compared to the first three months of 2012. [21704/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that there are many factors affecting the number of summonses, which relate in the main to less serious summary offences, issued at any point in time. These factors include the underlying level of offending as well as the use being made of the various alternatives to prosecution which exist. Caution should also be exercised of course in seeking to interpret or draw any firm conclusions with respect to figures relating to such a short period of time. I have, however, asked the Garda authorities for a report on their assessment of these figures and will contact the Deputy again when this is to hand.