Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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334. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding missing persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8055/15]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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335. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding missing persons here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8056/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.

I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person concerned. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a direct role in Garda operational matters. I am, however, assured by the Garda authorities that all incidents where persons have been reported missing remain open and under investigation until such times as the person is located. I am further advised that An Garda Síochána has strong formal and informal relationships with the UK authorities which assists in such investigations. More broadly, the services of Interpol can be utilised, providing An Garda Síochána with a formal network of communication involving 190 international police forces.

In so far as the general Garda Missing Persons Protocols are concerned, when a missing report is made, the Garda authorities complete a risk assessment on PULSE asking specific question about the person’s disappearance resulting in a specific level of risk being assigned to the investigation ( i.e. High, Medium or Low risk).

A Garda assessment of a missing person as ‘High Risk’ indicates the person is in danger due to their own vulnerability and/or that they may have been a victim of crime. An Inspector is required to oversee such cases and all available Garda resources are deployed including the establishment of an incident room, deployment of a Senior Investigating Officer, appointment of a Detective Sergeant and other resources deemed appropriate such as a Search Manager, Family Liaison Officer, Juvenile Liaison Officer or Ethnic Liaison Officer. High risk cases are reviewed regularly and actions taken are based on the presumption that the case may escalate. District Officers (Superintendents) have responsibility for reviewing the incident including the initial risk assessment, quality assuring any actions taken and checking for outstanding and incomplete actions.

All available opportunities to disseminate information regarding missing persons cases are availed of, including through media organisations, and the Garda Community Text Alert scheme. In addition, An Garda Síochána has put in place Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert, a rapid information dissemination process, which enables the Gardaí seek the assistance of members of the public in circumstances where a child has been abducted and there is a reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child.

I am further advised that that the Garda Missing Person Guidance Manual, which was introduced in May 2012, will be subject to a Garda review process later this year. It is envisaged that part of this process will involve the development of enhanced protocols for Garda engagement with local support and voluntary services with the overall objective of increasing the effectiveness of missing persons’ investigations.