John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of samples from persons that are on the national DNA database to date in 2017 since its establishment; the number of convictions secured based on the use of evidence from the database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33469/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) is responsible for the operation of the national DNA Database System. The database constitutes a major intelligence resource for the investigation of crime. The database is being populated with samples taken from persons suspected/convicted of serious crime and from crime scenes and the number of person samples added since the establishment of the database is 13,486.

I am advised by FSI that the DNA Database is not programmed in such a way as to establish the number of convictions secured as a result of evidence gained by the database. However, I am informed that, in 2016 the DNA Database identified 428 hits, which directly assisted 625 cases. Furthermore, FSI reports that 23 out of every 100 crime scene samples uploaded onto the database, will be linked to a person. The crime solving capacity of the database is expected to grow as the database grows in size and will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with a source of high quality intelligence that facilitates better targeted criminal investigations.