Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 489 and 505 of 26 March 2019, if he has received a response from An Garda Síochána on the prevalence of knife crime; if so, when he expects to release information on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17661/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in my response to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question 491 of 26 March 2019, my Department wrote to the Garda authorities in February to seek an update on the recent work of An Garda Síochána in tackling knife-related crime, and in particular the progress being made by Gardaí to improve the quality of knife crime statistics recorded on the PULSE system.

I am advised that research is ongoing as part of an internal Garda Working Group to formulate a National Strategy to Deal with Assaults against the Person.  An Garda Síochána has included knife crime as part of the remit of the working group tasked with drafting the strategy and, following the conclusion of the groups work, I expect a full report will be forwarded to my Department.

Once this report is received and has been fully considered by my Department, I will provide the Deputy with a comprehensive update on the Working Group's report.