Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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518. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of fireworks seized as part of Operation Tombola; if the success of the operation compared with previous years will be evaluated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41715/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for managing An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána take a proactive approach and put measures in place in every Garda Division to assist in the prevention and detection of the sale and importation of fireworks in the run-up to Halloween.

This year the Garda Commissioner put in place policing plans under the auspices of “Operation Tombola”, one month earlier than on previous years as of the 4 September, 2020. To assist local management in supplying additional personnel over the Halloween weekend, annual leave not already sanctioned for this period was cancelled.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out information on the number of ‘Fireworks Offences’ incidents reported during the given years.

The following table provides data on the number of fireworks incidents recorded, the number of incidents where a quantity of ‘explosives’ were seized, the number of explosives seized and the estimated value of the seizures for each year from 2016 to date.