Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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657. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address the overperformance of Forensic Science Ireland with regard to its target metrics for missing persons case investigations or body identifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26014/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) Performance Delivery Agreement 2020 was concluded on 16 June 2020. This agreement includes targets and target outturns for 2020. Among the agreement's metrics are targets for the number of missing persons case investigations or body identifications. 

I am informed by FSI that this measure includes both identification of individuals that are classified as missing persons, and identification of deceased individuals not classified as missing persons but where Coroners or An Garda Síochána are seeking confirmation of their identity with a DNA profile. For both categories, similar DNA technology and processes are used.

I am informed that there was a significant increase in the number of submissions into FSI in 2020 where Coroners or An Garda Síochána required confirmation of a person’s identify using DNA profiles. FSI prioritised these identifications, and processed all submissions despite the increase. 

As such, the FSI's original target for 50 identifications for 2020 was exceeded by 60%, for a total of 80 identifications. The Deputy will note that the target number of identifications for 2021, as outlined in the FSI Performance Delivery Agreement 2021, has been set at 80.