Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the number of knives seized by gardaí in each county, in each of the years 2016 to 2022 and to date in 2023, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13802/23]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am very conscious of the effect that knife crime can have on the quality of life for local communities the Government is determined to tackle this issue.

The Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), which I am pleased to chair, is examining a broad range of issues to address the factors which give rise to ASB, including knife crime. The knife crime sub-group of the ASB Forum has examined existing data and possible approaches to community responses, as well as the legislative position. I have been briefed on the work of the sub-group and the question of what further measures might be progressed is subject to consultation with relevant stakeholders.

There is also a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime, including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned. The maximum penalty in the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 for a conviction for possessing a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority was increased from one to five years in an amendment introduced via the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the 2016 - 2018 increase in recorded seizures is due in large part to the introduction of the Property and Exhibit Management System (PEMS) in 2016, which improved the level of recording of all objects seized, including knives. More recently, the increases in seizures are also due to proactive policing operations, particularly during 2020 with the increased Garda presence due to COVID-19.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Garda Authorities for the information requested and I have been advised that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on 16 March 2023 to identify any object of sub-type ‘knife’ linked as ‘seized’ with any incident reported nationwide since 01/01/2016. The attachment shows the number of knives seized by An Garda Síochána by Garda Division. Figures marked with an asterisk denotes incidences of less than 10.