Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1173. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for a weekly breakdown, in tabular form, since the beginning of the 2023, outlining the number of patrols carried out by gardaí in Dublin; the number of arrests carried out by gardaí in Dublin; the number of those arrests resulting in court cases; the numbers of those court cases resulting in prison sentences; the total estimated value of drugs seized; the total estimated value of cash seized; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38333/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is contained in the attached table.

A search of the PULSE database was conducted on 25 August 2023 to identify all Custody Logs, Patrol incidents, ‘Cash’ and ‘Drugs’ seizure records created within the Dublin Metropolitan Region during 2023. The recorded value of ‘Cash’ and ‘Drugs’ seized as well as the count of Custody Logs and Patrol incidents is aggregated by week in the attached table.

It should be noted that the information provided is taken from PULSE as of 25 August and it is operational and may be liable to change.

In a small proportion of incidents, the value of cash seized is recorded in the narrative descriptions on PULSE. The figures within the table are based solely on records where the value is recorded in the specific value field provided on the PULSE system. They should not therefore be taken as definitive total amounts.

Drugs seizures are also subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. Both recorded values and quantities may change as a result following completion of this analysis.

In relation to the number of court cases, as the Deputy is aware, court proceedings are under the remit of the Courts Service. Management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.