Written answers
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Domestic Violence
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
170. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 920 of 11 February 2025, the number of calls made to An Garda Síochána, by month and by year, from 2016 to 2024, that would fall under the heading of domestic violence, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36282/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I am committed to combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a central priority.
'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.
An Garda Síochána prioritise and proactively respond to incidents of domestic abuse. The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) ensures that when victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.
I can confirm that there is now a DPSU in every Garda Division.
An Garda Síochána have provided the below data and have offered the following distinction between Domestic Abuse Incidents and Domestic Abuse Calls.
An Garda Síochána record the following as Domestic Abuse Incidents: breaches of any type of domestic abuse order, domestic – no Offence Identified or any incident where the ‘Domestic Abuse’ motive has been recorded. An incident is when An Garda Síochána are formally investigating a crime.
An Garda Síochána record the following as Domestic Abuse Calls: all of the incidents cited in 1 above and any calls through CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) of the type ‘DVSA’ or ‘Domestic’. Calls cover all incoming requests for police attention, even if no crime is ultimately detected.
Table 1 at the first link below provides details of the total number of Domestic Abuse Incidents reported from 2016 to 2024 by Garda Division.
Domestic Abuse Incidents include:
- Breach of Barring Order
- Breach of Emergency Barring Order
- Breach of Safety Order
- Breach of Protection Order
- Breach of Interim Barring Order
- Domestic - No Offence Identified
Table 2 at the second link below details the total number of Domestic Abuse Calls reported from 2020 to 2024 by Garda Division.
Domestic Abuse Calls include the following:
- Breach of Barring Order
- Breach of Emergency Barring Order
- Breach of Safety Order
- Breach of Protection Order
- Breach of Interim Barring Order
- Domestic - No Offence Identified
An Garda Síochána have advised that the Computer Aided Dispatch system was rolled out nationwide on an incremental basis during 2019 and the first year for which there is complete national data on Domestic Abuse Calls is 2020. That is why Table 2, Domestic Abuse Calls, does not have data for the years prior to 2020.
I am cognisant that the data provided by An Garda Síochána records a steady increase in reported incidents and calls, year-on-year. While any increase in reported cases of domestic violence is deeply concerning, there is evidence that a greater number of people feel more confident to come forward with a criminal complaint, share their experience, and seek the support they have a right to expect. Although the volume is of great concern, this increased confidence is welcome.
A key objective of the whole of Government Zero Tolerance strategy is to encourage victims of domestic and sexual violence to come forward and report the heinous crimes being committed against them. This is an important step because historically there has been significant under-reporting of such crimes.
My Department is continuing to work with agencies in the criminal justice system to strengthen trust and confidence in the system, so that victims will feel more assured in coming forward to report what has happened to them.
I want to reassure anyone who is subject to, or at risk of, domestic or sexual abuse that practical help is always available. I urge anyone who is in fear or danger due to domestic abuse or any other crime, to please contact the Gardaí as soon as it is safe to do so.
No comments