asked the Minister for Justice the number of gun licence permits issued for each year since 1980; the categories for which such permits were granted; and the revenue arising from fees for each year for these permits.
Written Answers. - Gun Licence Permits.
The information sought in the Question in so far as it is available is set out in the following tabular statement. Statistics of firearm certificates issued to residents are complied by the Garda Síochána on the basis of the year ending 31 July, whereas statistics of firearm certificates issued to non-residents (mainly visitors for game shooting) by my Department and the Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works relate to the calendar year.
Number of Firearm Certificates issued to residents in the year ending 31 July |
Number of Firearm Certificates issued to non-residents in the year ending 31 December |
Amount of Receipts in the year ending 31 December |
||||||
Rifle |
Shotgun |
Other |
Total |
Rifle* |
Shotgun |
Total |
£ |
|
1980 |
31,084 |
122,922 |
n.a. |
154,006 |
73 |
3,531 |
3,604 |
695,740 |
1981 |
32,807 |
127,364 |
,, |
160,171 |
60 |
3,235 |
3,295 |
952,697 |
1982 |
34,000 |
136,736 |
,, |
170,736 |
94 |
3,088 |
3,182 |
852,841 |
1983 |
34,200 |
137,192 |
,, |
171,392 |
78 |
3,109 |
3,187 |
1,546,677 |
1984 |
34,264 |
136,353 |
15 |
170,632 |
81 |
3,157 |
3,238 |
1,830,754 |
1985 |
34,819 |
141,340 |
14 |
176,173 |
83 |
3,400 |
3,483 |
1,977,902 |
1986 |
34,949 |
144,812 |
16 |
179,177 |
87 |
3,753 |
3,840 |
2,016,052 |
1987 |
35,264 |
147,549 |
19 |
182,832 |
86 |
3,910 |
3,996 |
1,926,587 |
1988 |
35,305 |
149,683 |
16 |
185,004 |
31 |
876 |
907 |
191,191 |
(to date) |
(to 31 March) |
n.a. = Not available.
* A small additional number (on average 15 each year) of firearm certificates for rifles are issued by the Customs and Excise Branch of the Revenue Commissioners.