Vol. 530 No. 1
41 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases awaiting forensic examination in the Forensic Science Laboratory; the categories of cases and the nature of examinations to be conducted; the cases awaiting examination for (i) between three months to six months, (ii) six months to 12 months, (iii) in excess or 12 months and (iv) in excess of two years; and the action he will take to tackle the escalating backlog. [3265/01]
148 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases at present awaiting forensic examination in the Forensic Science Laboratory; the categories of cases and the nature of examinations to be con ducted; the cases awaiting examination for between three months to six months; six months to 12 months; in excess or 12 months; in excess of two years; and the action he will take to tackle the escalating backlog. [30500/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 148 together.
I can inform the Deputy that on 19 January, 2001 there were 4,332 cases awaiting forensic examination in the Forensic Science Laboratory. The number of cases received in the laboratory during the year 2000 was 11,326.
The total number of cases awaiting examination were as follows: three – six months, 1,200; six-12 months, 1,106; in excess of 12 months, 1,294 and in excess of two years, 732. These figures would include a total of 439 cases where an examination had commenced but had not yet been completed. In addition the Deputy should be aware that cases awaiting examination in excess of two years would mainly be drugs cases where no suspect has been identified but where the material found has been submitted by the Garda for examination in any event. These are, naturally, afforded a lower priority than cases where a suspect has been identified.
The examinations fall into three distinct categories – biology, including DNA testing, chemistry and drugs. In the case of biology/DNA testing the examinations involve the examination and analysis of clothing, intimate swabs and other material, etc. in cases involving murder, rape and other serious types of assaults. In the case of chemistry examination, the examinations involve detection, comparison and analysis of paint, glass particles, clothing fibres, hydrocarbon fire accellerants, shoe prints and shotgun residue etc. in cases involving serious assaults, burglary, criminal damage, arson, explosions, road accidents, robbery, unlawful taking of vehicles and cases involving possession of firearms.
The vast majority of the cases awaiting forensic examination are drug analysis examinations. This situation has arisen as a result of the recent success of the Garda Síochána in drug seizures. In 1998 and 1999, for example, illicit drugs with an estimated street value of £120 million were seized. In order to improve the situation my Department has recently sanctioned the purchase of a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer to speed up the analysis of powder drugs such as heroin, cocaine and amphetamines. The management of the laboratory also operate a system of case prioritisation to ensure that all urgent cases are dealt with.
It is important to note that priority is afforded by the Forensic Science Laboratory to cases where prosecutions are pending and, in particular, to such cases as suspected child abuse, where an oral report on test findings is provided as soon as possible, usually within a couple of days. I am advised that no prosecutions have been lost as a result of delays in testing.
