I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
The Deputy is already aware that I consider the deliberate ramming of Garda vehicles to be an extremely serious matter insofar as road safety is concerned. The safety of the members of An Garda Síochána and the general public on our roads is of critical importance. It is essential that Gardaí are protected in carrying out their work and that the law reflects and responds to the situations in which Gardaí find themselves.
The following table outlines details of the number of incidents reported which involved the ‘ramming’ of a Garda vehicle from 2010 to date. Details of the number of incidents prior to 2010 are not available.
Year
|
Ramming Incidents
|
2010
|
74
|
2011
|
62
|
2012
|
51
|
2013
|
64
|
2014
|
55
|
2015
|
70
|
2016
|
82
|
2017 (Up until 12.2.17)
|
8
|
I have requested a Garda report on the number of incidents of Gardaí being injured in incidents of ramming of Garda vehicles over the past ten years and I will make contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of this report.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 117 for answer on Tuesday, 14 February, 2017, in which you requested the number of incidents of Gardaí being injured in incidents of ramming of Garda vehicles over the past ten years.
As you will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact you again following receipt of a report from An Garda Síochána.
An Garda Síochána has informed me that it is not in a position to provide the information requested as it would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to collate the data requested.