Crime Data

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Questions (115)

Mark Ward

Question:

115. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number of seizures of illegal fireworks in each of the past five years; the number prosecuted in each year; the number of convictions in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24245/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy on the number and value of fireworks seized from An Garda Síochána and the number of convictions from the Courts Service. This information is currently being collated and verified.

I will write directly to the Deputy when this information is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

An Garda Síochána has provided the three tables below which were drawn from PULSE. Figures for 2020 are up to and including 13 September 2020.

Year	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Seizure of Fireworks Incidents	154	134	147	130	52

It should be noted that the number of seizures this year is up when compared to the same period in 2019. For every year since 2016, the majority of firework seizures are made in October. Within the incidents noted above, the data was further interrogated to determine the quantities of fireworks seized. The table below shows approximate numbers and value of fireworks seized.

Year	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Fireworks Seized	1173	1363	1207	1944	494
Value	€22,628	€17,359	€22,887	€26,954	€4,646

The final table supplied by An Garda Síochána below shows the number of unique persons associated with the ‘Fireworks Offences’ incidents per year that received a charge or summons.

Year	2016	2017	2018	2019
Persons Charge/Summonsed	24	20	26	25

As there were fewer than 10 persons charges or summonsed, figures for 2020 have not been provided. This is ensure there are no issues relating to data protection. In order to reflect all recorded incidents, crime-counting rules have not been applied to the data in these three tables.

Finally, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998 management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. The Courts Service has provided the information requested on convictions in the table below. This information has been drawn from instances where prosecutors used offence codes. It should be noted that it is possible for prosecutors to use uncoded free text when inputting offences; in this event, such offences would not be included in the table below.

Year		Possession of a Firework for the Purpose of Sale/Supply	Igniting Firework	Throw/Direct/Propel Ignited Firework	Total
2015	Offences	10	1		11
Persons	9	1		10
2016	Offences	7			7
Persons	6			6
2017	Offences	5			5
Persons	5			5
2018	Offences	3		1	4
Persons	3		1	4
2019	Offences	5	3		8
Persons	5	3		8
To July 2020	Offences	1		1	2
Persons	1		1	2