An Garda Síochána

Thursday, 24 June 2021

Questions (370)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

370. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice the number of bench warrants outstanding in each Garda division; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of over six months in each Garda division; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of over 12 months in each Garda division; and the longest outstanding warrant in each Garda division. [34099/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, unfortunately I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question number 370 of 24 June 2021 where you asked for the number of bench warrants outstanding in each Garda division; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of over six months in each Garda division; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of over 12 months in each Garda division and the longest outstanding warrant in each Garda division.

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and to contact you again when the requested information was available.

As you will appreciate, difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants, including bench warrants, are a long-standing issue for many police services around the world; notably relating to persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement. I am assured, however, that An Garda Síochána execute warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the appended table shows the number of outstanding bench warrants per Garda Division at 4 July 2021.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Appendix

Outstanding bench warrants per Garda Division at 4 July 2021

Garda Division	Outstanding Bench Warrants	Older than 6 Months	Older than 12 months	Longest Outstanding Issue Date
Cavan/Monaghan	836	697	617	03/12/1999
Clare	194	144	128	02/10/1991
Cork City	957	703	636	26/10/1999
Cork North	293	202	172	31/01/2000
Cork West	158	126	105	20/10/2003
D.M.R. East	705	648	626	16/03/1990
D.M.R. North Central	5161	4725	4644	14/02/1968
DMR North	4183	3832	3749	14/12/1995
D.M.R. South Central	1990	1690	1630	02/11/1995
D.M.R. Southern	3099	2812	2718	20/04/1998
D.M.R. Western	5533	4953	4799	29/01/1987
Donegal	734	665	620	28/07/1999
Galway	815	662	621	18/01/1999
Kerry	432	379	366	23/01/1997
Kildare	703	613	574	25/06/1997
Kilkenny/Carlow	595	503	476	14/06/1994
Laois/Offaly	245	162	145	23/02/2004
Limerick	813	606	560	22/04/1997
Louth	618	538	495	24/02/1997
Mayo	211	177	163	30/07/1999
Meath	436	328	299	09/01/2001
Roscommon/Longford	200	138	125	15/09/1998
Sligo/Leitrim	282	230	215	22/07/1998
Tipperary	426	277	252	10/01/2000
Waterford	321	267	233	04/04/2000
Westmeath	212	165	138	04/10/2001
Wexford	402	307	272	20/07/2000
Wicklow	454	351	317	24/10/2000

Figures were collated based on PULSE data as of 1:30am on the 5 July 2021. They are operational and may be liable to change.