Skip to main content
Normal View

Departmental Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Questions (576, 577)

Holly Cairns

Question:

576. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of the current number of valid firearms licences including details on the types of firearms. [44209/21]

View answer

Holly Cairns

Question:

577. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of the number of firearms licences issued and renewed in each of the years 2014 to 2020. [44210/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together.

Unfortunately it was not possible to compile the figures in the format requested by the Deputy within the time-frame permitted. Once the figures are received from An Garda Síochána I will provide them directly to the Deputy.

The Deputy will wish to be aware that the Annual Reports into the operation of the Firearms Acts for years 2011 to 2019, which are available on the Department's website, contain some figures which will be of interest. The 2020 annual report has not yet been finalised but will be published in due course.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 576 requesting information in relation to “the current number of valid firearms licenses and types of firearms and issued and renewed in each of the years 2014 to 2020”, and Parliamentary Question No. 577 requesting “details of the number of firearms licenses issued and renewed in each of the years 2014 to 2020”.
You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information was to hand.
A report has now been received from the Garda authorities on the matter, and I now am reverting to you with the information as requested.
Table 1 below details the total number of Firearms Certificates and the specific categories.
Table 1:

Certificate Type

Total

Firearm Certificate

218,970

Restricted Firearm Certificate

1,231

Limited Firearm Certificate

5,831

Substitute Certificate

7,774

Training Certificate

211

Overall Total

234,017

Table 2 below details the total number of the types of firearms currently licensed within this jurisdiction.
Table 2:

Firearm Type

Active

Air Gun

3,141

Crossbow

33

Humane Killer

6

Pistol

2,257

Revolver

283

Rifle

63,186

Rifle /Shotgun Combined

35

Shotgun

146,639

Spare Barrell

26

Speargun

3

Total

215,609

Table 3 details the total numbers for Firearms Certificates issued and renewed from the years 2015 to 2020. Unfortunately, the details for 2014 are not readily available.
Table 3

Year

Issued

Renewed

2015

10,331

27,206

2016

14,832

146,630

2017

9,509

18,378

2018

8,816

31,156

2019

11,887

140,862

2020

8,314

22,944

Please note that the figures in each of the above tables represents the accurate position as at 14 September 2021. I trust that this information is of assistance to you.
Question No. 577 answered with Question No. 576.
Top
Share