Darren O'Rourke
Question:1087. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases that each Garda divisional protective services unit has dealt with in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [13343/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
Questions (1087)
Written answers
I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, this information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I would like to assure you that both Commissioner Drew Harris and I are committed to combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and to ensuring that An Garda Síochána is resourced to provide support to victims of this terrible crime. Twelve months ago we published our Zero Tolerance strategy. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept domestic violence or the attitudes which underpin it.
The €363 million strategy is built on four pillars – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented through new oversight structures.
As you may be aware, the nationwide roll -out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed.
There is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.
This ensures that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.
In relation to the specific information sought, I am informed that no central record exists in relation to the number of cases that each DPSU has dealt with in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, and to collate the information would also require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources, in particular historical figures regarding case-loads.
I'm further informed that your request has been explored and considered thoroughly by various sections within AGS where it was concluded that it is not possible to report with any reliability on the number of incidents assigned to DPSU staff in the past, due to the transfer and movement of staff due to promotion, and so on.