Missing Persons

Wednesday, 13 December 2023

Questions (164, 165, 166)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

164. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of ongoing missing persons cases in the State. [55542/23]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

165. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons reported missing in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [55543/23]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

166. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of children reported missing in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [55544/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 166, inclusive, together.

I am deeply conscious of the ongoing distress for the families and friends of persons who go missing. The disappearance of any person is traumatic for their family and friends. My Department is committed to working with all relevant state bodies to help more families find their missing relatives.

Last week, my Department hosted a ceremony at Croke Park to mark Ireland’s National Missing Persons Day. Missing Persons Day is one of the most important days in the Department of Justice Calendar. It is an annual day of commemoration and takes place on the first Wednesday in December each year. The objective of Missing Persons Day is to commemorate all those who have gone missing and recognise the lasting trauma for their families and friends. Missing Persons Day also draws attention to open or unsolved missing persons cases, and creates an opportunity to provide information on available support services.

Last week's ceremony was attended by families and friends of missing persons, as well as a number of state bodies such as An Garda Síochána, Forensic Science Ireland, Office of the State Pathologist along with colleagues from the PSNI as well as a number of charitable organisations.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 1 December 2023, there were 834 people associated with missing persons incidents that are still recorded as missing.

A missing person investigation commences when the incident is reported to An Garda Síochána and is constantly reviewed at Superintendent level in the relevant Garda district at specific junctures within the investigation to ensure that all actions appropriate to the investigation are being pursued and that the appropriate resources have been assigned to the investigation. It should be noted that all missing person investigations remain open until the missing person is located.

The table below, provided by the Garda authorities shows the breakdown of individuals reported missing by year 2014 – 2023.

Year Reported	Individuals
2014	3560
2015	3669
2016	3549
2017	3713
2018	3909
2019	4094
2020	3336
2021	3503
2022	4262
2023*	4278

** As of 1 December 2023, this number of people were associated with missing persons incidents that are still recorded as missing.

While already included in the overall figure, the table below provided by the Garda authorities shows a 2014 – 2023 subset of individuals where the age of the missing person was between 0 and 17 years old on the day they were reported to have gone missing.

Year Reported	Individuals aged between 0-17
2014	1669
2015	1685
2016	1606
2017	1654
2018	1656
2019	1664
2020	1357
2021	1431
2022	1645
2023**	1731

** Incidents reported 1 January – 30 November only

Figures were collated based on PULSE data as of 1:30am on 11 December 2023. Individuals may have been reported missing more than once in the year indicated. Counts are regardless of the current Missing Person Status (Missing/Found) of the individual. Figures are operational and liable to change.

Question No. 165 answered with Question No. 164.

Question No. 166 answered with Question No. 164.