An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025

Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Questions (537)

Matt Carthy

Question:

537. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the number of emergency calls made to An Garda Síochána reporting domestic abuse in each of the years 2011 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5713/25]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for this Government, for the Department and for the Garda Commissioner. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.The Strategy, which was co-designed with the sector, also has a significant focus on improving the system for victims of these terrible crimes and on ensuring there is a full range of supports and services available nationwide to support and empower victims and survivors.

An Garda Síochána and my Department are continuing to work hard to strengthen trust and confidence in the system, so that victims will feel confident in coming forward to report what has happened to them and get justice.

An Garda Síochána prioritise and proactively respond to incidents of domestic abuse and the nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) 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. There is now a DPSU in every Garda Division.

Legislative action has also been taken to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, including by introducing new offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation and by doubling to 10 years the maximum sentence for assault causing harm, one of the most common offences in domestic violence cases.

An Garda Síochána have provided the following breakdown of domestic abuse incidents, by Garda Division, for the period 2020 to 2024. A similar breakdown for years prior to 2020 is not available.

One of the key objectives in the Zero Tolerance Strategy is to encourage victims of domestic violence to come forward and to report the crimes that are being committed against them. This is an important step because historically there has been an under reporting of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I want to reassure anyone who is a victim, or at risk of, domestic or sexual abuse that help continues to be available. I urge anyone who is in fear or danger due to domestic abuse or any other crime, to please contact the Gardaí as soon as you can do so safely.

Annual breakdown of Domestic Abuse Incidents between 2020 and 2024

Region	Division	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Dublin Region	D.M.R. Eastern	1282	1285	1435	1460	1860
D.M.R. North Central	1765	2045	2016	1994	2172
D.M.R. Northern	4087	4272	4493	4999	5298
D.M.R. South Central	1463	1565	1754	1791	2072
D.M.R. Southern	3019	3302	3642	3763	4031
D.M.R. Western	4602	4976	5298	5457	6027
Eastern Region (NEW)	Kildare Div	1911	1984	2598	2619	3281
Laois/Offaly	1420	1668	1788	1995	2206
Meath/Westmeath	2536	2821	3006	3479	4034
Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow	2294	2624	2870	3395	3862
Wexford/Wicklow	2295	2510	2953	3310	3729
North Western Region	Donegal	1204	1344	1584	1901	2115
Galway Div	1768	2201	2249	2657	2955
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan	3159	3859	3953	4219	4329
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford	1819	2136	2366	2585	2612
Sligo/Leitrim	905	1110	1044	1027	1133
Southern Region (NEW)	Clare/Tipperary	1997	2333	2463	3008	3035
Cork City	2333	2345	2790	3100	3254
Cork County	1599	1799	1982	2260	2411
Kerry	1193	1249	1542	1627	1435
Limerick	2131	2525	3065	3376	3373
	National Total	44,782	49,953	54,891	60,022	65,224

The data specific to this request is operational and subject to change.