Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2019
546. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 13 November 2018, for which no reply was received, the number of warrants issued in the past six months that were executed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13656/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra565. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bench warrants outstanding in the R and J districts of An Garda Síochána as of 15 March 2019; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of 12 months; the steps being taken to reduce the number of outstanding bench warrants in the districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13911/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 565 together.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 15 March 2019, the number of bench warrants outstanding in the Coolock (R) District was 2,222. The number of bench warrants outstanding for 12 months or longer was 1,473.
I am further advised that 749 bench warrants arrived at Coolock Garda Station between 15 March 2018 and 15 March 2019. In the same period, 494 bench warrants were executed, 10 were cancelled and 595 attempted warrant executions took place.
In respect to the Raheny (J) District, there are currently 609 live bench warrants. Of these, 215 have been issued in the past 12 months.
I am informed that there are initiatives ongoing in the Coolock District to increase the level of bench warrant execution. Criminals are identified through the criminal intelligence office which then issues District bulletins. All of these suspects are routinely checked for live warrants, and when required, added to operational target lists.
I have requested the full year figures of bench warrants issued and executed from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.
