Firearms Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2019

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Ceisteanna (256)

John Deasy

Ceist:

256. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of handguns licensed in the State; and the number of handgun licences issued by Garda district and Garda division in each of the past three years. [39394/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The data requested by the Deputy refers is not maintained by the Department of Justice and Equality. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the information requested and I will write directly to the Deputy when I receive it.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 256 for answer on 1 October 2019 relating to the number of handguns licensed in the State; and the number of handgun licences issued by Garda district and Garda division in each of the past three years.

The Deputy will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact him again when the information was available.

A report has now been received from the Garda authorities on the matter. Since 2009, firearm certificates are granted and issued for a period of three years from the date of grant, unless otherwise revoked. The Garda authorities have, therefore, advised that yearly figures of granted firearm certificates no longer reflect the number of firearm certificates in existence in the State. It should also be noted that the vast majority of firearm certificates for handguns currently on issue in the State are renewed certificates for handguns as opposed to new certificates that have been granted over the past number of years.

An Garda Síochána advise that the table attached represents the total number of firearm certificates for short firearms i.e. pistols and revolvers, on issue in the state by Garda Division, as of 27th September, 2019. The overall total of 2,116 includes firearm certificates for handguns that relate to both restricted (higher-calibre handguns granted by Chief Superintendent rank) and non-restricted handguns (granted by Superintendent rank) and the numbers do not include firearm applications or renewals for handguns that have not yet been fully processed.

DIVISION	FIREARM	APPLICATION	CERTIFICATES
Cavan/Monaghan	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	48
		Restricted Certificate	26
Total			74
Clare	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	22
		Restricted Certificate	9
Total			31
Cork City	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	30
		Restricted Certificate	34
Total			64
Cork North	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	55
		Restricted Certificate	11
Total			66
Cork West	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	26
		Restricted Certificate	6
Total			32
D.M.R. Eastern	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	63
		Restricted Certificate	26
Total			89
D.M.R. North Central	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	11
		Restricted Certificate	2
Total			13
D.M.R. Northern	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	143
		Restricted Certificate	37
Total			180
D.M.R. South Central	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	24
		Restricted Certificate	5
Total			29
D.M.R. Southern	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	90
		Restricted Certificate	23
Total			113
D.M.R. Western	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	107
		Restricted Certificate	23
Total			130
Donegal	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	68
		Restricted Certificate	41
Total			109
Galway Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	30
		Restricted Certificate	17
Total			47
Kerry	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	50
		Restricted Certificate	19
Total			69
Kildare Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	165
		Restricted Certificate	31
Total			196
Kilkenny/Carlow	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	81
		Restricted Certificate	15
Total			96
Laois/Offaly	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	64
		Restricted Certificate	20
Total			84
Limerick	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	56
		Restricted Certificate	17
Total			73
Louth Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	51
		Restricted Certificate	34
Total			85
Mayo	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	14
		Restricted Certificate	4
Total			18
Meath	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	48
		Restricted Certificate	4
Total			52
Roscommon/Longford Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	20
		Restricted Certificate	8
Total			28
Sligo/Leitrim	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	16
		Restricted Certificate	4
Total			20
Tipperary	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	41
		Restricted Certificate	9
Total			50
Waterford Div		Firearm Certificate	29
		Restricted Certificate	3
Total			32
Westmeath Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	28
		Restricted Certificate	15
Total			43
Wexford Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	99
		Restricted Certificate	40
Total			139
Wicklow Div	Handgun	Firearm Certificate	130
		Restricted Certificate	24
Total			154
Overall Total			2116

The number of handguns licensed continues to be monitored by my Department.

I trust that this information is of assistance .