An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2022

Wednesday, 5 October 2022

Ceisteanna (287, 291, 293, 294)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

287. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of instances of ramming of Garda vehicles in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49056/22]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

291. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of instances of ramming of Garda vehicles per Garda district in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49062/22]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

293. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of minors and the percentage this number represents in the context of total cases identified as drivers in instances of ramming of Garda vehicles in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49064/22]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of stolen vehicles involved in instances of ramming of Garda vehicles in 2019 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49065/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 287, 291, 293 and 294 together.

I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested, regrettably this was not available on time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 287, 291, 293 & 294 of 5 October 2022 where you asked:

‘the number of instances of ramming of Garda vehicles in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022’,

‘the number of instances of ramming of Garda vehicles per Garda district in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022’,

‘the number of minors and the percentage this number represents in the context of total cases identified as drivers in instances of ramming of Garda vehicles in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022’ and

‘the number of stolen vehicles involved in instances of ramming of Garda vehicles in 2019 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022’.

As you will recall, I sought the information you requested and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

I can assure you that I strongly condemn any assault on, or action that causes harm to, serving members of An Garda Síochána or any action that causes damage to Garda resources or public property.

An Garda Síochána perform a vital function in providing safety and security to our communities and should be applauded and supported for their service, not subject to assault or harm in the execution of their duties.

The below table, furnished by the Garda authorities, lists the number of incidents of Garda vehicles involved in ramming incidents, up to 3 October 2022. I am advised that figures are provided on a Division level basis to account for the ongoing rollout of the new Operating Model. Figures provided are operational and subject to change.

Number of instances of ramming of Garda vehicles by Division

Year	2019	2020	2021	2022
Cavan/Monaghan	5	6	9	4
Clare	0	1	0	0
Cork City	2	1	0	5
Cork West	0	0	0	0
Cork North	2	3	1	0
DMR East	1	0	1	0
DMR North Central	0	1	1	0
DMR North	1	2	4	1
DMR West	5	4	1	2
DMR South	4	3	1	0
DMR South Central	0	0	1	1
DMR Traffic	1	1	0	2
Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau	0	0	0	1
Donegal	7	11	8	3
Galway	1	0	1	0
Kerry	1	1	1	0
Kildare	1	2	0	0
Kilkenny/Carlow	2	1	4	0
Laois/Offaly	2	0	1	0
Limerick	8	2	2	1
Louth	5	9	5	5
Mayo	0	0	0	1
Meath	4	3	2	1
Roscommon/Longford	0	0	1	0
Sligo/Leitrim	0	2	0	0
Special Tactics & Operations Command	8	5	1	0
Tipperary	3	2	1	0
Waterford	0	2	1	0
Westmeath	1	3	0	2
Wexford	1	2	0	2
Wicklow	0	1	0	0
Total	65	68	47	31

I have further been advised that, in relation to the numbers of stolen vehicles and the number of minors involved in these incidents respectively, as the Garda Síochána Analysis Service cannot establish all such collisions/incidents from PULSE they are unable to determine the associated drivers and whether or not they are minors and similarly are unable to determine the associated vehicles and whether or not they were stolen at the time.