Mark Ward
Ceist:
115. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number of seizures of illegal fireworks in each of the past five years; the number prosecuted in each year; the number of convictions in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24245/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy on the number and value of fireworks seized from An Garda Síochána and the number of convictions from the Courts Service. This information is currently being collated and verified.
I will write directly to the Deputy when this information is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
An Garda Síochána has provided the three tables below which were drawn from PULSE. Figures for 2020 are up to and including 13 September 2020.
Year
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
Seizure of Fireworks Incidents
|
154
|
134
|
147
|
130
|
52
|
It should be noted that the number of seizures this year is up when compared to the same period in 2019. For every year since 2016, the majority of firework seizures are made in October. Within the incidents noted above, the data was further interrogated to determine the quantities of fireworks seized. The table below shows approximate numbers and value of fireworks seized.
Year
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
Fireworks Seized
|
1173
|
1363
|
1207
|
1944
|
494
|
Value
|
€22,628
|
€17,359
|
€22,887
|
€26,954
|
€4,646
|
The final table supplied by An Garda Síochána below shows the number of unique persons associated with the ‘Fireworks Offences’ incidents per year that received a charge or summons.
Year
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
Persons Charge/Summonsed
|
24
|
20
|
26
|
25
|
As there were fewer than 10 persons charges or summonsed, figures for 2020 have not been provided. This is ensure there are no issues relating to data protection. In order to reflect all recorded incidents, crime-counting rules have not been applied to the data in these three tables.
Finally, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998 management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. The Courts Service has provided the information requested on convictions in the table below. This information has been drawn from instances where prosecutors used offence codes. It should be noted that it is possible for prosecutors to use uncoded free text when inputting offences; in this event, such offences would not be included in the table below.
Year
|
|
Possession of a Firework for the Purpose of Sale/Supply
|
Igniting Firework
|
Throw/Direct/Propel Ignited Firework
|
Total
|
2015
|
Offences
|
10
|
1
|
|
11
|
Persons
|
9
|
1
|
|
10
|
|
2016
|
Offences
|
7
|
|
|
7
|
Persons
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
2017
|
Offences
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
Persons
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
|
2018
|
Offences
|
3
|
|
1
|
4
|
Persons
|
3
|
|
1
|
4
|
|
2019
|
Offences
|
5
|
3
|
|
8
|
Persons
|
5
|
3
|
|
8
|
|
To July 2020
|
Offences
|
1
|
|
1
|
2
|
Persons
|
1
|
|
1
|
2
|
|