Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:440. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of knives seized by Gardai in 2024 and for the first nine months of 2025, in tabular form. [53615/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 7 October 2025
Ceisteanna (440)
Freagraí scríofa
I strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. I am committed to ensuring that communities are safe and tackling knife crime is an important element of that.
Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.
There is, however, a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime. Last year, legislation was introduced which increased the maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife with intent to cause injury, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another person, from five to seven years imprisonment.
In addition, the Government doubled the maximum penalty for assault causing harm to 10 years, in 2023. The offence of assault causing serious harm already has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The below table, provided by Garda authorities outlines the number of knives that have been seized by Gardaí in 2024 and Q1 to Q3 in 2025:
|
Year |
Number Knives Seized |
|
2024 |
2,184 |
|
2025 |
1,71 |
The Deputy may be interested to note, An Garda Síochána recently released a knife related crime analysis report on their website at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/knife-related-crime-2015-to-2024.pdf