460. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of adult caution notifications issued to persons by An Garda Síochána in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the Act used to apply the caution. [60304/22]

Minister for Justice: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of adult caution notifications issued to persons by An Garda Síochána in 2019, 2020, 2021 and up to 30 November 2022, grouped according to the offence category.

*Up to 30 November 2022.

**Fewer than 10 Adult Cautions issued.

N/A - It is worth noting that Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 (Possession of cannabis or cannabis resin a controlled substance, commonly referred to as “simple possession” or “possession for personal use,” was added to the schedule of offences for the Adult Cautioning Scheme on 14 December 2020.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the data provided is according to the PULSE system as of 2 December 2022.

I am further advised that “Year issued” refers to the year in which offender details were updated on the PULSE system to reflect the issuing of an Adult Caution.