Parliamentary Questions

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons reported as missing in each of the past ten years to date in 2016; the number traced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35201/16]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Deputy's question is timely as on Wednesday, 7 December 2016, I will be hosting a ceremony to mark national Missing Persons Day. The objective of Missing Persons Day is to commemorate all those who have gone missing and recognise the lasting trauma for their families and friends. Missing Persons Day also draws attention to open or unsolved missing persons cases, and creates an opportunity to provide information on available support services. The ceremony will be attended by families and friends of missing persons, as well as a number of organisations working in the community on their behalf. An Garda Síochána will also be in attendance at the ceremony, notably the Missing Persons Bureau and many Family Liaison Officers. Further information on National Missing Persons Day is available from missingpersonsday@justice.ie.
The following table details the number of missing person reports made to An Garda Síochána in the years 2007 to 10 November 2016. This table also shows the number of persons who are currently still missing for each of these years. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information supplied is provisional, operational and liable to change.