Garda call-outs to schools over knives and weapons double in a year

'Schools must be safe havens. The Government, the minister for education and the gardaí must take these threats and trends very seriously,' Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The number of incidents of gardaí having to go to schools to deal with knives, weapons, and firearms has doubled in the space of a year.

Gardaí recorded 31 incidents in school buildings or on school grounds relating to the possession of an “offensive weapon” or firearm in 2025 alone.

This is up from 16 reports in 2024, 18 in 2024, and 13 in 2022. The figures provided for 2021 show just 11 incidents.

However, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said it could not be confirmed whether these incidents involved students or other offenders, as the category of information cannot be stored on the Garda information system Pulse.

The figures were provided to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín who told the Irish Examiner they were of “serious concern”.

“There has been a big increase in 2025 of gardaí being called to a school to deal with an incident involving an offensive weapon or a firearm,” he said.

“Last year, there were over three times the number of incidents than in 2021.

“As a parent, it's horrendous to think of any occasion where a firearm or an offensive weapon would be used in any manner in a school.

These are the types of nightmares that we are used to watching on our televisions. I would have never thought that we would see them in Ireland.

He said in recent years, there had been reports of threats made by armed individuals on school grounds. 

"Panic has been instilled in school children. Guns have been found on school premises. Children have been suspended for carrying knives or scissors as weapons.

“Schools must be safe havens. The Government, the minister for education and the gardaí must take these threats and trends very seriously.

“We need zero tolerance for these activities, added protection for parents and teachers and serious penalties for criminals who break the law in this regard."

Mr O’Callaghan told Mr Tóibín he “strongly condemns” the use of knives and other weapons to threaten, intimidate or harm others.

“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,” he said.

“My department is progressing targeted interventions through youth diversion projects that work directly with young offenders across the country, and, at a wider community level, through the roll-out of local community safety partnerships in all local authority areas.

"I am also assured that gardaí will continue with their proactive measures to tackle this issue, including their assault reduction strategy, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public, including use of knives and other weapons. This strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early investigation, and proactive high-visibility approach."