asked the Minister for Justice the number of offences against persons involving stabbing with knives or other such offensive weapons which have been reported to the Garda since 1 January, 1987, or are under investigation by the Garda at the moment.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of offences of the nature referred to in the question which were reported to the Garda in the period from 1 January to 31 October 1987 is 1,165.