SHOCK: Over 250 knives seized on Tipperary streets in the past few years

Over 250 knives have been seized from the streets of Tipperary in the past five years, according to figures obtained by Aontú.

"That is a staggering level of hidden danger on the streets," said Eric Nelligan, the party's Mid West representative.

Mr Nelligan said that it seemed Ireland was becoming a more violent and dangerous society.

He asked if the punishment for breaking the law on carrying knives was a sufficient deterrent, with the average jail sentence being just four-and-a-half-months in the district court.

"This is not enough," he declared.

There were 24 knives seized in Tipperary in 2016, with 44 in 2017, 35 in 2018; 47 in 2019, a high of 57 in 2020, and a further 33 in 2021, according to the figures released following a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Justice.

A total of 1,832 knives were seized in 2021 nationally, and that rose to 2,132 last year.

"At one level the work of the Gardaí is to be welcomed. Taking these knives off the street has saved lives. But it also shows that there is a significant and worsening problem of knives on our streets," said Mr Nelligan.

He described the increase in knife-related assaults as "very concerning", saying some members of An Garda Síochána believed it was a sign of increased knife-carrying, particularly among young males.

Aontú is calling for for more gardai on the streets, tougher sentences and a knife amnesty to give members of the public the chance to dispose of a knife anonymously.