The Government has said that some 867 investigative links between people and unsolved crimes were uncovered by the National DNA Database in 2018.

These ranged from burglaries to sexual assaults and murder.

The Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) annual report revealed that some 38 out of every 100 crime scene samples uploaded to the database last year were linked to a person.

The database is being populated with unidentified DNA profiles from crime scenes.

These profiles can then be matched with DNA profiles uploaded from individuals under criminal investigation.

Image: Forensic Science Ireland

The DNA database also allowed FSI to identify five missing persons over the course of the year.

FSI also delivered 7,443 drugs reports - including 4,571 reports related to possession with intent to supply or cultivation charges.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has commended the continued impact of the database in aiding crime detection.

"I would like to thank Chris Enright and the team at Forensic Science Ireland for their tremendous work throughout 2018.

"High quality forensics help establish the facts and turn the wheels of the criminal justice system.

"Strong forensic processes, allied to good policing, help create a climate of deterrence for potential criminals and increased public confidence in the criminal justice system."

FSI had added 26,649 profiles to the database by the end of last year - as well as 5,326 unsolved crime stains.

The crime solving capacity of the database is expected to grow as it grows.

The Department of Justice said other advances in DNA technology have allowed FSI to analyse more complex mixtures from crime scenes and compare individual profiles against the national database.

Director-general of the FSI, Chris Enright, said: "One of our biggest challenges is to stay ahead of new technologies year on year so that we can continue to provide every support to An Garda Síochána and to the criminal justice system.

"The 2018 FSI annual report proves yet again how new technology is helping us to have the most impact with our resources across case type."