Over 1,000 people have been convicted of possessing a knife over the past two years.
476 people were found guilty last year, and 570 in 2019.
The 16 per cent reduction in 2020 may be down to a big drop in court activity, due to the pandemic.
Sinn Féin's justice spokesman, Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny, says people should be encouraged to hand over their knives to the state.
