I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in recent years, the Cavan/ Monaghan division has had one of the lowest crime rates in the State. For example, in 1993, of the 23 Garda divisions, the Cavan/Monaghan division had the fourth lowest number of reported crimes. In 1994, the division had the fifth lowest number of crimes. The 1993 figure showed a decrease of 4 per cent over the previous year and this pattern was repeated in 1994 when a decrease of 6 per cent was recorded.
In addition, the rate of detection in the division in 1993 and 1994 was the second highest and third highest respectively in the State. While provisional figures for 1995 indicate that there has been an increase in crime in the division, the indications are that this division still has the fifth lowest number of crimes committed per division.