Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Crime Levels.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

52 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to conduct a national crime survey to gauge and evaluate a more accurate picture of the level and nature of crime and related fears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20266/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am satisfied that the crime statistics published in the annual reports of the Garda Síochána are accurate reflections of the level and nature of crimes reported or known to the gardaí in the years to which they refer.

The Deputy may be interested to learn that the Central Statistics Office national household survey for the fourth quarter of 1998 includes a module on crime and victimisation. This module was developed by my Department and the gardaí in conjunction with a number of other bodies and it will yield a wide range of information when the data has been collated and analysed.

The Deputy may also be interested to know that details of a national survey of victims of crime undertaken by the Garda Síochána research unit and the ESRI were published in an article in the March 1998 issue of the Garda management journal Communique .