Vol. 566 No. 3
409 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department can record each incident reported through each Garda station throughout the country as a means of obtaining up-to-date crime statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12992/03]
My Department does not record criminal incidents, and it has no investigative powers in relation to criminal matters. In respect of incidents reported to it, the Garda Síochána has sole responsibility for recording such incidents in accordance with long-standing crime counting rules. The Garda information technology system, PULSE, collects data originating electronically or otherwise from every Garda station.
The statistics are compiled by the Garda Síochána according to Garda organisational boundaries and not according to Garda station. Geographically based crime statistics are forwarded to me as one component of the annual report of An Garda Síochána. I have facilitated the public availability of more up-to-date crime statistics than is possible with annual returns by ensuring that provisional headline crime figures will be published on a quarterly basis. The first such quarterly statistical return was published on 5 May last in respect of the first quarter 2003.
Question No. 410 answered with Question No. 138.
