I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 to 322, inclusive, together.
In regard to crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office as Minister, the quarterly crime rate has decreased from 6.7 per 1,000 population to 6 per 1,000 over the longer period of 11 quarters for which figures are available. This trend is reflected throughout most Garda districts in the country.
In interpreting these figures, account has also to be taken of the introduction of the new PULSE computer system by the Garda Síochána in 1999, which led to more complete and comprehensive recording of crimes reported than was previously the case. The Deputy will also wish to be aware that, taking into account the significant increase in our population since 1995, the headline crime rate has fallen from 29 per 1,000 population in 1995 to 25 per 1,000 population in 2004.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Mullingar Garda station, which covers the Kinnegad area, and Athlone Garda station, which covers the Moate area, are open to the public on a 24-hour basis. Accordingly, the gardaí attached to both of these stations provide a 24-hour service to their respective districts. Resources are augmented from within the district-division as required. The area is also patrolled by the divisional traffic unit on an ongoing basis.
The Garda authorities have further informed me that the following tables show the headline offences for the years 2000 to 2004, inclusive, for the Mullingar Garda district and the Athlone Garda district.
Table 1
Headline Offences Recorded and Detected for Mullingar Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
|
Year
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004*
|
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Homicide
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Assault
|
14
|
13
|
23
|
20
|
51
|
41
|
38
|
31
|
35
|
24
|
Sexual Offences
|
6
|
4
|
14
|
10
|
28
|
16
|
33
|
24
|
34
|
22
|
Arson
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
2
|
16
|
7
|
11
|
3
|
14
|
2
|
Drugs
|
2
|
2
|
9
|
9
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
11
|
11
|
Thefts
|
240
|
127
|
276
|
113
|
468
|
157
|
451
|
106
|
520
|
133
|
Burglary
|
142
|
51
|
181
|
61
|
208
|
26
|
278
|
35
|
230
|
11
|
Robbery
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
17
|
5
|
11
|
4
|
6
|
1
|
Fraud
|
39
|
29
|
57
|
51
|
57
|
24
|
42
|
26
|
45
|
34
|
Other
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
6
|
24
|
14
|
13
|
7
|
6
|
3
|
Total
|
456
|
236
|
586
|
274
|
886
|
307
|
892
|
251
|
901
|
241
|
*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.
Table 2
Headline Offences Recorded and Detected for Athlone Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
|
Year
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004*
|
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Rec
|
Dec
|
Homicide
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Assault
|
7
|
5
|
17
|
16
|
80
|
68
|
41
|
38
|
35
|
27
|
Sexual Offences
|
9
|
8
|
10
|
5
|
15
|
6
|
16
|
6
|
11
|
1
|
Arson
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
11
|
3
|
15
|
2
|
Drugs
|
4
|
4
|
9
|
9
|
41
|
41
|
20
|
20
|
22
|
22
|
Thefts
|
320
|
176
|
422
|
192
|
550
|
216
|
606
|
211
|
463
|
133
|
Burglary
|
211
|
61
|
185
|
34
|
283
|
85
|
287
|
56
|
267
|
43
|
Robbery
|
11
|
8
|
25
|
15
|
24
|
14
|
19
|
7
|
23
|
11
|
Fraud
|
38
|
35
|
52
|
43
|
36
|
24
|
15
|
10
|
37
|
22
|
Other
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
29
|
10
|
5
|
5
|
7
|
3
|
Total
|
605
|
300
|
728
|
318
|
1,062
|
465
|
1,021
|
356
|
880
|
264
|
*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.