Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016
249. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of racist incidents and any percentage increase recorded on the Garda Síochána PULSE system since changes were introduced in December 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4957/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the production of official crime statistics is the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) as the national statistical agency. The official CSO Recorded Crime Statistics are derived from the data recorded on the Garda PULSE system. However, I am advised that CSO figures are not yet available for the period in question.
I might add that statistics already produced by the CSO on the incidence of racist crime can be accessed on www.integration.ie, the website of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI), an office of my Department which is the focal point for the Government's commitment on anti-racism as a key aspect of integration, diversity management and broader national social policy.
More generally I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána monitors racist and other hate crimes very carefully. The Garda Racial Intercultural and Diversity Office (GRIDO) has responsibility for coordinating, monitoring and advising on all aspects of policing Ireland's diverse communities. I am advised that GRIDO monitors the reporting and recording of hate and racist crime on a continual basis.
I have asked the Garda authorities for a report on the effect of the changes to PULSE referred to by the Deputy with respect to the recording of racist and hate crime. I will contact the Deputy directly when this report is to hand.
