Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2021
178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the CSO keeping Garda PULSE data under reservation; the actions her Department is taking to improve the quality of Garda PULSE data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46861/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This responsibility includes the management of the PULSE system and the gathering of data generally.
The Deputy will also be aware that the CSO resumed publication of recorded crime statistics in March 2018 using the category 'Under Reservation'. This allowed the CSO to use the best available data for crime recorded in Ireland while informing users of concerns regarding the quality of the data.
I am advised that the CSO and An Garda Síochána consulted on the steps needed in order to get the reservation lifted. The CSO proposals outlined three main areas for development regarding the quality of PULSE based statistics, being the appointment by An Garda Síochána of a senior manager with overall responsibility for data quality, provision of a more comprehensive set of crime counting rules, and the development and implementation of a formal quality management system for PULSE-based statistics.
Significant progress has been made in each of these areas, including the appointment of a Chief Information Officer for An Garda Síochána in November 2019, who engages extensively with the CSO on data quality matters, and the publication of the Guide to How Crime is Recorded and Counted by An Garda Síochána. In addition, a data quality framework has been developed and is operated by the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC).
This progress has been acknowledged by the CSO, as have been improvements in data quality as GISC has progressively created a greater proportion of incidents.
The Deputy will be aware that the fourth Review of the Quality of Recorded Crime Statistics published by the CSO on 21 July 2021, examines the extent to which user needs for crime data are being met from PULSE and notes that better quality data is enabling the CSO to expand the statistical products it can provide. For instance, as a result of the improved reliability of PULSE outputs relating to detected crime and suspected offenders, the CSO has been able to publish new and more detailed statistical analysis related to these categories. The CSO report also acknowledges other improvements in PULSE data quality, such as the classification of crime incidents and timeliness of recording incidents.
