I am familiar with the survey referred to by the Deputy and agree that there is, without doubt, cause for concern in the material revealed. However, the methodology utilised to analyse the data is unclear. The most comprehensive victimisation survey to date was carried out as part of the Quarterly National Household Survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office in late 1998 which found that 63% of all assaults are reported to the gardaí. Over one-quarter of those who did not report an assault did not consider it important enough to do so. It is difficult to reconcile this with the numbers set out in the newspaper article.
I am strongly supportive of the need for properly researched data in this area. I therefore obtained Government approval for a proposal to conduct national crime victimisation surveys every two years. These will provide an important source of information on the incidence of criminal victimisation complementary to that in the Garda Commissioner's annual report. As a result, a more comprehensive picture on crime will emerge in the medium to long-term.
It is intended that the first survey will be conducted in 2004 and will involve sampling thousands of households and persons to determine their experiences of crime-related matters. In particular, it is anticipated that the survey results will provide an empirically sound evaluation of the level of unreported crime, which, of course, is an internationally observed phenomenon.
With regard to increasing the Garda presence on the streets, I have been authorised by the Cabinet to make the greatest possible use of the existing capacity of the Garda Training College in Templemore over the next two years to bring the strength of the force to 12,200, its current authorised maximum strength. While it will not be possible to increase numbers beyond that point for as long as the cap on public service numbers remains in place, this in itself will represent an all time record high.
I also intend to increase, as soon as circumstances permit, the number of Garda members available for front-line policing through a process of civilianisation.
In addition, I am strongly supportive of specialised and focused operations to counter late night disorder such as Operation Encounter, which came into force on 23 February 2002 and is focused on all issues of public order occurring in the community.
I will continue to ensure that the gardaí have all necessary powers to tackle this problem, and will consider carefully recommendations for legislative changes which have been made in recent reports, including the report on public order published by the National Crime Council on 9 May.
As the Deputy is aware the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill is currently awaiting debate in the Seanad.
I also intend to bring forward shortly a new Intoxicating Liquor Bill, which will respond to certain of the recommendations in the reports of the Commission on Liquor Licensing, as well as those in the Crime Council's report and the interim report of the strategic task force on alcohol of May 2002.
