I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 to 392, 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. 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 am informed by the Garda authorities that the following tables show the headline crime statistics by groups from 2000 to 2004 for the Thurles Garda district, the Templemore Garda district, which includes the Roscrea area, the Nenagh Garda district, which covers the Borrisokane area, the Killaloe Garda district, which covers the Newport area, and the Tipperary town Garda district, which covers the Cappawhite area.