Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, based on PULSE data. The statistics for the Galway Garda division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for that county. The Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for the second quarter of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories. This reflects the success of the concerted Garda drive against crime being implemented under Operation Thor. InGalway Garda division, the figures show a reduction in burglary of 17%.

The quality of crime statistics is an international and national issue. When the Garda Inspectorate reported on it, I met with the CSO and I asked it to do some work on the quality of crime statistics. I know it is an independent body but I was very happy to see them do that work. They have produced two reports. The first was in June 2015 and there was another one more recently. That showed that the estimated impact of the issues identified in the Garda Inspectorate report in relation to recorded crime is substantially less than in the first review. Progress has been made in relation to the quality of crime statistics. We need to continue to examine it and keep a strong focus on it. The CSO will continue to monitor it, but it is going in the right direction.

I wish to pick up the second part of the Deputy's question, which is very important. Most crime incidents are recorded via the Garda information services centre, GISC, which is located in Castlebar. It is an around-the-clock service that enables gardaí to phone in details of a crime incident to specifically-trained staff to facilitate its correct recording and classification on PULSE. The lack of access to PULSE in a particular Garda station should not prevent the accurate recording of crime data. In fact, the latest information from the Garda authority is that 92% of all crime incidents are recorded via GISC, with the balance being recorded by gardaí directly on PULSE. It is very important that I am clear with Deputies who raise this issue as a number of Deputies have raised it. A total of 92% of the recording is done via the 24-hour services in Castlebar.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Some of the issues raised by the Garda Inspectorate concerned the need for procedures to ensure that the recording of crimes through GISC is maximised. As part of the work to implement the Garda Inspectorate’s very broad ranging recommendations, An Garda Síochána has implemented new measures to improve data quality, including a new incident recording process. This, together with important upgrades of the PULSE system during 2015, is supporting the improvement of Garda crime data as well as procedures for the supervision of investigations.

It will take time for the full effect of the upgrading of Garda systems to be reflected in the crime statistics. In this regard, I understand that the CSO intends to provide further analysis of crime data quality in due course which will help us to gauge, at that stage, how successful the ongoing work to achieve improvements in our crime statistics has been.

For its part, the Government remains committed to supporting this work and this is underlined by the investment of €330 million, including €205 million under the capital plan, in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.

In relation to the specific question of PULSE access for Garda stations, as a number of Deputies have sought similar information in relation to various counties, I propose to provide those Deputies with a table with this information and to include the table in the record of this debate.

I might add that the question of enhancing rural access to the Garda network is being examined as part of the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021. This includes plans to introduce mobile technology solutions to enable operational Gardaí to access core information systems, including PULSE, while on duty and away from Garda stations. However, as I have explained, the availability of PULSE in a given Garda station is not a prerequisite for the accurate recording and classification of crime data.

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