David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Cobh area of County Cork for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15984/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Youghal area of County Cork for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15985/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Midleton area of County Cork for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15986/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Fermoy area of County Cork for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15987/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Mitchelstown area of County Cork for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15988/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Mallow area of County Cork for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15989/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 279, inclusive, together.

With 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 six per 1,000 population over the longer period of 11 quarters for which figures are available. This trend is reflected throughout most Garda districts.

In interpreting these figures account has 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. The Deputy will also note that, 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.

The following tables show the headline offences, for the years 2000 to 2004, inclusive, for the Cobh Garda district, Midleton Garda district which covers Youghal, Fermoy Garda district which covers the Mitchelstown area, and Mallow Garda district.