Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of indictable crimes in 2004. [23098/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As regards 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 in order 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 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. The Deputy will also wish to be aware 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.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there were 98,964 headline offences recorded in 2004. It is important to note that the figures provided for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to validation and change.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of deaths due to homicide registered in 2004; and the number of gender. [23099/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there were 37 murders recorded in 2004, 31 males and six females. In addition, there were eight manslaughters recorded in 2004, six males and two females. The figures provided for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to change.