Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 847: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of headline crimes reported in the years 2002 to date in 2008; the number of Gardaí in these years stationed at a Garda division (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27614/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following the submission of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. Crime statistics are provided by the CSO for the period beginning 2003.

I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Garda Division referred to in the years 2002-2008 is set out in the following table.

The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day personnel strengths of individual divisions, districts and stations may fluctuate due, for example, to promotions, retirements and transfers.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking all relevant factors into account. In that regard, the needs of the Garda Division referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 849: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and category of various crimes reported to the Gardaí in County Kildare in each of the past five years to date; the number of prosecutions taken; the number of convictions arising therefrom; the reason for failure to prosecute or convict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27627/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following the submission of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

As the Deputy will appreciate, I have no role in the investigation or prosecution of cases. This is a long standing principle of our system of justice. The role of the Gardaí is to investigate alleged offences, to gather whatever evidence may be available and to submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The question of whether or not a particular person should be prosecuted and for what criminal offence is the responsibility of the DPP. The Director, who is independent in the performance of his functions, makes his decision on the basis of the Garda findings viewed against the background of common and/or statute law. The courts similarly are independent, subject only to the Constitution and the law, in the exercise of their judicial functions.