Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 5 March 2009, the way this Deputy may obtain the information that the Central Statistics Office refused considering that similar information was transmitted to this Deputy by his Department on a number of previous occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 5 March 2009, the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of crime statistics.

I am informed by the CSO that a key protocol in the production of official statistics is to protect confidentiality and minimise the risk of disclosing information that might lead to an individual being identified. The production of statistics at very small levels of geography increases the risk of disclosure, particularly of crimes that are low volume. The CSO's obligation to preserve confidentiality is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Central Statistics Office and An Garda Síochána.

I am also informed that the CSO's judgment is that given the nature of the offences and the small geographic area, providing the data requested by the Deputy would pose a risk of disclosure.