Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Central Statistics Office’s crime data for quarter 3 2014 will be published; the reason there is a delay in publication; the actions that have been taken in view of the criticisms of these statistics by the Garda Inspectorate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5901/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that, as the CSO is the independent national statistical agency, the timing and format of the recorded crime statistics which it publishes are matters for it to determine.

As the Deputy may be aware, the CSO has previously indicated that it is carrying out a detailed analysis of certain issues raised by the Garda Inspectorate in relation to the recording, classification and reclassification of crime, to see whether and to what extent they may have implications for the crime statistics which that Office produces.This process is currently ongoing and the CSO has indicated that it has resulted in a delay in publishing the Quarter 3 statistics for 2014.

The CSO has also agreed to chair an expert panel to examine the Inspectorate's recommendations on crime statistics.The expert panel will review the crime counting and detection rules, as recommended by the Inspectorate, with a view to introducing new national standards. As well as including representatives of the Department and An Garda Síochána, the intention is that the panel will have outside experts with relevant expertise. Terms of Reference for this group are being finalised at present.

I can also advise the Deputy that, while this work is underway, the Garda authorities have put in place a number of immediate measures arising from the Inspectorate's recommendations in relation to the recording of crime. In particular, these include the establishment of a new Data Quality Team in the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC), as well as measures to strengthen PULSE governance arrangements. Work is also underway with respect to planning for the necessary investment in Garda technology to support the recording and management of crime information, and to bring outdated paper based practices into the 21st century.