Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the status of the Garda Review on Crime Statistic Classifications, arising from the Garda inspectorate report and Central Statistics Office concerns; the time frame for its publication; the expected actions arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19478/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the review in question, which is being undertaken by the Central Statistics Office as the independent national statistics agency, involves a detailed analysis of certain issues raised by the 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 the CSO produces. This process has necessitated a temporary interruption in the publication of quarterly crime statistics. However, I understand that the CSO has indicated that it intends to resume publication of crime statistics by the end of June 2015. I am further advised that the CSO will at that time also publish an analysis of the quality of the data used in those statistics based on the above examination.

In parallel with this exercise, and also arising from the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate, An Garda Síochána is reviewing all aspects of the manner in which crime is being recorded and classified. In this regard, I am informed that a new Incident Recording Process which addresses the challenges identified in the report has been developed and is currently being piloted in three Garda Divisions. The pilot is focused on achieving data integrity for both crime and non-crime incidents reported to the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) for inclusion on PULSE. This project is one of a range of measures being taken forward by An Garda Síochána under the aegis of an Implementation Steering Group which was established to focus on the implementation of the short,medium and long-term recommendations in the Report.