Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the actions she has taken to address the inadequacies as outlined in the Garda Síochána Inspectorate crime investigation report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27050/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation forms an important component in the overall justice reform programme which is currently underway and in respect of which significant progress has already been made. Implementation of this programme, including the reforms recommended by the Inspectorate, is being overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform, chaired by An Taoiseach.

Following the publication of the Report, An Garda Síochána established an Implementation Steering Group to focus on the implementation of the short, medium and long-term recommendations in the Report. To assist in the overall reform process a Strategic Transformation Office has been established at Garda Headquarters to coordinate the implementation of the reforms arising from the Inspectorate’s report.

Important steps to respond to Report's recommendations have included the establishment of Risk Compliance and Continuous Improvement Offices in each Region to ensure the standardisation of processes and to support Regional Garda management in improving the delivery of local policing services and ensuring governance and accountability.

Other important measures which are being taken forward are the development of a new accountability framework for crime investigation, incident management and administration, as well as the introduction of a new IT strategic planning process to oversee the necessary and early investment in upgrading Garda technology. In this regard I have been working closely with my colleague Minister Howlin to secure the necessary and early investment in upgrading Garda technology and I hope to make significant announcements shortly in relation to the development of Garda ICT systems.

The Garda commitment to improving the support to victims of crime is highlighted in early developments following on the Inspectorate's recommendations. These include the establishment of Garda Victim Service Offices in each Garda Division from March 2015. In addition, a new Child Protection, Domestic Violence and Human Exploitation Unit has been established and a Chief Superintendent appointed to oversee the new unit under the auspices of Garda National Support Services. Updates are also being made to PULSE to facilitate better communication with victims.

The Deputy will be aware that following a detailed analysis of PULSE data in relation to the recording, classification and reclassification of crime, the CSO has recently resumed publication of the quarterly crime figures, along with an analysis of the how the issues identified by the Garda Inspectorate impact on the production of these statistics. The analysis carried out by both the CSO and the Garda Inspectorate has identified common issues of concern in relation to Garda crime recording processes and systems. Following the publication of the Inspectorate’s report, An Garda Síochána took a number of important initiatives to address the issues identified in relation to the recording of crime, and the Commissioner has recently indicated that, arising from and building on this work, she expects a series of further new measures to be rolled out nationally later this year. It is essential that we have access to accurate, reliable data on crime, and the CSO will continue to work with An Garda Síochána to address the issues identified, and has indicated that it will repeat its analysis of the data quality issues at regular intervals.

I might also draw the Deputy’s attention to other work being led by the CSO which is chairing an Expert Panel to examine the Garda Inspectorate’s recommendations on crime statistics, including with a view to the development of new crime counting rules.

More broadly, my Department has established a Criminal Justice Strategic Committee, as part of the overall justice sector reform programme, and as also recommended by the Inspectorate. The Committee includes the heads of all the relevant criminal justice agencies and provides a forum to address cross-cutting issues within the criminal justice sector.