Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the Central Statistics Office delay in publishing crime statistics following the publication of the Garda Inspectorate's crime investigation report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27017/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication of the Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation last November, the Central Statistics Office temporarily suspended its publication of recorded crime statistics, while it carried out a detailed analysis of issues raised by the Garda Inspectorate in relation to the recording, classification and reclassification of crime. The timing and management of this process was a matter for the CSO to determine, as the independent national statistics agency. It will be appreciated, however, that it was important that the time be taken to do this in a thorough and professional manner.

I very much welcome the recent resumption of publication of crime statistics and am grateful for the CSO's detailed analysis of the how the issues identified by the Garda Inspectorate impact on the production of the official crime 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.