Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2024
71. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the statutory functions of An Garda Síochána in compiling statistics on the prevalence of certain types of theft and robbery offences; and where those functions are conferred. [21913/24]
View answerUnder the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, as Minister, I have no role in such matters.
As set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and in accordance with the procedures and requirements of the Statistics Act, 1993, there is a statutory obligation for the production of crime statistics. Once commenced, Section 77 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 will place similar obligation on An Garda Síochána.
The CSO, as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics and publishes quarterly and annual reports in respect of crime statistics, using data recorded on the PULSE system.
An Garda Síochána records details of crime incidents on PULSE which facilitates the categorisation of crime into various Incident Categories and Types. Crime figures generated from PULSE are used within An Garda Síochána as management information and play an important part in operational and strategic decision-making. The data recorded are also used by a wide variety of organisations that have an interest in specific or general aspects of crime.
I am assured that there is effective co-operation and engagement between the CSO and teams within An Garda Síochána led by the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) so that both organisations fulfil their respective statutory obligations for the production of crime statistics as set out in the Acts referred.
