Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has welcomed the decrease in offending in 12 of 14 crime groups recorded in CSO figures released today.
"The continued reduction in nearly all categories of recorded crime reflects well on Garda measures to prevent and combat crime. Notwithstanding the many pressures faced, the Commissioner and his officers are clearly using their resources to good effect," Mr Shatter said.
On the two areas where increases were reported, the quarterly review noted 7,987 burglary and related offences in the first three months of 2012 compared to 27,494 for the whole of last year.
Mr Shatter said of the increase in burglaries that it was a "cause of great concern" to him.
?It is too early to see the full impact of the concerted and intelligence-led measures An Garda Siochana have put in place under Operation Fiacla but I know these are a top priority for the Commissioner and are proactively targeting prolific offenders," he added.
On frauds and deceptions, there were 1,638 incidents between January and March compared to 5,319 for the whole of last year. Some of the more notable decreases in crime statistics included attempted murder and threats to kill, assaults and harassment, down 8.7 per cent.
The CSO said dangerous or negligent acts, which includes some serious driving offences and child neglect or cruelty, were down 16.9 per cent on the same three month period as last year.
Elsewhere, controlled drug offences were down 8.9 per cent and public order offences down 14.7 per cent. Commenting on the fall in drug offences, Mr Shatter said: ?I want to again pay tribute to the determination and resourcefulness of the gardai and the Customs Service in tackling the activities of major players in the drugs trade."
"They have our full support and particularly the support of communities who bear the brunt of the harm which illicit drugs cause.?