Crime is down 7% according to the latest statistics from the Department of Justice for the nine-month period from January to September this year.
Murder is down by 9%, and burglary is down 3%, while aggravated sexual assault is down 13%.
However crimes relating to possession of firearms have increased by 12%, and the incidence of firearms being discharged rose 5%.
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, said the figures were encouraging and should improve as more gardaí are recruited, but admitted that there were still areas of concern.
“There are a few areas where I am concerned. One of them is in relation to firearms and the other is within the sexual offences category, which is substantially down on last year. But there is an increase in the number of rapes, which I find disturbing,” he said.