Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Apr 1990

Vol. 397 No. 9

Written Answers. - Stolen Cars.

Tony Gregory

Question:

26 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Garda appear to be unable to deal effectively with a serious problem involving stolen cars on a nightly basis in the Sheriff Street and Seán MacDermot Street areas of Dublin 1 involving a handful of 13/14 year old youths; to the fact that local residents are fearful of fatal danger in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

The Garda authorities have informed me that they are aware that there have been problems in this area arising from the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles and that two youths, who were responsible for many of the problems, were brought before the courts last year and were sentenced to significant periods of detention.

The Garda authorities inform me that, to deal with the problems of the nature referred to that continue to arise, the area receives special attention from Garda foot and mobile patrols from Store Street and from other specialist units. In addition, a number of special Garda initiatives have been taken in this area and community gardaí have recently been appointed with responsibility for Sheriff Street and Seán McDermot Street. The Garda authorities inform me that these measures are proving successful and that the provisional 1989 figures relating to the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles in the Store Street district are considerably lower than the corresponding figures for 1988.

I am assured by the Garda authorities that they are continuing to give attention to the situation and that they will take any further appropriate measures that may be necessary to deal with it.