Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jul 1993

Vol. 433 No. 6

Written Answers. - Car Thefts.

Ivor Callely

Question:

73 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice if there has been any noticeable change in crime involving car thefts; if statistics are available as to possible uses of vehicles, such as joy riding, spare parts, resale, bank raids and other such purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information sought by the Deputy which is readily available is as set out in the following tabular statement, in respect of the period 1988-91. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.

	No. of vehicles the subject of unauthorised taking (all of these were recovered)	No. of vehicles the subject of larceny
1988	9,408	1,507
1989	9,923	1,350
1990	10,521	1,661
1991	9,783	1,787

I am informed by the Garda authorities that information is not available on the use made of these vehicles.

As can be seen from the table the combined figures for recorded larceny and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles in 1991 shows a decrease of 5 per cent on the corresponding 1990 figure bringing the level of such crime down by almost 50 per cent on the level recorded in 1981.