Vol. 506 No. 6
97 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if she will establish a working group in conjunction with the local community in Dublin 17 with the aim of establishing a motor project whose purpose would be to provide an alternative for the many young people who are at risk of becoming involved in joyriding in view of the fact that previous efforts by the community alone were unable to overcome problems such as insurance. [16155/99]
Since coming into office, I have given a high priority to the diversion of young people who are at risk of becoming involved in crime. In that time, I have doubled the number of Garda special projects from 12 to 24 and there are a number of proposals for other projects before my Department. The projects are tangible crime prevention measures and are run in conjunction with youth organisations. One such project is operating in the Dublin 17 area.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a forum has been established in the Coolock area to examine the problem of joyriding. The forum is chaired by the local Garda community relations sergeant and includes representatives from Dublin Corporation, the local Garda special project, and the local community.
I understand that a sub-committee of the forum considered the establishment of a motor project and concluded that such a project was not feasible, due primarily to the financial cost. I am also informed that the forum is currently pursuing the issue of better estate management through environmental design. Under such an approach, the problem of joyriding could be tackled by such means as speed ramps, the widening of footpaths to reduce road widths, and other road modification measures.
98 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the sentences for crimes relating to the illegal taking of cars, joyriding and burning out of cars are a sufficient deterrent to these crimes; if his attention has been drawn to the persistent phenomenon of the revolving door in respect of offenders arrested for this offence; and the plans, if any, he has to undertake a review of the effectiveness of the law and its enforcement in respect of these offences. [16159/99]
The offence of unauthorised taking of a mechanically propelled vehicle commonly referred to as ‘joyriding' is a criminal offence under section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended. The legislation pertaining to the investigation of criminal damage, burning out cars, is defined under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.
The penalties available to the courts for these offences include fines, terms of imprisonment, or both, or disqualification and orders on a defendant's driving licence.
The annual reports of An Garda Síochána shows the number of unauthorised taking of vehicles as 13,793, provisional, in respect of 1998, 13,589 in 1997 and 13,405 in 1996. These statistics contrast with the 1983 total of 19,484 cases of unauthorised taking.
I have been assured by the Garda authorities that the legislation in force is adequate to cover the present situation. I should state however, that any amendment to road traffic legislation is matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government who is responsible for all road traffic legislation.
I have been further assured by the Garda authorities that the strategies currently in place to combat joyriding and other criminal damage are reviewed periodically and changes to tactics are made where necessary to ensure continued effectiveness.
