Vol. 527 No. 5
199 Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there has been a higher incidence of car thefts in Dublin since the introduction of the national car test; and if there have been any prosecutions of persons for making fraudulent claims in relation to car theft or fire damage to older cars. [29105/00]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of incidents of car theft reported to the Garda in the Dublin metropolitan region for the first ten months of the year 2000 shows a reduction of 9% when compared to the same period in 1999. As the Deputy is no doubt aware the national car test came into effect in January 2000.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that statistics on the number of prosecutions for making fraudulent claims for car theft and or fire damage to older cars are not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources.
