Thomas P. Broughan
Question:
163. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons charged with selling off-road vehicles including scramblers to underage persons in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of persons charged with the misuse of off-road vehicles, including scramblers in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40734/18]
View answer
I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the statistics sought by the Deputy and I will be in contact with the Deputy again on receipt of a Garda report.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to parliamentary question No. 163 of 9 October 2018. I apologise for the considerable delay in responding, and regret that a second Parliamentary Question was required (545 of 26 March 2019), however, the Garda report, requested in October, is only now to hand.
In the original question the Deputy asked for statistics relating to the number of persons charged with selling off-road vehicles including scramblers (hereinafter motor propelled vehicles [MPVs]). Separately, he also asked for the number of persons charged with the misuse of MPVs.
I am advised by An Garda Síochána that, from 1 January 2015 to 21 March 2019, there has been a total of three summons issued for the offence of the supply of MPVs to person under the age of 16 or 17, contrary to section 30(1)(a)/30(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 2004, and 30(2) of the Road Traffic Act 2004 (as substituted by section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 2010).
In relation to statistics on persons charged with the misuse of MPVs, An Garda Síochána have advised that offenders involved in this activity can be charged with an array of offences under both road traffic and public order legislation. As there is no set offence code for “the misuse of off-road vehicles” , such statistics cannot be compiled without a manual trawl of the PULSE system, which has been considered a disproportionate use of Garda resources.
I hope this information has been of assistance to the Deputy.
