Ivana Bacik
Question:
457. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if her Department records the type of vehicle involved in road accidents which become the subject of a criminal trial; if not, her plans to record such information; and if so, the types of vehicles involved in such accidents in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [42840/23]
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It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 457 of 3 October 2023 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice if her Department records the type of vehicle involved in road accidents which become the subject of a criminal trial; if not, her plans to record such information; and if so, the types of vehicles involved in such accidents in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023.”
As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the direction of investigation priorities for the organisation and the management of the PULSE system. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information is not available in the format requested. I am further advised however that vehicle types are recorded on PULSE in relation to all traffic collisions and to crime incidents, where applicable.
I am advised that fatal, serious and non-serious injury collisions with a date reported between 1 January 2018 and 28 September 2023 were examined for any linked, associated or cased crimes. These crimes may be of any type and may or may not have an associated vehicle. Where there was an associated vehicle to the above crimes, the details of these vehicles were also examined.
I am informed that from this analysis, the five most common vehicle types associated with these crimes are:
• MPV (Hatchback/Saloon/Estate)
• Motorcycle
• Jeep (incl. Estate/Jeep)
• Sports/Coupe (Non-Convertible)
• Articulated Tractor Unit (An articulated tractor unit may also be known as a truck cab or unit and does not relate to agricultural tractors).
These figures are based on incidents reported from 1 January 2018 to 28 September 2023, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 29 September 2023 and is liable to change. Crime counting rules were applied.
