Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Mar 1990

Vol. 397 No. 6

Written Answers. - Vehicle Theft.

Louis J. Belton

Ceist:

139 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Justice the number of thefts of motor cars which have been reported in Dublin city and county for the years (a) 1987 (b) 1988 and (c) 1989; the number of cars which were recovered during those years; the number still missing; the number of these incidents which resulted in charges being preferred; the number of convictions which were obtained; and the number of these incidents which also involved the theft of additional personal property.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

It is assumed that the question is intended to include vehicles taken without the owner's consent even though this does not constitute stealing in the strict legal sense. The information sought, in so far as it is readily available, is set out in a tabular statement. It relates to the DMA and to motor vehicles generally.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the other information sought in the question is not readily available and could be obtained only by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources.

Following is the statement:

Year	Number of vehicles subject of Larceny	Number of vehicles subject of unauthorised takings	Total
1987	1,168	7,257	8,425
1988	1,198	7,104	8,302
1989	1,110	7,033	8,143

Year	Number of proceedings commenced in relation to larceny of Motor Vehicles	Number of cases in which convictions were obtained or charges proved and order made without conviction
1987	56	6
1988	56	15
1989	39	12

Year	Number of proceedings commenced in relation to taking an MPV without authority	Number of cases in which convictions were obtained or charges proved and order made without conviction
1987	1,018	697
1988	1,212	905
1989	not available	not available

Notes:

(i)Figures for 1989 are provisional.

(ii) All vehicles which were the subject of unauthorised takings were, of course, recovered.