Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 15 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 6

Written Answers. - Car Theft Statistics.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

71 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of car thefts reported in each county, or Garda division, in the past 12 months; the number of convictions arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Flynn)

The information which is readily available relates to national figures for 1991 and is set out in the following tabular statements (1) and (2). A breakdown on a county or divisional basis is not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.

TABLE (1)

Unauthorised Taking of Motor Vehicles

Number of vehicles the subject of unauthorised taking (all of these were recovered)	Number of convictions*
9,783	1,398

TABLE (2)

Theft of Motor Vehicles

Number of vehicles the subject of larceny	Number of convictions
1,787	21

*This does not include instances of charges proved or orders made without conviction.

I am of course concerned at the problem of larceny of motor vehicles and in particular, at the problem of unauthorised taking of cars or so-called "joyriding". I am satisfied that the measures taken by the Garda authorities have been effective in dealing with this problem as is evidenced by the fact that the combined figures for recorded larceny and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles in 1991 decreased by 5 per cent on the corresponding 1990 figure, bringing the level of such crime down by over 47 per cent on the level recorded in 1981 when the problem peaked.

The Garda authorities have informed me that they are continuing to monitor this situation and will take whatever further measures may be appropriate to prevent and detect this type of crime.