Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2011
92 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures currently in place to monitor motor tax on vehicles; the way money offences were recorded in 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; if plans are in place to improve the monitoring of such an offence; if so, the steps being taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31668/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that offences relating to not having valid road fund tax for a vehicle being operated in a public place are dealt with by members of An Garda Síochána primarily by way of issuing a fixed charge notice for the offence of failing to display a current vehicle licence, contrary to sections 73(1) and 76 (as amended by section 63 of the Finance Act 1993) of the Finance Act 1976. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 to 2 October 192,642 fixed charge notices were issued by members of An Garda Síochána and local authority parking wardens for these offences.
Garda management keeps under constant review the monitoring of compliance by vehicle owners with the requirement of having valid road fund tax and adjusts its enforcement strategy as necessary. Following the submission in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from An Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. Following the setting up of the necessary technical systems and auditing of the data from which the statistics are compiled, the CSO is now compiling, publishing and responding to queries regarding recorded crime statistics. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics in relation to the total number of offences recorded dealt with by fixed charge notices or otherwise directly to the Deputy.
