asked the Minister for Justice the number of car thefts (a) nationally and (b) within the Dublin Metropolitan area in the years 1980 and 1983; and the action he intends taking in this regard.

13.

asked the Minister for Justice the number of car thefts in the Cork city area in the years 1980 and 1984; and the action he intends to take in this matter.

14.

asked the Minister for Justice the plans he has to combat the problem of joyriders.

15.

asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the imminent possibility of the lynching of car thieves, he considers that emergency action by the Government is now necessary to take these car thieves off our streets; if he considers that the possibility outlined above is likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

16.

asked the Minister for Justice the number of arrests of joyriders that have been made by the Garda; the number of those joyriders who, when let out on bail, have committed further offences; and if he will give as detailed a reply as possible in order that the public may be made aware that the Garda are doing the very best that they can in such matters.

17.

asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the number of car thefts and Garda car rammings in the Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire, Dundrum and Rathmines areas of the south county of the city of Dublin; and the action, if any, he intends taking in the matter.

(Limerick East): A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 17, inclusive, together.

It is assumed that Questions Nos. 12 to 17 are intended to include all cars taken without the owners' consent, even though in most cases this is not stealing in the legal sense.

The total number of larcenies of cars in the whole country in 1980 was 515 of which 433 occured in the Dublin Metropolitan Area and 13 in Cork city. The corresponding figures for 1983 were 1,094, 1,002 and five respectively. Statistics for 1984 are not yet available.

The total number of unauthorised takings of mechanically propelled vehicles — a breakdown of the number of cars included in the figures for unauthorised takings of motor vehicles is not available — in the whole country in 1980 was 21,005, of which 16,172 occured in the Dublin Metropolitan Area and 1,428 in Cork city. The corresponding figures for 1983 were 19,484, 15,071 and 863 respectively. In all cases classified as "unauthorised takings" the vehicles involved were recovered.

I have already given details in a number of public statements of the measures being taken to curb this problem. I will outline them briefly again. A special Garda unit has been operating in the Dublin Metropolitan Area since 15 January last, with the sole objective of apprehending and deterring so-called joyriders. This unit has been very successful in that some 700 persons have been arrested and charged with the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles or similar offences. Some 322 persons are actually in prison serving sentences for such offences. Additional custodial accommodation has been provided at Spike Island and at Arbour Hill and Cork prison to ensure that car thieves and other criminals will serve the full sentences imposed on them by the courts.

As regards the number of persons who have committed further offences when on bail, the position is that precise figures for the full period since 1 January 1985 are not available but of the 642 persons who were arrested for the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles and related offences between 15 January 1985 and 18 April 1985 — a period of some 13 weeks — about 20 per cent committed similar offences while on bail. In this regard I have had discussions with the President of the District Court about the possibility of earlier hearings for persons involved in these offences, so that they will spend a shorter time on bail. There is also provision in the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, for the imposition of consecutive sentences for offences committed while on bail.

The number of "unauthorised takings" both in Dublin and in the country as a whole has now been significantly reduced due to the measures that have been taken and I expect a continuing improvement in this matter. I think that there is now widespread and increasing recognition that the measures taken by the Garda have brought the problem under control and, accordingly, I do not think that the circumstances envisaged by Deputy Briscoe are likely to arise.

I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive reply which is extremely helpful. However, from the figures the Minister has given it appears that the number of unauthorised taking of cars is about 20,000 per annum over a period. In view of that level of car theft, by no stretch of the imagination can one claim that the matter is under control or even that substantial progress is being made. I assert that the matter is not under control when that number of cars is stolen every year.

(Limerick East): The latest information available to me is that the number of vehicles taken in the DMA last month was 32 per cent down on the figure for the same month last year. For the country as a whole there was a 20 per cent reduction in the number of vehicles taken in the first four months of this year as compared with the same months last year but obviously it is a matter that requires continuous attention.

Has the Minister specific information on the figures for the Cork region in recent months as compared with last year? He supplied them for the Dublin area. Secondly, even though the Minister has told the House the steps his Department have taken to curb this modern misdemeanour, will he agree there is a major responsibility on car manufactures to provide more sophisticated electronic anti-theft devices? Have his Department had negotiations with car manufacturers regarding the installation of more sophisticated anti-theft devices that could be linked to the ignition?

(Limerick East): I have not got any more statistical information than I have already given about the situation in Cork. The Garda state there has been a considerable decrease in the unauthorised taking of vehicles in Cork city in recent years. With regard to the responsibility of motor manufacturers, what the Deputy has said is true. I should like to see more sophisticated anti-theft devices installed in cars. When we are in an age where cash dispensing machines outside banks can be activated by a plastic card, it cannot be beyond the expertise of car manufacturers to provide a simple but sophisticated anti-theft device.