69 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the reason there has been an increase in the national trend towards the use of gratuitous violence in the course of what would otherwise be petty stealing; and if he will give details of the latest available data on this problem both nationally, and within the Louth/Meath Garda division.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 1991 there were 2,404 offences of larceny from the person with aggravation recorded in the whole country, 32 of which were recorded in the Louth/Meath Division.

Factors advanced for the increase in this type of crime were dealt with in the course of my response to Question No. 158 on 7 October this year — Official Report Volume 423, No. 1, columns 186-188.