618 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons who have been prosecuted over the past three years in County Louth for plying for hire and reward without the necessary PSV documents; the steps his Department takes in ensuring that private cars not insured as hackneys are not used for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9055/02]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that over the past three years, there have been 20 prosecutions of persons for operating such an illegal service in County Louth I am further informed that regular checkpoints are carried out to detect and prevent the commission of such an offence.