Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the enforcement success the gardaí are having in the way of prosecutions of boy racers and drivers who are using cars without insurance and who are not compliant with car test requirements in the most recent year for which statistics are available; if he is satisfied with the level of compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13645/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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One of the high level strategic goals set in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2007-2009 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and improve road safety. Collision data identifies young male drivers as vulnerable persons in terms of road safety. Consequently, one of the actions identified in the Garda Policing Plan 2008 in support of this goal is targeted intelligence-led operations against offending young drivers.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a number of initiatives to target the activities of young male drivers are being undertaken, and specific areas identified as places where young drivers congregate are being targeted. As a result, uniform members of An Garda Síochána, supported by Divisional Traffic Corps personnel, establish checkpoints and enforce in a highly visible manner the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts, including national car test regulations.

These initiatives have resulted in detections being made for a wide range of road traffic offences, including offences relating to dangerous driving, careless driving, national car test regulations, no silencer fitted, L plates not displayed, identification plates not conforming with legislation, road tax offences, insurance and driving licence offences, speeding offences, dangerously defective vehicles and modified vehicles. Offences detected are dealt with by way of prosecution, fixed charge notice or, where appropriate, through the Juvenile Diversion Programme.

In addition to these intelligence-led operations, all uniform members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing the relevant legislative provisions. Regular mobile patrols take place and roving checkpoints are conducted in areas where young drivers tend to congregate.

In addition websites are monitored so as to establish where such anti-social activities are taking place, with a view to providing an appropriate response. Garda road safety awareness programmes are conducted in schools, third level institutions, factories, workplaces and other facilities, with the aim of educating road users on the obligations on all road users under the Road Traffic Acts and to promote road safety among the target group. An Garda Síochána cooperate closely with other agencies, particularly the Road Safety Authority, in this.

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 the 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 and publishing criminal statistics and has published provisional headline crime statistics since the third quarter of 2006. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.