Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints of petrol stretching received by the Garda districts in counties Westmeath and Longford respectively in each of the months since May 2014; the position regarding these complaints; the number that have been investigated resulting in a person being charged or a file being forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48724/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that an increasing number of complaints of petrol stretching have been reported to Revenue's Customs Service and An Garda Síochána during 2014. This is a matter of serious concern as petrol stretching, like all forms of fuel fraud, results in losses to the Exchequer, threatens legitimate businesses and potentially can cause significant damage to the vehicles of unsuspecting purchasers of adulterated fuel.

In this regard I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána that all reports of petrol stretching are followed up as a matter of course and samples of fuel are sent to the State Laboratory for scientific analysis where there is reason to suspect excise duty fraud.

I set out below for the Deputy's information the material sought concerning complaints of petrol stretching in the particular Garda Districts, as provided to me by the Garda Authorities.

I can further inform the Deputy that all of the reported incidents remain under investigation and that to date no charges have been brought nor files submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.