First-time "joyriding" offenders should be referred to courses in motoring skills located in disadvantaged areas affected by the offence, the Labour spokesman on social, community and family affairs, Mr Tommy Broughan, told the Dβil. Such courses, he said, would help offenders develop a more positive interest in motor vehicles and responsible driving skills.

Mr Broughan was speaking during the debate on his party's private member's Bill creating new motoring offences. He said that the Road Traffic (joyriding) Bill would make joyriding a specific offence. It would also be an offence to supply a vehicle to an under-age person in circumstances where there would be "reasonable apprehension" that it would be used by an underage driver in a public place.

Rejecting the Bill, amid sharp exchanges with the Opposition about the extent of crime, the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said the Garda authorities had clearly indicated that the road traffic legislation currently in place was adequate to deal with the present situation.

"Within the existing statutory structure, the Garda authorities, at both national and local levels, take a very proactive approach in implementing operational strategies in geographical areas that have been identified as potential 'hot spots' for joyriding," he said.

Outlining the Government's achievements, and criticising the record of its predecessor, Mr O'Donoghue said that a lot had been achieved in the fight against crime.

"More remains to be done," he said. "I will be glad to invite the electorate to compare the record of the strong, consistent approach by this Government to tackling crime with the record of underachievement, failure and appeasement of the Fine Gael and Labour parties when both in government and opposition."

Mr Broughan said official Garda figures showed that the number of unauthorised takings of mechanically propelled vehicles had increased substantially, from 11,754 in 1995 to 15,964 in 2000, the most recent year for which figures were available.

"I suggest that when the official figures for 2001 are published they will show yet another increase," Mr Broughan said. An anti-joyriding programme should be available in all schools in disadvantaged areas, both primary and post-primary. It should be targeted at pre-teenage children and those in their early teens.

He added that a comprehensive, independent youth service, run along the same lines as the local employment service, should be based in all disadvantaged areas where there were high levels of early school-leaving and delinquency.

"As it stands, disadvantaged areas are struggling to maintain youth services because of insufficient resources," Mr Broughan said.

The lack of proper sports and recreation facilities in disadvantaged areas continued to leave few alternatives for young people.

"The difficult process of bidding for community grants by football clubs in disadvantaged areas is unacceptable."

Mr Simon Coveney (FG, Cork South Central) said the fact that Labour had chosen to have the Bill debated in the last private member's time in the 28th Dβil was an indication of the importance of the purpose and principle behind the legislation.

"Joyriding is a serious problem, sometimes with tragic and frightening consequences," he added.

Debate on the Bill continues tonight.