There was a rise in the number of motor insurance claims relating to uninsured or untraced drivers recorded in Laois last year.
The total grew from 30 to 34 over the previous 12 months which represents a 13 per cent increase overall.
Nationally, more than 2,700 motor insurance claims relating to uninsured or untraced drivers were made last year, according to figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland.
MIBI Chief Executive David Fitzgerald said it is also working to address the number of fraudulent claims that are made by uninsured drivers
Mr Fitzgerald said: “In 2016, we witnessed a significant step up in the number of claims the MIBI receives and that level was sustained in 2017.
“When you compare the current level of claims to the approximately 2,400 to 2,500 claims range we experienced in the years up to and including 2015, you can see there has been a marked increase.
“There are a number of factors behind this change, including the number of uninsured drivers operating on Irish roads.
“As the MIBI outlined in late 2016, at that time there were over 151,000 uninsured private vehicles in the Republic of Ireland.
“We are continuing to work with the Gardaí, the State and the rest of the motor insurance industry to bring forward measures that will help combat this problem.”
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