Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Commissioner on her recent appointment and on her clear and obvious grasp of all the issues concerned. I want to say two things. Firstly, I would like to thank the Garda Síochána for the protection that it offers members of the Oireachtas, particularly in these difficult times, and for the visits we have all had in our offices in relation to security and issues around that. I also congratulate the Garda Síochána on its even-handed policing of public order issues that arise in many places and I recognise the difficult job that it has.

I want to ask a question about police resources, which I believe, through no fault of the police, are being wasted. As I understand it, in 2014, some 8,965 people were committed to prison for non-payment of fines.

I have had a visit, to my office, from somebody who was in that position. They had been visited by the Garda and were to be brought to the prison by Garda car for committal. As I understand it, he or she was brought to prison but was released back into the community after a very short time. I am not asking the Garda Commissioner to comment on a political issue here because it has already been decided by the Oireachtas that this practice will cease at some date in the future. Is it a fact that 8,965 Garda cars brought individuals to prison in the past 12 months only for 99% to be returned either in those cars or by public transport immediately thereafter?