Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

There is no massaging of figures and I get a daily update of numbers, which I ask for, from officials. As of 22 September, the occupancy rate is 99% and the figure for those on temporary release is 545. That is in the region of 12% or 13%. There is a difficulty in our prisons and that is one of the reasons I have moved very rapidly to ensure we get as many prison spaces as possible.

I welcome the Law Reform Commission report today on debtors and currently there are no debtors in our prisons. All of us would welcome that and I want to ensure the position continues. I look forward to bringing forward legislative proposals in that regard. Equally, the fines Bill is near fruition and I will propose to the Oireachtas in that Bill that we have a number of options before the issue of imprisonment as a result of fines occurs. I want to reach a position where nobody will be imprisoned because of debt or fines. We must consider new and imaginative ways of collecting fines.

The Deputy has correctly raised the issue of bench warrants from time to time. Many of these relate to a case where a conviction and fine have been levelled at somebody and the judge would make an order regarding three months in default of payment of the fine, for example. I am looking at new ways and we are looking to bring out a debt collection agency; a procurement for the collection of fines. We are also considering giving the Judiciary a better option for community service, as there is quite significant capacity in the probation service. We are looking to insist that before somebody is sent to prison for non-payment of a fine, in particular, all options would be used.

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