Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on providing the resources necessary for the compilation of a database of information on criminal sentences in the Four Courts and online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22212/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Courts Service Act 1998, the Courts Service — which is responsible for the day to day management of the courts — is independent in the performance of its functions. I am responsible for ensuring that the Service is adequately funded and resourced and, in this regard, €111.8m is provided for that organisation in 2006.

Having regard to the compilation of a database of information on criminal sentences, I understand that the Board of the Courts Service has established a high level Steering Committee chaired by the Honourable Mrs. Justice Susan Denham to plan for and provide a system of information on sentencing. The initiative of the Board is designed to provide a systemic form of information in this respect as a reference point for Judges.

The Steering Committee has reviewed sentencing systems worldwide and identified those of Scotland and New South Wales as the most relevant to our situation. I understand that it is proposed to commence a pilot project shortly in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. I further understand that two researchers have been selected to collect and collate information on sentencing outcomes in cases on indictment in designated courts in accordance with criteria specified by the Committee.

The objectives of the project are to: identify criteria and other information employed by the judiciary in sentencing for particular offence types in criminal proceedings, record and retrieve such information in individual cases, design and develop a database to store the information retrieved and enable its retrieval in accordance with various search criteria, share or disseminate the information, utilising information and communications technology, via a judges' intranet or other means, and assemble appropriate material on sentencing for a benchbook and website.

It is anticipated that the pilot project will run for a six week period and that it will be evaluated prior to a further pilot in October 2006.

When the Steering Committee completes its work, further consideration can be given to the question of compiling a database of information on criminal sentences and the resources that may be needed for this purpose.