Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 715: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps taken to date to address the flaws highlighted in the Comptroller and Auditor General report in 2000 on the collection of fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2210/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 717: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount lost in revenue to the State due to uncollected fines in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2212/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 715 and 717 together.

I am informed that in response to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report the Courts Service has implemented a number of key initiatives which address issues raised in it. These initiatives include the nationwide deployment of the Criminal Case Tracking System (CCTS) to all District Court offices in 2004. This System, which records the history of criminal cases from date of first court hearing to finalisation, facilitates the collection and production of improved management information in relation to the fines process. The Courts Accounting System (CAS), which processes fine receipts, was piloted in 2007, and by end of 2008 it will have been deployed in 28 District Court Offices including all major urban centres. The system will be fully deployed by mid 2009. It provides a facility for payment of fines on line which has proven to be very successful and is increasing compliance.

There have been significant benefits from these two strategic systems, including better management information on the collection of fines, more payment options, including the online payment facility, and more timely issue of fines notices and reminders.

In 2007 the Comptroller and Auditor General issued a follow up report on fines collection and found that the payment rate had increased from 55% to 66%. I am confident that the above initiatives, some of which were not in place at the time of the Comptroller and Auditor General's original report, will further contribute to an increase in the payment rate.

I am further informed that as part of the latest upgrade to the Garda Pulse system applications for summonses by the Gardaí will be electronically routed to CCTS, which will issue summonses and electronically notify the Gardaí through Pulse of the court date and the outcome in due course. This will result in savings to both organisations as well as enhancements to the accuracy of the Garda criminal records system.

The Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) now covers the most significant offences in terms of road safety. These include speeding, driving without insurance, non-wearing of safety belts, careless driving and using a mobile phone while driving. In April 2006, the system was integrated with the Pulse system, enabling the linking of offences so that applications for a single summons for a number of offences can be generated. FCPS has significantly enhanced management information and consequently the ability to monitor performance by reference to targets, timeliness and enforcement. Fixed charge notices are being issued in a timely fashion with a file of newly recorded incidents being sent electronically on a daily basis to an external service provider who prints and issues notices the same day. As a result of these developments, monitoring of the operation of FCPS has been much improved, thereby enabling An Garda Síochána to agree efficiency indicator targets including spoilage rates, the timeliness of the issue of notices and follow up to non-payment.

I am also informed that responses received following a call for expressions of interest to outsource the collection of overdue court imposed fines with an option to extend this to fixed charge notices at a later date are currently in the process of being evaluated. A detailed Request for Tender will issue to the candidates shortlisted in the near future.

In addition, I intend to seek Government approval for a Fines Bill which will include provisions providing for the payment of fines by instalments and for an improved means of assessing the capacity of a person to pay a fine. These proposals should further increase the rate of fine payment.

Statistics of the kind sought by the Deputy are not readily available, particularly taking into account that there is inevitably a time lapse between a fine being imposed and its collection.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 716: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of on-the-spot fine notices issued by An Garda Síochána; the estimated value of such fines; the value of payments made in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2211/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested by the Deputy is currently being researched. I will be in contact with the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 718: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons detained and the period of time involved for the non-payment of fines in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2213/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am currently preparing a Fines Bill and I intend to obtain Government approval for its publication in the near future. The Bill will include provisions dealing with the indexation of fines, payment of fines by instalment, equality of impact of fines imposed by the courts and the powers of the courts where a person does not pay a fines by its due date for payment.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the most recent figures that are currently available for a complete year relate to 2007. The number of persons committed to prison for the non-payment of fines in that year was 1,335, with the average period of sentence involved being 22 days per person. However, a more accurate reflection of the prisoner population is found by examining the numbers being held in custody on any given day. For example, on 21st January 2009 there were 21 persons in custody for non-payment of fines out of a total prisoner population of 3,714. This amounts to 0.27% of the prisoner population on that day and clearly shows that persons imprisoned for non-payment of fines constitute an extremely small part of the prisoner population.