Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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97. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the level of IT facilities in place across each of the Courts Service's districts; and the facilities in place to record data in respect of persons appearing in court to answer charges on road traffic offences. [45955/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Courts Service has a network of 6 District Court offices in the greater Dublin area with a further 32 such offices distributed throughout the country. Each office has access to the Criminal Case Tracking System (CCTS). This system records details of all prosecutions initiated by An Garda Síochána including offences under the Road Traffic Acts. In relation to road traffic offences, details of the prosecutor and accused, details of alleged offences, details of all court appearances associated with a case and final court outcomes are recorded on the system. Details of any appeals lodged, set asides etc. are also recorded on the system.

Summary of the Criminal Case Tracking System

The Criminal Case Tracking System (CCTS), an Oracle Relational Database, is in operation in all District Court Offices. There are approximately 200 concurrent users of the application which provides for the processing, scheduling, enforcement and reporting of criminal cases. In addition, it can produce a variety of documents that are required in the course of a criminal case such as summonses, warrants and copy orders. CCTS also produces a number of key reports to assist in the administration of criminal business such as prison lists and legal aid lists.

Summary of CCTS functionality relating to penalty points

Where a fixed charge penalty is not paid or where a prosecution is being initiated in respect of other road traffic offences which attract penalty points, the Garda Síochána make an application to the courts for the issue of a summons against the offender. In the majority of cases this is an electronic process. Where the driving licence number for the offender is collected during the detection/investigative process, the licence number is included in the electronic summons application process and is updated to CCTS.

Summonses produced from CCTS and issued for service include a requirement for the offender to produce to the court their driving licence or learner permit and a legible copy of same. Where the offender before the court is convicted and produces their licence or permit, the number is recorded by the Court Registrar and updated to CCTS.

Details of all convictions recorded on CCTS in respect of offences which attract penalty points, including the driving licence number where provided, are collated and transferred electronically to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. This occurs approximately 28 days after the date of the convictions as time must be allowed for any possible appeals to be lodged. The file transferred also includes the outcomes of any appeals, set asides and judicial reviews in respect of penalty point convictions.