Written answers

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Department of Justice and Equality

Road Traffic Offences

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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99. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details in tabular form by District Court and circuit area by month since the introduction of Go Safe in 2009 of the cases dismissed by judges because of claims by motorists that they had not received notifications of the speeding fines in the post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43424/14]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that it is unable to supply the reasons why a case is dismissed nor is it possible to extract cases recorded by Go Safe cameras from the overall camera offences figures. Set out in the table below is the number of cases dismissed in respect of all camera offences for each District Court area for each year from 2009 to date.

The breakdown of cases by month is not readily available. The compilation of such statistics would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

I can also inform the Deputy that my Department, in consultation with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service is currently studying the arrangements required to bring into effect section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010. This will provide a person with a 'third payment option' upon receipt of a summons in respect of a fixed charge notice for relevant traffic offences, as an alternative to attending court.



COURT AREAJAN - DEC 2009JAN - DEC 2010JAN - DEC 2011JAN - DEC 2012JAN - DEC 2013JAN TO DATE 2014
ABBEYFEALE
2
14
13
2
6
ARDEE
1
10
3
ARKLOW
1
6
2
11
1
6
ATHLONE
7
2
ATHENRY
2
ATHY
3
1
1
2
12
BALLINA
3
4
15
BALTINGLASS
1
2
BANDON
1
6
13
16
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
1
3
BALLYCONNELL & SWANLINBAR
1
BALLYSHANNON
1
3
2
BANTRY
1
3
BAILIEBOROUGH
4
BIRR
4
1
BALLINASLOE
1
1
BALLYSHANNON
3
BALLINROBE
2
2
BANTRY
1
3
BRAY
6
8
11
6
1
BUNCRANA
4
9
2
10
BALLYMOTE
6
4
CAHIRCIVEEN
1
CARLOW
8
10
32
CASHEL
3
CAVAN
8
37
24
12
7
27
CASTLEBAR
1
3
5
1
1
59
CLONAKILTY
2
CLAREMORRIS
1
CLONMEL
1
1
CLONES
1
1
CORK CITY
27
16
8
12
4
31
CARRICK ON SHANNON
12
1
4
5
13
CARRICKMACROSS
1
1
2
5
5
CARNDONAGH
5
5
16
CASTLEBLANEY
7
CASTLEISLAND
2
5
2
CASTLEREA
1
2
AN DAINGEAN
1
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
307
55
30
277
65
275
DUNGARVAN
2
8
DONEGAL
2
3
4
DROGHEDA
22
32
21
21
6
12
DOIRE AN FHEICH
2
DUNDALK
23
17
17
5
3
23
DUNSHAUGHLIN
7
4
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
2
1
ENNISTYMON
1
3
1
ENNIS
8
23
8
25
30
133
ENNISCORTHY
2
8
AN FAL CARRACH
3
FERMOY
2
12
11
4
2
GALWAY
1
1
1
7
NA GLEANNTA
1
2
GORT
12
1
GOREY
2
24
23
71
KENMARE
7
6
KILMALLOCK
3
7
7
8
KILLALOE
3
8
2
6
KINSALE
2
3
3
47
KILCOCK
13
26
12
45
23
KILDARE
1
4
KILLORGLIN
1
KILRUSH
1
29
5
KILKENNY
1
47
4
42
KILLARNEY
2
2
12
13
4
12
LETTERKENNY
3
3
4
48
25
LIMERICK
7
1
10
35
1
38
LISTOWEL
1
11
19
4
11
LONGFORD
4
18
31
4
LOUGHREA
1
MACROOM
6
9
15
43
3
15
MALLOW
4
14
4
5
20
MANORHAMILTON
1
MIDLETON
4
1
2
1
4
MITCHELSTOWN
2
7
MILTOWN MALBAY
1
9
MONAGHAN
22
4
1
3
30
MULLINGAR
6
4
1
7
114
1
NAAS
61
91
33
111
2
44
NENAGH
1
5
8
68
NEWCASTLE WEST
4
20
6
6
NAVAN
2
5
13
PORTLAOISE
14
7
3
56
RATHKEALE
13
7
ROSCOMMON
5
1
ROSCREA
1
SHANNON
5
4
7
2
SKIBBEREEN
1
5
2
SLIGO
5
1
5
14
STROKESTOWN
1
1
THURLES
4
1
4
23
TIPPERARY
3
2
TRALEE
6
8
4
2
17
5
TRIM
2
4
TUAM
1
TUBBERCURRY
2
3
TULLAMORE
1
1
3
20
19
VIRGINIA
8
5
9
3
25
WEXFORD
3
7
30
1
71
WESTPORT
2
WICKLOW
3
3
2
1
6
WATERFORD CITY
10
5
15
3
TOTAL
578
534
439
936
540
1,393


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