Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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315. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide figures on the number of persons imprisoned each year for non-payment of fines in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 to date; her plans to review the implementation of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10073/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a breakdown of the number of persons who were committed to prison solely for non-payment of fines in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 is set out in a table. The information for 2015 is not readily available. I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.

In the case of 2014, these figures are provisional pending the publication of the Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2014 which is subject to change.

I can advise the Deputy that the number of such persons held in custody at any one time is a tiny fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point, on 9 March, 2015, 6 people, 0.16 percent, out of a prison population of 3,763 in custody that day fell into this category.

In terms of the fines Act I wish to advise the Deputy that the aim of the legislation is to seek to effectively eliminate, in so far as is possible, the need for judges to commit anyone to prison for the non-payment of a fine. As well as introducing an option for persons to pay fines by instalment, there are also changes in the way those who fail to pay fines are dealt with, with a range of options available to judges including recovery orders, attachment of earnings, community service and ultimately imprisonment.

Work is ongoing in preparing for the implementation of the Act. The area most directly affected by the changes is the Courts and the Courts Service is working on a number of developments which will ensure that the implementation of the legislation, and the new procedures which will operate under it, are as efficient as possible.

In relation to the introduction of payment of fines by instalment, a decision was taken to outsource all aspects of the recovery of fines to an external provider. The Courts Service is introducing new arrangements for the payment of fines which will allow payments to be made in a range of outlets across the country, and not just through Courts Service offices. There are significant changes in information technology required to ensure that the instalment payment system operates effectively and that the necessary accounting procedures are in place for the recording of payments. Changes are also required in the way that information is transferred between the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána to ensure that both organisations have fully up to date information on the cases and their current status.

It is expected that all the preparations for the new system will be completed by the third quarter of 2015. While it is desirable that the Act be commenced as soon as possible, it is important that these preparations are done correctly to ensure that the significant changes being implemented in the fines system as a result of this legislation are implemented smoothly and effectively from the start.