Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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242. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 15 December 2015 regarding the replies to earlier parliamentary questions of July and November 2015, if that information is now available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4925/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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243. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 15 December 2015 regarding the replies to earlier parliamentary questions of July and November 2015, if that information is now available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4926/16]

Frances 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 made enquiries with the Courts Service.

Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 15 December 2015 asked how many of the 20,830 drink driving cases in the District Courts from January 2013 to March 2015 were adjourned, struck out, withdrawn and continuing. Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 15 December 2015 asked whether the figure of 20,830 drink driving cases in the District Courts from January 2013 to March 2015 with 8,391 convictions would be revised and back dated once all outstanding cases were completed. Both questions relate to figures provided by way of response to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 14 July 2015.

Based on the most recent report prepared, the figures provided to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question 511 for answer on 14 July 2015 have been revised to take account of changes in the status of 149 persons as recorded on the Courts Service information system since the original report was prepared e.g. duplicate identities on the original report which have since been resolved. The revised figures for the number of persons listed before the court for drink driving cases for the years 2013, 2014 and January to May 2015 are set out in the following table:

Of the 20,681 persons with cases listed before the Court, a total of 13,485 had their cases disposed of before 31 May 2015. A total of 7,196 had their cases adjourned beyond 31 May 2015. The vast majority of these adjournments relate to persons who had their cases first listed for hearing in the period 1 January 2015 – 31 May 2015.

I should inform the Deputy that it is not possible to calculate the conviction rate for drink driving offences from the data provided in these reports.

As previously indicated by the Courts Service the conviction rates (based on cases which proceed) for drink driving offences are 88% (2013), 85% (2014) and 87% (January - July 2015). It should be noted that the data provided in the reports below for the number of persons not convicted include where summonses were not served, were struck out or where the case was withdrawn and in these cases no determination of guilt or innocence arises.

Report A

Report on the breakdown of drink driving listed between January 2013 – 31 May 2015

Report B

Drink Driving Results per Court Area

Jan – Dec 2013

Drink Driving Results per Court Area

Jan – Dec 2014

Drink Driving Results per Court Area

Jan – May 2015

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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244. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 15 December 2015 regarding the replies to earlier parliamentary question of November 2015, if that information is now available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4927/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to refer the Deputy to the following table which details the number of persons convicted under the Road Traffic Acts by District Court Area. The table also provides information on the number of persons convicted where a driving licence number was recorded and the number of persons convicted of a penalty point offence where a driving licence number was recorded. I am informed by the Courts Service that, where a driving licence number is recorded and the accused is convicted, the licence number and details of the conviction are forwarded to the appropriate authority.

While almost 80% of road traffic infringements are dealt with via Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) without recourse to court, the application of Court-awarded penalty points to driving licences remains a priority for the Criminal Justice Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) Working Group. In this context consideration is now being given by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to the establishment of a ‘master driver licence record’ which will assist by better linking vehicle and driver databases, thereby facilitating the application of penalty points to driving licences.