Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - Remission of Fines and Penalties.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

211 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the number, by county, of petitions for remissions of fines and penalties under section 23 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1951, received by her Department in the year 1994; the number of petitions which were successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1204/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Statistics relating to petitions are maintained by reference to petitions finalised rather than to petitions received. Details of petitions finalised in 1994, are given in the following table. Also included is an explantion of what the decisions mean.

Details of Petitions finalised in 1994

County of residence of petitioner	Full remission	Substitution of fine for prison sentence	Partial mitigation of fine	Extension of time to pay	Refusal	Total number of petitions finalised
Carlow	2	—	12	6	23	43
Cavan	1	—	8	6	29	44
Clare	2	1	24	35	71	133
Cork	9	—	103	80	214	406
Donegal	1	—	42	17	62	122
Dublin	17	—	319	161	564	1,061
Galway	5	—	130	49	86	270
Kerry	—	—	49	34	88	171
Kildare	1	—	49	29	62	141
Kilkenny	2	—	21	5	45	73
Laois	1	—	21	4	40	66
Leitrim	—	—	11	4	19	34
Limerick	1	—	124	81	277	483
Longford	1	—	20	10	29	60
Louth	8	—	9	—	36	53
Mayo	—	—	25	17	84	126
Meath	5	—	22	10	72	109
Monaghan	2	—	20	10	38	70
Offaly	1	—	17	7	24	49
Roscommon	2	—	12	7	32	53
Sligo	—	—	21	9	34	64
Tipperary	2	—	101	69	122	294
Waterford	2	—	39	34	50	125
Westmeath	1	—	17	9	39	66
Wexford	3	—	18	12	38	71
Wicklow	2	—	13	18	41	74
Other	—	—	—	—	5	5
Totals	71	1	1,247	723	2,224	4,266

Explanation of Decisions Made

Full Remission of Penalty: Conviction stands but penalty remitted in full.

Substitution of Fine for Prison sentence: Conviction stands but if a nominated sum is paid within a specified period, the prison sentence is not enforced.

Partial Mitigation of Fine: Conviction stands but if a nominated sum is paid within a specified period, the outstanding balance of the fine is remitted.

Extension of time to pay: Conviction and fine stand but enforcement deferred for a specified period.

Refusal: Conviction and fine stand although it is customary to allow one month for payment of the fine from the date of issue of the decision except in the case of a re-petition where no further time is allowed.