Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Sex Offence Sentences.

Dan Neville

Question:

757 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who received prison sentences for sex offences for each of the years from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1444/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

It would appear that the information requested by the Deputy concerns the number of persons sentenced to terms of imprisonment by the courts for sex offences. This information is not readily available and the use of scarce resources necessary to extract it from records could not be justified at the present time. Not all persons who receive a prison sentence are committed to prison. Sentences can be suspended for instance and offenders can be released on bail from the court pending hearing of an appeal. I can confirm, however, that the numbers of persons actually committed to prison on foot of convictions for sex offences for the years 1992 to 1994 are as follows:

Year	No. of Committals
1992	53
1993	74
1994	79

The figures for 1992 and 1993 were published previously in the annual reports on prisons and places of detention for those years.

On 1 January 1998 there were approximately 292 sex offenders in custody, 256 of whom were serving sentences. Their number in custody accounted for about 12 per cent of the total prisoner population.