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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Non-payment of Fines.

Jim Higgins

Question:

375 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of offenders committed to prison in each of the years 1996 and 1997 for the non-payment of fines; the period of detention in each case; and the proportion of these cases where the fine was paid subsequent to committal to prison. [15806/98]

The number of persons committed to prison in default of fines was 2,173 in 1994. Figures for the numbers committed in later years are not yet available. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the period of detention and the proportion of cases in which the fine was paid following committal is not available and the resources which would be necessary to extract it from manual records could not be justified. However, at any one time, the number in custody for non-payment of fines is approximately 1 per cent of the total prison population.

Jim Higgins

Question:

376 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proportion of cases where fines imposed by the courts are not paid; and the action, if any, proposed to take to ensure that these fines are paid. [15807/98]

The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately to hand. However, such information as is available will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Jim Higgins

Question:

377 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, it is proposed to take by legislation or otherwise to ensure that offenders who are able to pay fines imposed on them do not opt for imprisonment in order to avoid paying the fine. [15808/98]

I refer the Deputy to my answer to oral Question No. 53 of 25 June 1998, which indicated, inter alia, that the Government's legislative programme includes an Attachment of Earnings Bill which is intended to provide an alternative to imprisonment in the case of non-payment of debts or fines.

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