Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prison Committals.

Seán Ryan

Question:

107 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons committed to prison during 1997 and 1998 for non-payment of fines; the proportion this represents of the total numbers committed to prison in these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19731/99]

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

Committal statistics are not maintained in such a way as to enable the information sought by the Deputy to be readily available. In 1994, the latest year for which the information sought by the Deputy has been published, the total number of persons committed to prison for default of fines was 2,173. This represents 21 per cent of the total number of offenders committed in 1994.

The following figures, as yet unpublished, give details for 1995 and 1996. The figures are not yet available for later years.

Year	Total committed	Committed in default of fines	Fines % of total
1995	9,928	1,920	19%
1996	10,367	1,610	15.5%

It is worth noting that, at any one time, approximately 1 to 1.5 per cent of prison spaces are taken up by persons committed for non-payment of fines.

A new £6 million information technology programme for the prison service is well advanced. As part of the programme a comprehensive prisoner records database will be deployed across the prison service early next year. This programme will address the lack of accessible information about prisoners, provide management with necessary information and enable the automation of many existing functions. Information will be more easily accessible once this new system is in operation.