Section 184 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which came into operation on 1 August, 2006, inserted into the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 provision for a fixed charge procedure in relation to the offences of intoxication in a public place and disorderly conduct in a public place (sections 4 and 5 respectively of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994). The provisions were amended by sections 20 and 21 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008. The fixed charge is €100 and €140 for offences contrary to sections 4 and 5 respectively, which increases by 50% if not paid within a 28 day period. A summons issues if the charge is not paid within 56 days.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of fixed charge notices issued for offences contrary to these sections from October, 2008 to August, 2011. It is not possible to provide statistics for the number of fixed charge penalty notices issued in 2007 and in 2008 up to October without a disproportionate use of resources.
Number of fixed charge notices issued for alcohol related offences from October, 2008 to August, 2011
Year
|
Number of fixed charge notices
|
2011 (to August)
|
3,985
|
2010
|
5,347
|
2009
|
3,718
|
2008 (from October)
|
344
|
I am informed that it is not possible to provide information on the amount generated to date by fixed charge notices for alcohol related offences without a disproportionate use of resources.
I currently have no plans to extend the scheme.