Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
255. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider, in conjunction with the Department for Social Protection, to deduct anti-social behaviour order fines directly from social welfare payments. [43002/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a major reform of the fines system, including in relation to the type of fine referred to by the Deputy, is provided for in the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013 which was published on 19 July last and recently passed second stage in the Dáil.
The Bill does not provide for the recovery of fines by the attachment of social welfare payments. However, it does provide for the imposition of community service orders where a person fails to pay a fine and the court is of the view that it would not be appropriate to make either an attachment order or a recovery order.
The Bill also provides for an enhanced instalment payment regime which will allow everyone on whom a fine is imposed to pay the fine by instalments over 12 months.
