Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2014
127. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers that have been summonsed to court for failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice during 2013 and to date in 2014. [17028/14]
View answer128. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers who, following failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice, within a period of 56 days of receipt of the notice were consequently summoned to court in 2013 and to date in 2014; and the number of convictions obtained on foot of the summonses served to the drivers who failed to pay fixed charge notices within 56 days. [17029/14]
View answer129. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers who received a fine in substitution for additional penalty points being imposed on their national vehicle driver file following a failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice. [17031/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 to 129, inclusive, together.
The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the table below provides details of the number of defendants summonsed to appear before the court in 2013 and 2014 and convicted for failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice.
|
Year |
No. of defendants summonsed to Court |
No. of defendants convicted |
|
2013 |
47,967 |
11,055 |
|
2014 to date |
14,666 |
3,326 |
Note: These figures do not include penalty point offences which require mandatory court appearances. They refer to summonses issued for courts dates in the years in question, rather than the date on which the summons issued.
Road traffic legislation, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, provides that if the fixed penalty notice is paid the driver is liable for the penalty points attaching to the offence. If the driver does not pay the fixed penalty notice and the case goes before the court, the number of penalty points is automatically doubled in the event of a conviction. There is no provision in the legislation to allow for a fine in place of penalty points.
