I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the data sought is not collated on a District Court basis by the Garda Síochána, however the statistics requested by the Deputy have been provided on a national basis. Table 1 details the number of FCNs issued, paid, terminated and resulting in a summons application for speeding offences for the years 2013, 2014 and 1 January - 31 March 2015.
Table 1: Fixed Charge Notices for Speeding Offences issued, paid, terminated and resulting in a summons application for the years 2013, 2014 and 1 January – 31 March 2015
|
Year
|
Issued
|
Paid
|
Terminated
|
Summons Application
|
|
2013
|
207,920
|
162,570
|
10,102
|
32,287
|
|
2014
|
226,125
|
179,365
|
8,983
|
34,367
|
|
1 January - 31 March 2015
|
47,849
|
38,003
|
1,637
|
7,472
|
Note: Garda Síochána figures as of 27 January 2016.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Court outcomes of the specific FCNs referenced in Table 1 and the recording of driving licence numbers in Court are not available to the Garda Síochána. However, the Courts Service has provided information contained in Table 2, detailing the number of persons before the courts for speeding offences for the years 2013, 2014 and 1 January - 31 March 2015. Table 2 also details the outcomes of these cases and the number of driving licences recorded for convictions.
While most of the FCNs issued are paid without recourse to court, a range of measures are in development to further improve payment rate and enhance overall enforcement. In particular, these include the project which is is underway to introduce a ‘3rd Payment Option’ whereby a person served with a summons would have a final opportunity to pay the penalty and receive the points without attending Court. This project is currently in technical development and scheduled to be commenced later this year. One longer term measure also in preparation is a project to develop a 'master driver licence record' which will associate vehicle and driver records in order to achieve optimum penalty point endorsement as well as other benefits. More generally, I can assure the Deputy that there is extensive liaison between all of the stakeholders involved at an operational level with a view to the ongoing enhancement of the FCPS system, and in order to keep relevant legislation under ongoing review.
Table 2: Report on Persons before the Courts for Speeding Offences in 2013, 2014 and 1 January – 31 March 2015
|
Year
|
2013
|
2014
|
1 Jan-31 Mar 2015
|
|
No. of Persons
|
14,101
|
17,292
|
5,731
|
|
No. of Persons Convicted
|
6,663
|
7,868
|
2,669
|
|
|
|
|
Outcomes
|
|
Community Service Order
|
|
1
|
|
|
Dismiss
|
336
|
1,723
|
465
|
|
Dismiss Probation Act
|
292
|
211
|
30
|
|
Disqualification
|
47
|
60
|
26
|
|
Endorsement
|
8
|
|
|
|
Fine
|
6,664
|
7,868
|
2,669
|
|
No Order
|
36
|
10
|
1
|
|
Poor Box
|
1,034
|
619
|
236
|
|
Strike Out
|
5,270
|
6,391
|
2,132
|
|
Taken into Consideration
|
68
|
90
|
26
|
|
Withdrawn
|
450
|
466
|
186
|
|
No. of Driving Licences recorded for Convictions
|
2,817
|
3,306
|
1,121
|
