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Road Traffic Offences Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Questions (40)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

40. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases before each court on speeding offences in 2015 and to date in 2016; the number of convictions of this offence; the number of cases dismissed and struck out; the number of licences recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34404/16]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. 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, to be of assistance I have made inquires with the Courts Service and they have provided the figures requested by the Deputy which I am including by way of a tabular statement. It should be noted that where a summons is struck out not served, the summons can be reissued at the request of An Garda Síochána, so a number of the offences listed as struck out for non-service are likely to have been reissued.

The figures provided by the Courts Service indicate that a significant percentage of cases are struck out for non-service. My officials are seeking clarification from the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána as to the reason for this figure being at this level. It should however be noted in this respect that a working group was established by An Garda Síochána to examine how the rate of summons serving can be improved and to regularly monitor the level of summons service throughout the country. While this group has reported improvements in the rate of successful service of summons, challenges remain in relation to effecting service of summons in certain circumstances, relating to such matters as inaccurate address data, persons moving address, or living in multi-occupancy dwellings or other settings which make service difficult. In addition, certain persons will take steps to evade service. Similar difficulties are experienced by many other police forces.

I would like thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of speeding on our roads. The increase in the number of road traffic fatalities in the year to date highlights the need to continue to deploy all effective measures to reduce speeding, and therefore road traffic collisions.

The Deputy will appreciate that road traffic enforcement is an operational matter and, as such, is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I am advised that An Garda Síochána's Roads Policing Operations Plan 2016 incorporates a programme of high visibility road safety and enforcement operations, carried out in partnership with other state agencies. The focus of the Roads Policing Operations Plan for 2016 is on the most vulnerable road user categories of motor cyclists, pedal cyclists, pedestrians and learner permit holders. Garda operations specifically target road use behaviour known to contribute significantly to collisions, including speeding. Road traffic legislation is also enforced as part of the day to day duties of members of An Garda Síochána. Both targeted and general methods of enforcement have a valuable role to play in An Garda Síochána's enforcement programme, which targets locations with a view to preventing the commission of offences, detecting errant motorists, changing their behaviour and ultimately reducing death and injuries on our roads.

An Garda Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 also sets out key strategic objectives for Roads Policing which will inform and guide An Garda Síochána’s Road Policing plans over the next 5 years. The Deputy is no doubt aware of the significant investment in Garda resources currently underway. This investment is closely associated with delivery on the Modernisation and Renewal Programme.

In addition, I will be meeting the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport later this month at the biannual Ministerial Committee on Road Safety, which oversees the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy and provides a forum for high-level discussion of road safety issues.

In so far as the recording of driver licences is concerned, the Courts Service has taken the following steps:

- All summonses issued in respect of alleged offences under the Road Traffic Acts include a specific provision that notifies the person accused of the offence that he/she must bring to the court their driving licence/driving permit and a legible copy of their driving licence or learner permit;

- Court Registrars, following consultation with the presiding Judge, make an announcement in the court to the effect that as required by the summons, persons must produce their driving licence/permit and a copy thereof to the Registrar once their case is called;

- Where a driving licence/learner permit or copy thereof is produced and the accused is convicted of the offence, the Registrar records the driving licence number for the purpose of subsequently transferring the driving licence number to the Department of Transport for the application of penalty points;

- Where a driving licence/learner permit or copy thereof is not produced, the Registrar records this fact on the summons/minute book.

Road safety is of course a shared responsibility and it is incumbent upon us all to play our part by driving within the speed limit.

Table 1 - Report on the Number of Speeding Offences listed for Court between 1 Jan 2015 and 31 December 2015 and related outcomes.

Column A - Displays the number of offences listed

Column B - Displays the number of convictions

Column C - Displays the number of Licences Numbers Recorded

Column D - Number of non convictions

Column E - Total Convictions & Non-Convictions

Column F - Total not finalised Adjourned, Bench Warrants, Appealed, Setasides

Column G - Total Column E (Total convictions & Non convictions) & Column F (Not Finalised, Adjourned, Bench Wts, Appealed, setasides)

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Court Area

Offences Listed

Convictions

No. Of Licences Recorded

Dismiss

Taken into Consideration, Probation, Withdrawn, ETC.

Strike Out

Strike Out Not Served

Poor Box

Total Non Convictions

Total Convictions & Non Convictions

Not Finalised

Adjourned, Bench Warrants

Appealed

Setasides etc

Total

Column E & F

AN CLOCHAN LIATH

22

4

4

1

0

2

14

0

17

21

1

22

AN DAINGEAN

7

1

0

2

0

1

3

0

6

7

0

7

AN FAL CARRACH

17

6

2

4

0

1

6

0

11

17

0

17

ARDEE

142

37

7

7

3

31

53

0

94

131

11

142

ARKLOW

288

64

56

1

1

86

111

0

199

263

25

288

ATHLONE

1,271

238

163

0

1

347

655

0

1,003

1,241

30

1,271

ATHY

286

88

5

4

20

23

143

0

190

278

8

286

BALLAGHADERREEN

22

3

1

0

0

4

15

0

19

22

0

22

BALLINA

82

4

0

7

17

6

46

0

76

80

2

82

BALLINASLOE

259

58

26

6

2

45

133

0

186

244

15

259

BALLYSHANNON

136

32

7

0

0

30

62

8

100

132

4

136

BANDON

199

41

26

35

1

14

83

11

144

185

14

199

BANTRY

51

14

13

5

0

5

21

5

36

50

1

51

BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD

21

2

1

1

1

3

14

0

19

21

0

21

BRAY

566

163

139

5

1

135

197

0

338

501

65

566

BUNCRANA

153

37

17

35

0

9

69

0

113

150

3

153

CAHIRCIVEEN

1

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

CARLOW

785

215

68

86

18

106

325

23

558

773

12

785

CARNDONAGH

72

15

3

18

0

7

32

0

57

72

0

72

CARRICK ON SHANNON

550

71

14

19

0

175

250

21

465

536

14

550

CARRICK ON SUIR

21

5

0

0

0

1

13

2

16

21

0

21

CARRICKMACROSS

203

32

17

23

0

19

125

1

168

200

3

203

CASHEL

493

103

51

1

6

134

234

4

379

482

11

493

CASTLEBAR

266

33

15

29

71

18

103

0

221

254

12

266

CASTLEREA

76

19

8

0

0

30

27

0

57

76

0

76

CAVAN

535

81

30

14

13

98

272

4

401

482

53

535

CLIFDEN

7

4

0

0

0

3

0

3

7

0

7

CLONAKILTY

8

3

3

0

0

1

4

0

5

8

0

8

CLONMEL

128

32

17

0

19

15

60

0

94

126

2

128

CORK CITY

1,460

405

168

6

7

410

558

0

981

1,386

74

1,460

DOIRE AN FHEICH

307

64

1

0

3

50

185

0

238

302

5

307

DONEGAL

43

3

1

1

0

5

29

2

37

40

3

43

DROGHEDA

257

66

17

10

4

47

114

0

175

241

16

257

DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

7,471

1,820

1,023

347

99

1,484

3,217

107

5,254

7,074

397

7,471

DUNDALK

392

100

19

44

2

87

139

1

273

373

19

392

DUNGARVAN

440

107

61

3

0

104

162

53

322

429

11

440

ENNIS

887

211

91

40

18

239

347

1

645

856

31

887

FERMOY

414

92

32

2

0

53

193

55

303

395

19

414

GALWAY

1,256

343

93

10

26

257

598

0

891

1,234

22

1,256

GOREY

564

190

129

117

4

30

157

1

309

499

65

564

GORT

209

39

8

17

0

57

92

0

166

205

4

209

KENMARE

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

1

KILCOCK

376

125

19

1

39

13

191

0

244

369

7

376

KILKENNY

1,019

283

102

175

15

113

389

7

699

982

37

1,019

KILLALOE

102

23

10

9

0

40

26

0

75

98

4

102

KILLARNEY

519

42

3

38

31

46

345

2

462

504

15

519

KILLORGLIN

1

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

KILRUSH

101

19

7

3

0

33

43

0

79

98

3

101

LETTERKENNY

479

90

42

64

0

60

250

0

374

464

15

479

LIMERICK

1,749

272

29

7

252

559

604

0

1,422

1,694

55

1,749

LISMORE

36

7

3

0

0

9

10

6

25

32

4

36

LISTOWEL

241

34

2

34

8

22

136

0

200

234

7

241

LONGFORD

256

71

54

1

0

60

121

0

182

253

3

256

LOUGHREA

257

62

28

0

0

56

126

1

183

245

12

257

MACROOM

608

124

69

80

12

46

282

42

462

586

22

608

MALLOW

548

137

28

6

0

91

228

79

404

541

7

548

MANORHAMILTON

56

2

1

0

0

3

48

2

53

55

1

56

MIDLETON

491

117

41

1

0

113

254

0

368

485

6

491

MONAGHAN

315

50

15

24

1

38

196

0

259

309

6

315

MULLINGAR

552

181

124

0

3

126

221

4

354

535

17

552

NAAS

2,005

716

201

12

109

157

937

0

1,215

1,931

74

2,005

NAVAN

511

94

47

23

2

100

268

0

393

487

24

511

NENAGH

553

85

23

91

1

126

236

0

454

539

14

553

NEWCASTLE WEST

1,036

172

17

11

4

230

595

0

840

1,012

24

1,036

PORTLAOISE

439

101

30

24

1

36

234

31

326

427

12

439

ROSCOMMON

181

57

26

0

0

41

77

1

119

176

5

181

SKIBBEREEN

5

2

2

0

0

3

0

3

5

0

5

SLIGO

829

133

25

3

2

192

401

63

661

794

35

829

STROKESTOWN

167

37

15

0

0

53

73

0

126

163

4

167

THURLES

355

52

28

55

1

70

170

0

296

348

7

355

TIPPERARY

47

12

4

4

0

18

13

0

35

47

0

47

TRALEE

219

19

6

17

19

21

136

2

195

214

5

219

TRIM

236

41

12

17

0

63

110

0

190

231

5

236

TUAM

171

49

24

0

Table 2 - Report on the Number of Speeding Offences listed for Court between 1 Jan 2016 and October 2016 and related outcomes.

Column A - Displays the number of offences listed

Column B - Displays the number of convictions

Column C - Displays the number of Licences Numbers Recorded

Column D - Number of non convictions

Column E - Total Convictions & Non Convictions

Column F - Total not finalised Adjourned, Bench Warrants, Appealed, Setasides

Column G - Total Column E (Total convictions & Non-convictions) & Column F (Not Finalised, Adjourned, Bench Wts, Appealed, setasides)

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Court Area

Offences Listed

Convictions

No. Of Licences Recorded

Dismiss

Tic,Probation, Withdrawn, ETC.

Strike Out

Strike Out Not Served

Poor Box

Total Non Convictions

Total Convictions & Non Convictions

Not Finalised

Adjourned, Bench Warrants

Appealed

Setasides etc

Total

Column E & F

AN CLOCHAN LIATH

20

5

5

3

0

11

0

14

19

1

20

AN DAINGEAN

4

0

0

3

0

3

3

1

4

AN FAL CARRACH

4

0

0

4

0

4

4

0

4

ARDEE

284

68

21

30

0

49

103

0

182

250

34

284

ARKLOW

65

11

10

0

0

20

23

0

43

54

11

65

ATHLONE

517

79

49

0

2

125

302

0

429

508

9

517

ATHY

110

20

4

0

8

11

68

0

87

107

3

110

BALLAGHADERREEN

17

1

1

0

0

3

9

0

12

13

4

17

BALLINA

94

7

3

15

13

2

53

0

83

90

4

94

BALLINASLOE

268

34

17

8

0

55

147

1

211

245

23

268

BALLYSHANNON

110

16

2

2

0

28

59

0

89

105

5

110

BANDON

261

28

9

76

6

13

131

3

229

257

4

261

BANTRY

16

2

1

3

0

8

0

11

13

3

16

BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD

7

1

0

1

5

0

7

7

0

7

BRAY

401

92

72

1

1

105

143

0

250

342

59

401

BUNCRANA

47

2

0

6

0

1

34

0

41

43

4

47

CARLOW

249

39

17

51

1

23

124

0

199

238

11

249

CARNDONAGH

110

15

8

22

0

7

60

0

89

104

6

110

CARRICK ON SHANNON

194

20

7

0

0

59

94

0

153

173

21

194

CARRICK ON SUIR

30

6

3

1

0

4

14

2

21

27

3

30

CARRICKMACROSS

188

32

10

9

1

18

123

0

151

183

5

188

CASHEL

237

37

25

0

6

58

127

0

191

228

9

237

CASTLEBAR

166

27

2

15

29

8

81

0

133

160

6

166

CASTLEREA

22

3

0

2

0

3

9

0

14

17

5

22

CAVAN

564

119

59

18

19

53

282

0

372

491

73

564

CLIFDEN

2

0

1

1

0

2

2

0

2

CLONAKILTY

4

1

0

1

0

2

2

2

4

CLONMEL

134

24

9

2

7

27

63

2

101

125

9

134

CORK CITY

1,096

262

68

26

7

270

499

0

802

1,064

32

1,096

DOIRE AN FHEICH

217

35

0

0

1

31

150

0

182

217

0

217

DONEGAL

22

7

4

0

0

3

11

0

14

21

1

22

DROGHEDA

224

58

22

15

3

45

94

0

157

215

9

224

DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

6,964

1,508

861

38

46

1,398

3,148

35

4,665

6,173

791

6,964

DUNDALK

278

98

39

31

2

47

95

0

175

273

5

278

DUNGARVAN

426

64

35

4

2

113

198

44

361

425

1

426

ENNIS

630

85

39

21

81

90

337

0

529

614

16

630

FERMOY

333

67

21

3

2

93

151

0

249

316

17

333

GALWAY

847

240

60

7

16

165

406

1

595

835

12

847

GOREY

586

125

85

113

1

77

183

0

374

499

87

586

GORT

111

14

1

6

0

29

59

0

94

108

3

111

KILCOCK

191

51

8

1

13

8

105

0

127

178

13

191

KILKENNY

1,016

212

97

181

22

104

483

0

790

1,002

14

1,016

KILLALOE

43

9

4

1

6

8

15

0

30

39

4

43

KILLARNEY

391

52

2

17

13

89

213

0

332

384

7

391

KILLORGLIN

2

0

1

1

0

2

2

0

2

KILRUSH

25

7

5

0

4

3

11

0

18

25

0

25

LETTERKENNY

295

62

13

54

0

44

120

0

218

280

15

295

LIMERICK

1,794

273

19

3

199

495

757

0

1,454

1,727

67

1,794

LISMORE

40

8

6

1

0

12

15

2

30

38

2

40

LISTOWEL

224

24

3

21

16

37

123

0

197

221

3

224

LONGFORD

244

48

32

0

0

61

122

0

183

231

13

244

LOUGHREA

250

54

25

9

0

41

129

5

184

238

12

250

MACROOM

283

34

21

35

5

30

157

3

230

264

19

283

MALLOW

354

73

19

5

1

124

142

0

272

345

9

354

MANORHAMILTON

43

0

1

6

36

0

43

43

0

43

MEATH

390

100

58

16

1

32

197

0

246

346

44

390

MIDLETON

358

68

21

0

1

85

198

0

284

352

6

358

MONAGHAN

170

35

16

19

0

16

91

0

126

161

9

170

MULLINGAR

355

94

51

0

0

80

171

0

251

345

10

355

NAAS

1,752

449

88

14

85

132

958

0

1,189

1,638

114

1,752

NAVAN

139

40

21

25

0

20

47

0

92

132

7

139

NENAGH

537

90

15

26

0

166

241

0

433

523

14

537

NEWCASTLE WEST

1,107

174

14

0

0

331

546

0

877

1,051

56

1,107

PORTLAOISE

414

58

20

11

2

61

270

1

345

403

11

414

ROSCOMMON

89

14

6

4

1

17

33

0

55

69

20

89

SKIBBEREEN

1

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

SLIGO

543

75

17

3

0

160

279

0

442

517

26

543

STROKESTOWN

38

5

4

0

0

10

22

0

32

37

1

38

THURLES

360

47

17

19

0

64

213

0

296

343

17

360

TIPPERARY

28

6

0

2

1

4

12

1

20

26

2

28

TRALEE

125

14

1

14

9

24

60

0

107

121

4

125

TRIM

7

3

1

0

0

4

0

4

7

0

7

TUAM

129

34

20

7

1

23

55

3

89

123

6

129

TUBBERCURRY

72

12

5

0

0

22

35

0

57

69

3

72

TULLAMORE

186

52

25

7

0

35

89

0

131

183

3

186

VIRGINIA

144

34

15

4

1

26

55

0

86

120

24

144

WATERFORD CITY

611

88

26

1

1

239

255

0

496

584

27

611

WESTPORT

11

0

0

7

0

7

7

4

11

WEXFORD

440

102

73

100

0

43

158

0

301

403

37

440

WICKLOW

307

74

64

1

0

79

109

0

189

263

44

307

YOUGHAL

37

10

6

3

0

4

17

1

25

35

2

37

TOTAL

29,404

5,835

2,407

1,134

639

5,770

13,964

104

21,611

27,446

1,958

29,404

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