Vol. 495 No. 3
85 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people in prison for non-payment of fines; the percentage of the prison population this figure represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19859/98]
The number of people in prison for non-payment of fines on 13 October 1998 was 22. This represents 0.82 per cent of the total prison population in custody on that date.
Fine defaulters may make payment either on committal or shortly afterwards, so that the amount of time spent in prison is often quite short.
