Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 July 2014
209. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who were sentenced to community service in the years 2012 and 2013 and the durations of same. [31888/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 statistics. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the number of persons who were sentenced to community service by the District Court in 2012 and 2013 was 2,266 and 2,076 respectively.
A breakdown of District Court sentences of community service is set out in the table below. It should be noted that the total periods of community service imposed in each year is greater than the number of persons sentenced, as individuals can be sentenced to two or more separate periods of community service.
|
Period of Community Service |
2012 |
2013 |
|
0 – 50 hours |
125 |
144 |
|
51 – 100 hours |
764 |
778 |
|
101 – 150 hours |
696 |
486 |
|
151 – 200 hours |
507 |
512 |
|
201 – 240 hours |
328 |
281 |
|
TOTAL |
2,420 |
2,201 |
The Circuit Court sentenced 160 persons to community service in 2012 and 150 community service orders were made for 2013. The Courts Service is not in a position to provide a breakdown by hours in respect of the Circuit Court.
