Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016
236. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is appropriate for An Garda Síochána to charge fees to issue copies of traffic accident report abstracts, witness statements, photographs and other documents; and if she will immediately instruct An Garda Síochána to stop charging these fees. [4865/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra237. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is appropriate and humane for An Garda Síochána to charge fees to bereaved families, which can amount to tens of thousands of euro, to receive copies of Garda traffic accident report abstracts, witness statements, photographs and other Garda documents; if she will immediately instruct An Garda Síochána to stop demanding that bereaved families pay such fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4866/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra238. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality why there has been a large increase in fees charged for copies of Garda Síochána traffic accident report abstracts, witness statements, photographs and other documents since 2010; and if these increases are justified. [4867/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra245. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is examining the possibility of abolishing, waiving or reducing the fees for bereaved families of road traffic collisions for the copies of witness statements and Garda Síochána abstracts relating to the road traffic collisions in which their family members and loved ones were killed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4928/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 238, inclusive, and 245 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that persons involved in road traffic collisions, their legal advisers or insurers or other interested parties may, on written request, be supplied with an abstract of the Garda report in respect of the collision, copies of statements of witnesses and sketches or maps of the scene. Abstracts are not supplied until any criminal proceedings are concluded and, in the case of fatal traffic collisions, until the inquest concerning the death has been completed by the Coroner.
The fee regime was last revised in October 2011 when the fee for an abstract was increased from €41 to €60 and the fee for a statement was increased from €21 to €40.
I understand that these fees are designed to recoup administrative costs incurred in the preparation and processing of requests for abstracts and statements and that they are kept under ongoing review. I have no role in relation to the setting or collection of these fees.
