Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2016
84. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total value of uncollected fines; the total number of uncollected fines; and the number of persons that have been imprisoned for non-payment of fines for each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date, in tabular form. [32845/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that I have made inquiries with the Courts Service in respect of the statistics requested. The information sought is currently being compiled and verified. I shall arrange for this information to be forwarded to him shortly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 02 November 2016 in which you sought the total value of uncollected fines, the total number of uncollected fines and the number of persons imprisoned for the non-payment of a fines for each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date.
I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the statistics below in relation to the value and number of uncollected fines. The Irish Prison Service has provided statistics in relation to the number of persons imprisoned for the non-payment of fines.
Information on the total number of uncollected fines for each of the years 2013 to 2016 as recorded on the Courts Service Criminal Case Tracking System is set out in the following Tables.
Table 1 sets out the number and value of uncollected fines which were imposed between January and December of each of the years 2013 to 2015 and during the period 01 January to 28 October 2016. It does not include outstanding fines where part-payment has been made by way of instalments in accordance with the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 which came into effect on 11 January 2016. The level of fines uncollected is directly related to the time lapse since the fine was imposed i.e. if a fine was imposed in 2013 there has been 3 years in which to collect the fine whereas if a fine was imposed in 2016 there has only been a maximum of 10 months to collect the fine. Efforts to realise uncollected fines continue over a number of years. Consequently the number of fines outstanding in 2015/2016 is significantly higher than for 2013/2014.
Table 2 sets out the number and value of uncollected fines where part-payment has been made by persons opting for payment by instalments in the period 01 January to 28 October 2016.Table 1
|
Year |
No. of fines Imposed* |
Value of Fines Imposed* |
No. of Fines Outstanding |
Value of Fines Outstanding |
|
Jan - Dec 2013 |
71,743 |
€21,773,922.35 |
13,132 |
€4,241, 239.29 |
|
Jan - Dec 2014 |
76,395 |
€23,419,612.42 |
16,533 |
€5,852,055.11 |
|
Jan - Dec 2015 |
74,056 |
€23,661,058.63 |
29,141 |
€11,125,905.53 |
|
Jan - 28 Oct 2016 |
59,334 |
€19,336,404.86 |
41,513 |
€14,305,331.50 |
*This figure does not include fines that have been superseded, i.e. Appeal allowed, Set aside etc.Table 2
|
Year |
No. of Part Paid Fines Outstanding |
Value of Part Paid Fines Outstanding |
|
01 Jan -28 Oct 2016 |
1,351 |
€394,392.24 |
The Irish Prison Service has provided figures for the number of committals for the non-payment of fines during the period sought as set out below.
|
Year |
No. of Committals |
|
Jan - Dec 2013 |
8,121 |
|
Jan - Dec 2014 |
8,979 |
|
Jan - Dec 2015 |
9,883 |
|
01 Jan - 30 Sept 2016* |
6,616* |
* This is a provisional figure only. Committals during the period of 01 January to 30 September 2016 are in respect of fines imposed prior to the commencement of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2016 which came into effect on 11 January 2016.
