Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:127. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the resources allocated to the Irish sentencing information project for each of the past ten years. [9901/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 28 February 2017
Ceisteanna (127)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Sentencing Committee was established by the Courts Service Board and is chaired by the Chief Justice. The Committee oversaw the development of a Sentencing Information website, a pilot initiative designed to gather information about the range of sentences and other penalties that have been imposed for particular types of offences across court jurisdictions.
I very much support this initiative which is supported administratively and funded by the Courts Service from the Courts Vote. The Courts Service has informed me that the total expenditure to date exclusively on the Irish sentencing project is €397,060. This figure includes fees for legal/professional services to the project and expenditure on some ICT support and development. However, further ICT support costs have been incurred but it is not possible to quantify these as they are contained within the total ICT support costs for all Lotus Notes Applications, of which this project is one.
Additionally the Courts Service through its ICT Unit also supported the development of a computer system for the storage of the sentencing data collected and a website which can be accessed by members of the judiciary and the public. The website is a valuable tool not only for members of the judiciary but also for lawyers, researchers, those concerned with the needs of victims and their families as well as members of the public.
Over a period from 2005 to 2009 funding from the Courts Service provided resources for the work of the Committee and enabled the project to retain the services of 9 practising barristers to collect and collate information on sentencing outcomes in a sample number of criminal cases over a defined period of time. When funding from the Courts Service was reduced, the project availed of the services of five interns through the Government JobBridge scheme. The Courts Service has also informed me that currently there are no full time resources working on this project.
I should inform the Deputy that we are currently examining the feasibility of bringing the sentencing information function within the statutory remit of the proposed Judicial Council, the Bill in respect of which is at an advanced stage of drafting.