Courts Service Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017

Thursday, 6 April 2017

Ceisteanna (87)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

87. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 16 February 2017 and further replies of 7 March 2017 and 28 March 2017, the number of drink driving offences that were listed in each court; the number of offences that were not finalised, adjourned, bench warrants, appealed, set aside and so on, in the years 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17244/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The 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 information on the courts system.

In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries with the Courts Service and have been informed that court statistics are not compiled in such a way as to provide the information sought. To obtain the information sought, if, indeed, it would be possible to do so, would be a highly complex process, requiring substantial effort and involving a disproportionate amount of staff time and a financial cost arising from the necessity to engage external support providers.