Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:
327. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons issued with a third payment option to pay a fixed charge notice since the introduction of the third payment option on 1 June 2017; the number of persons that paid the third payment option fixed charge notice; the number that were listed to appear in court having failed to pay; the number convicted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27792/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Data in relation to the third payment option is maintained by the Courts Service. I have requested the statistics sought by the Deputy and will forward the relevant information directly to the Deputy on receipt.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question 327 of 2 July 2019 where the Deputy asked for the number of persons issued with a third payment option to pay a fixed charge notice since the introduction of the third payment option on 1 June 2017; the number of persons that paid the third payment option fixed charge notice; the number that were listed to appear in court having failed to pay; and the numbers convicted. As the Deputy will recall, I sought statistical information from the Courts Service. A report showing data on the number persons issued with a 3rd payment summons, from the introduction of the option, with a court date (up to 31 May 2019) has since been received.
The report shows that, in total, the number of persons summonsed was 74,568, with 24,158 of these not served within the statutory period. As I am sure you are aware, successful service of summons can be affected by inaccurate address data, persons moving address, persons living in multi-occupancy dwellings, or other issues which make service difficult. Certain persons will also take active steps to evade service. Such difficulties are experienced by many other police forces, however, where a summons is struck out, An Garda Síochána may apply to the appropriate court office for the reissue of the summons.
Of those people served in time, 19,055 people (38%) availed of the 3rd payment option prior to a court appearance. Of those remaining individuals, 16,303 were convicted of an offence by a Court, while the remaining cases were concluded by various other court outcomes (withdrawn, struck out, adjourned etc.).
The Courts Service have advised that that among the above cohort are individuals who may have been summonsed to court more than once. In addition, some individuals may have paid the 3rd payment option on one offence, and be convicted on another offence; therefore, such persons would appear both as paid and convicted in the data above.
I hope this information has been of assistance to you.
