Written answers

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Department of Justice and Equality

Road Traffic Offences

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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265. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed charge penalty notices issued to learner drivers for driving without being accompanied by a fully qualified driver, for non-display of L plates in 2014 and in 2015 to date, how many persons paid these notices within the 56-day period, how many of those who did not pay within this period were issued with summonses, by District Court, were listed to appear in court, were convicted and had penalty points applied; the number of persons who had their licence numbers recorded, by court, for each of the offences; how many received four points and a conviction, by court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44763/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have sought a report from the Garda authorities on the matters referred to and I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as it is to hand.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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266. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Courts Service project to electronically record whether or not a licence has been presented in court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44766/15]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the requirement for the Courts Service to record the licences of drivers who have been disqualified from driving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44776/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 275 together.

As the Deputy is aware the primary purpose of section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the court.

The Courts Service has confirmed that where an accused is convicted before a court and disqualified from driving, the driving licence number is collected by two methods. The first is where the details are provided by An Garda Síochána prior to submission of an application for a summons in respect of the offence. Where the driving licence number is so collected, the driving licence number is sent electronically to the Courts Service with the summons application and the licence number is updated to the Courts Service computer system. Under the second method, the details are collected by the Court Registrar where a licence is produced to the court at the hearing of the offence. As outlined above, if the licence is produced, the Court Registrar records the licence number and the number is updated to the Courts Service computer system.

Where a driving licence is produced to the court during the course of court proceedings relating to penalty point offences, the Court Registrar records the driving licence number. Following the completion of the proceedings the driving licence number is updated to the Courts Service computer system if the accused is convicted of the offence before the court. Subsequently the details of the conviction and the associated driving licence number are sent electronically to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for the application of penalty points.

I am informed that where an accused is summonsed to appear before a court and subsequently convicted of the offence, if a driving licence is not produced to the court, the Court Registrar records in the Court Minute Book or on the summons that no driving licence was produced. The non- production of the driving licence is recorded whether or not the accused appears before the court.

The Courts Service has advised that there is no project underway to electronically record the non-production of a licence in court. However, I want to assure you that my Department is in contact with the relevant agencies with a view to ensuring that the most efficient and effective processing and recording of data in respect of non-production of licences applies.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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267. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the reply, dated 3 November 2015, to Parliamentary Question No. 545 of 3 November 2015 wherein she stated that the statistics were being collated, if she now has these figures available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44767/15]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to reply, dated 3 November 2015, to Parliamentary Question No. 548 of 3 November 2015 wherein she stated that the statistics were being collated if she now has these figures available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44768/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.

I can advise the Deputy that responses in relation to his queries are being finalised at present and will issue in the very near future.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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269. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to reply, dated 3 November 2015, to Parliamentary Question No. 594 which was a follow-up to Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 14 July 2015 wherein she stated that the statistics were being collated if she now has these figures available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44769/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my letter dated 10 December 2015 which set out information sought by him.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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270. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to reply, dated 3 November 2015, to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 3 November 2015 wherein she stated that the statistics were being collated if she now has these figures available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44770/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table provides the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued to drivers for the offences requested by the Deputy for the period 31 July to 30 September 2015.

Number of Fixed Charge Notices issued for the offences listed for the period 30 July 2015 to 30 September 2015
Parking in a cycle track during its period of operation (Contravention of requirement to remove vehicle parked on cycle track (RRM022 or 023) after commencement of period indicated on information plate contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994)112
Invading an Advance Stop Line by failing to bring vehicle to a stop behind a primary stop-line (Failure to stop in advance of traffic sign number RRM 017

(Stop Line), contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994)
16
Failure to stop in advance of Traffic Sign (Failure to stop in advance of traffic sign for number RRM 017 (stop line) where traffic sign number RUS 027(stop sign) was also provided contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994)60
Dangerous Overtaking (Overtaking another vehicle in a manner which wold endanger or cause inconvenience to any other person contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994).

Please note that it is not possible to provided a breakdown between overtaking pedal cyclists and mechanically propelled vehicles, therefore the figure provided relates to all manners of dangerous overtaking.
20
These figures are provisional, operational and subject to change.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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271. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 14 July 2015, which was a follow-up to Parliamentary Question No. 398 of 21 April 2015, where the parliamentary questions requested a breakdown of the numbers of disqualifications, by District Court, from January 2013 to March 2015, if she now has these figures available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44771/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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 my response to Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 14 July 2015, I provided the Deputy with information on the overall number of drivers disqualified for road traffic offences in 2013, 2014 & January to March 2015, as requested. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and a breakdown of this information by District Court Area is provided in the table.

Court AreaNo of Defendants Disqualified Jan - Dec 2013No of Defendants Disqualified Jan - Dec 2014No of Defendants Disqualified Jan - Mar 2015
ABBEYFEALE1421
ACAILL510
AN CLOCHAN LIATH1681
AN DAINGEAN1081
AN FAL CARRACH11141
AN SPIDEAL200
ARDEE25148
ARKLOW49446
ATHLONE776515
ATHY34376
BALLAGHADERREEN22153
BALLINA254514
BALLINASLOE556715
BALLYCONNELL & SWANLINBAR1221
BALLYHAUNIS520
BALLYSHANNON25418
BALTINGLASS1601
BANDON587017
BANTRY28238
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD17153
BIRR1710
BORRISOKANE010
BRAY11312125
BUNCRANA23228
CAHIRCIVEEN422
CARLOW1229843
CARNDONAGH13194
CARRICK ON SHANNON394417
CARRICK ON SUIR17164
CARRICKMACROSS696811
CASHEL356613
CASTLEBAR746215
CASTLECOMER300
CASTLEREA10114
CAVAN958228
CILL RONAN010
CLIFDEN141911
CLONAKILTY45273
CLONES1400
CLONMEL556216
CORK CITY723574163
DOIRE AN FHEICH16308
DONEGAL22284
DROGHEDA11010720
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT2,0961,881604
DUNDALK16210722
DUNGARVAN29259
EDENDERRY2900
ENNIS18819355
ENNISTYMON100
FERMOY597721
GALWAY23522080
GOREY14714339
GORT222110
KELLS5240
KENMARE651
KILCOCK40458
KILKENNY1208446
KILLALOE21269
KILLARNEY42434
KILLORGLIN791
KILMALLOCK101
KILRUSH18245
KINSALE2000
LETTERKENNY12013736
LIMERICK36226985
LISMORE1060
LISTOWEL28239
LONGFORD8912429
LOUGHREA475011
MACROOM493715
MALLOW8211839
MANORHAMILTON862
MIDLETON1049436
MONAGHAN535222
MULLINGAR10610832
NA GLEANNTA6101
NAAS16819357
NAVAN12614448
NENAGH758230
NEWCASTLE WEST556131
PORTARLINGTON100
PORTLAOISE14415249
ROSCOMMON494412
ROSCREA310
SKIBBEREEN19219
SLIGO817224
STROKESTOWN7104
SWINFORD700
TEMPLEMORE200
THURLES697118
TIPPERARY344111
TRALEE797224
TRIM442912
TUAM777114
TUBBERCURRY11132
TULLAMORE9912235
VIRGINIA778118
WATERFORD CITY19512632
WESTPORT21147
WEXFORD16314048
WICKLOW68406
YOUGHAL20195
Total8,1927,4942,236
Note: If a person was before the court more than once in the Court Area for that year they are only included once on the report. A person may have appeared before the court in more than one Court Area.

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