Jailed over fines - System must be changed

FIGURES provided to the Dáil reveal that 5,400 people have been sent to jail this year for not paying fines.

At a time when our prisons are utterly overcrowded, this seems bizarre and wasteful.

People jailed for the non-payment of fines accounted for two out of five — 39% — of all committals last year. This situation has been recognised and legislation was finalised 16 months ago to resolve the issue.

However, the Fines Act 2010 cannot be implemented because the courts’ computer system cannot administer it. That will remain the case unless funding — €400,000 only — is provided in the December budget.

Fines are a legitimate way of imposing censure on wrongdoers, but the great costs incurred by the state if they are not paid are unacceptable. The reality is that the state shoulders greater costs than the offender when that person is jailed, even if only for a few hours.

There must be a better way to administer justice.