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AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA has spent more than €80,000 so far this year on taxis to transport people who are in garda custody.
In response to questions from Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesperson Niall Collins, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald revealed €227,873 was spent by the force last year on taxis.
She said people are transported to prison in garda vehicles by officers as part of their routine duty.
The use of other methods of conveyance, ie taxis, “where deemed operationally expedient by the Commissioner”, cost €244,711 in 2012 and €208,047 in 2013.
Sources told TheJournal.ie that the use of taxis is often a resourcing issue. Regulations state that there should be two gardaí for every one prisoner in a vehicle. This excludes the garda who is driving, unless the person in custody is being transported in a vehicle that has a built-in cell to separate them. Using a taxi means two officers would be required, rather than three.
“Official transport is to be used where a prisoner is dangerous or likely to attempt to escape,” one garda explained. “In other words a taxi wouldn’t be used as the driver would be exposed to danger, but a car or minibus could be hired and a garda driver used.”
Taxis are normally used for escorting people accused of minor crimes when a garda vehicle is not available.
“It’s crazy really, as most are being transported to prison on penal warrants and a taxi probably costs more than a fine,” another source said. “And most of the time they get released almost immediately.”
In February this year, the Irish Examiner reported the case of a single mother from Donegal who was taken from her home all the way to Dublin in a taxi by gardaí for not paying the full fine on her TV licence. She spent three hours in the Dóchas centre women’s prison before being given a voucher to make her way back to Donegal.
In her response, the Minister said a breakdown of costs of transporting people to prison for the non-payment of fines is not readily available and would require an inordinate amount of administrative resources to obtain.
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Person gets a €300 fine for no car tax in court. He doesn’t pay this fine and it turns into a penal warrant that states that he had to do 5 days in prison for not paying it. The Gardai find him ask him if he wants to pay. He says no and maybe 2 or 3 with the same fines will go to the prison with 2 or 3 Gardai in a taxi. They get dropped at the prison, maybe fed a dinner and then released in the evening with a train or bus ticket home paid for by the prison. Personally I think we’d be better off claiming from his wages if he was working or maybe €5 per week if he’s on social welfare. Then maybe we could break even instead of losing money every time someone gets a fine in court.
I remember reading about linking court fines to social welfare and that the gardai have been asking for that for years but for reasons unknown, the government refuses. Too much of a good idea
How very Irish water of you!
Probably cheaper than having a prisoner transport quango with a full team of administrators and highly paid CEO to boot.
Exactly why im refusing to pay for water
The government tell us we all have to pay our way, blah, blah, yet they waste millions of our taxes on $hite like this and people are actually ok with this?
Not a huge amount in fairness. There will always be a cost in the implementation of the justice system and perhaps this method is sometimes more pragmatic and cost effective.
Why not use the military police to escort prisoners? It would be excellent training for them while doing a service to the country?
Military police have no powers over the civilian population, And I for one would not like to see them get any. Also I’m not sure it would be any cheaper.
#Francis they were minding Covernment buildings. I’d say Enda would love to have them out on the street to keep him in office. He’s turning this county upside down and trying to cause a civil war with his shananigans.
How many planes do we have, like in that documentary Con Air?
Seriously though, can the fare not be charged to the prisoner or deducted from their S/W where applicable as part of the sentence?
The public service have always been too willing to spend tax payers money. Instead of using a bit of brain power they just take the easy and more expensive option.
What’s up the cheaper option?
Well Tadhg, if in 2010, they had built the criminal courts of justice beside Mountjoy or even within Mountjoy some money would have been saved. However, they were too busy paying €30 million for a potato field at Thornton Hall.
http://www.herald.ie/news/30m-prison-site-goes-to-seed-as-vegetable-plot-29767224.html
That’s fair enough (I disagree with it but I see your point), but what does that have to do with the guards transporting prisoners from rural Ireland via taxi?
Typical of this government
Decisions like this are made at a much lower level than Government.
Blaming Enda and the Government for this is like blaming a dog when you get bitten by a flea!
Haha brilliant Ross
Nice cosy contract for some TDs relatives ……Ireland a great little country to do corruption in.
If you have any actual evidence that this is the case, then bring it to the authorities.
I suspect that it is much more likely that it would actually be dealt with now than if it was say 10 years ago.
However, if you have no evidence, then your comment is nothing more than ill-informed speculation and is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
That’s why when a lot of guards reach retirement they pick up a taxi plate in rural towns,
Ross.. have you been living in Ireland at all ? this type of shite happens every day. the politicians look after their own and we generally know fu,ck all about it .
Ross, that is like saying there is no crime without proof or that there is no nepotism in the civil service. You can be damn sure some taxi driver knows someone! Ligging is the Irish way. It is not up to everyman to get proof, it is up to the elected to stop fvcking us over, every chance they get!!
Con, read my comment again.
What I actually said and your “that’s like saying ….” scenario bear no relationship whatsoever to each other.
The taxi transport thing sound like a reasonable and practical solution to me. The revolving door of the prison service does not. Just bring in the legislation so fines can be deducted from source and scrap the €188 weekly minimum
In Amsterdam if you take an escort the Taxi is free ;) watch this: http://www.amsterdamtopescort.com/
Better with the bike :)))
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