An anti-drugs activist has called for compulsory treatment for people convicted of drugs offences, following figures showing that over a quarter of offenders were given fines in the District Court last year.
Figures released by the Courts Service show that of 8,842 drugs offences processed through district courts around the country in 2006, 2,418 offenders were fined.
Some 10 per cent of offenders received imprisonment, 18 per cent were dealt with under the Probation Act and 1.5 per cent received community service. Almost 21 per cent of the cases were struck out.
Drugs offences processed through the District Court increased by more than 26 per cent, from just over 7,000 in 2005.
Gráinne Kenny, international president of Europe Against Drugs said it was highly unlikely that all 2,400 people convicted of drugs offences last year were first-timers.
"That number of fines would raise questions, they can't all be misdemeanours," she said.
"Incurring a fine isn't enough, if someone appears in court there should most definitely be compulsory treatment. If they are only fined they will be back out doing the same again."
She said that fines alone are no deterrent and provide a poor example for young people. They are also disheartening for gardaí, who "work so hard to present a case", she said.
"People should also be required to put something back into the community, which they are destroying with drug use," she added.
Courts Service figures also showed that the criminal cases dealt with in the District Court increased by 10 per cent in 2006. Summary cases were up by over 9 per cent, from just over 300,000 to almost 330,000, while indictable cases, which can go to the Circuit Court for trial, increased by almost 17 per cent, from 41,374 to 48,272.
The numbers of larceny cases dealt with also increased, from almost 21,000 to almost 24,500. And some 22 per cent of people convicted of larceny at District Court level received prison sentences.
Over 5,000 larceny cases were struck out and 537 received community service.
Public order and assault cases were up 4 per cent, from 37,119 to 38,700, and almost 5,000 cases resulted in jail.
Over 7,000 people found guilty of public order or assault charges were fined.
