asked the Minister for Justice if he will give the number of probation officers in (a) Dublin and (b) the country; and whether he will make a statement on the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Probation Officers.
58.
There are seven probation officers in Dublin, including the Probation Administration Officer. There are no full-time probation officers outside Dublin but the services of voluntary social workers in societies formally recognised by the Minister for Justice under the Criminal Justice Administration Act are availed of, as they are also in Dublin, for probation work.
As I indicated in reply to a question on 30th April last, I am examining the probation service with a view to its improvement. I expect that this examination will be completed shortly.
Does the Minister think it is a satisfactory situation that we have got so few probation officers over the whole country? Are there any plans to improve this?
As I have informed the Deputy, there are plans to improve this service in the near future.
Mr. O'Leary
When can the Minister unveil these plans? Is it not a disgraceful situation that we have a probation service which must be one of the most primitive in the world, virtually non-existent.
We have a very efficient probation service. We also have some very good work being done by voluntary organisations in this field.
It is not enough to unload our responsibility on to voluntary organisations. We have an understaffed probation service.
In my view, the work done by the voluntary service is much more effective than can be done by the official service.
It is a Victorian service.