asked the Minister for Justice the recommended case-load for each welfare officer; and the actual case-load at the present time.
5.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Justice Welfare Officers.
4.
asked the Minister for Justice if he has reviewed the operations of the welfare services of his Department; if he proposes to improve them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of welfare workers employed by his Department for the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973; and if he has any plans to increase the number employed.
7.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of welfare officers employed by his Department.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together.
Welfare officers of my Department may be assigned to duties in the prisons and other places of detention, to court duties or to duties on behalf of an Bord Uchtála.
The total number of welfare officers employed, including those assigned to An Bord Uchtála, in each of the years referred to by the Deputy was as follows :
|
1970 |
— |
14 |
||
|
1971 |
— |
15 |
||
|
1972 |
— |
32 |
||
|
1973 |
— |
47 |
It is not possible to fix a standard case load for each welfare officer because of the different kinds of duty involved and other factors, but the present average case load for officers on prison and court duties is 32.
The welfare service for the courts and prisons has been kept under constant review since it was re-organised in 1970. The duties of the principal welfare officer include staff training and development and general planning for the improvement and expansion of the service.
Present plans provide for an expansion of the services by the recruitment of additional welfare officers to bring the numbers up to about 90.
With regard to the welfare officers who are dealing with court work and who are requested by district justices to look after specific cases, could the Minister confirm that a welfare officer will be appointed to each district justice? Would it be possible to have a court welfare officer assigned to an individual district justice to go with him each day to cover his area? I have personal experience of this matter and in instances it has proved most successful.
The Deputy should not go into detail.
I will pass on the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister. I think the additional welfare officers who are now to be recruited are intended mainly for places of detention.
Is the Minister aware that, in particular instances, these court welfare officers can have a very beneficial effect on young offenders?
The Deputy must ask a specific supplementary question.
Is the Minister aware that they are of benefit to young offenders and people on probation?
I have to amend what I said. In fact, they are intended both for increasing the numbers in detention centres and also for district court work in Dublin and provincial areas. The increase in strength which is very substantial, as the Deputy will have seen, will make provision for both of these. I cannot tell the Deputy in what proportion, but his point will be considered.
Could the Minister tell me if he has any knowledge whether the title of "probation officer" has been changed to "welfare officer" because my question is mainly concerned with the probation officers but I put the question down in the manner in which I did because, as I understand it, they are all now referred to as welfare officers? Possibly I should have specified for "probation work".
I should not like to comment on that. I have no information to confirm that, but that may well be the case.
All right. I shall rephrase the question.