asked the Minister for Justice if he has any plans to encourage the wider use of community service orders for young offenders.
42.
Written Answers. - Community Service Order Scheme.
41.
asked the Minister for Justice the total number of personnel in his Department employed in the operation of the community service order scheme.
43.
asked the Minister for Justice the total number of offenders sentenced to date to community service orders.
44.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been required by the courts to carry out community service under the recent legislation since this legislation has come into force and the nature of the work that has been undertaken by such persons to date.
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 to 44, inclusive, together.
The early indications are that the scheme of community service orders, brought into effect last December, is proving successful and is being widely used by the courts.
Prior to the scheme coming into operation a number of meetings and seminars were organised by my Department to promote the scheme among voluntary organisations and the Judiciary. These were very successful and orders have been made in almost all areas of the country. It is proposed to hold further such meetings to encourage the making of orders in the few areas where they have not so far been made.
A total of 26 personnel from the probation and welfare service of my Department are employed full time on community service together with a small number of administrative staff who are engaged part time on the scheme.
To date, a total of 310 cases have been referred by the courts to the probation and welfare service for reports as to the suitability of offenders and the availability of work. One hundred and forty orders have been made, 64 cases have been rejected and 106 are still being investigated.
In only one case so far as an offender failed to comply fully with an order. That offender was returned to court and was sentenced to nine months detention. Ten orders have been completed successfully.
A wide range of activities has been undertaken for the benefit of various groups of individuals in the community. Examples of these are the provision of raised flower beds which can be easily tended by people confined to wheelchairs, renovating a swimming pool for boy scouts and carrying out maintenance and decoration work to an old folk's home.