asked the Minister for Justice the basis on which his Department employs supervisors for community service orders; if such supervisors are precluded from working more than 18 hours per week and obliged to sign on at labour exchange for three days per week; if so, the reasons for this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Community Service Order Supervisors.
107.
Limerick East): Sessional supervisors are engaged by the Probation and Welfare Service on a fee basis at an hourly rate to supervise the technical aspects of certain work undertaken by offenders under community service orders, for example painting, bricklaying, plastering etc. Offenders usually work only about 12 to 14 hours per week on community service so as not to interfere with their normal working or educational hours. Sessional supervisors, therefore, are required only for a maximum of about 16 hours any week. Some projects are only active on Saturdays and supervisors on such projects might be required only for about eight hours per week. The Department of Justice imposes no obligation on the supervisors to sign on at labour exchanges.