asked the Minister for Justice the progress which has been made in requiring people convicted by the courts to serve non-custodial rather than custodial sentences.
Written Answers. - Community Service Orders.
89.
I take it that the information which the Deputy is seeking is in respect of the scheme of Community Service Order.
The Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983, was brought into effect by Ministerial Order on 5 December 1984. During the period January 1985 to 28 February 1989 the courts referred 5,194 convicted persons to the probation and welfare service for reports on their suitability under the Community Service Order scheme and on the availability of work for them.
Three thousand eight hundred and forty two Community Service Orders were subsequently made — 698 Orders in 1985, 966 Orders in 1986, 918 Orders in 1987 1,080 Orders in 1988, and 180 Orders in 1989. The average length of the Orders was 105 hours.