Vol. 481 No. 7
40 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, being taken to deal with the backlog in the caseload of the probation and welfare service in the assistance it provides to the family courts. [17093/97]
The Deputy is probably aware that up to December 1995 the Probation and Welfare Service assisted the courts by providing reports in family law cases although there was no statutory requirement to do so. The Family Law Act, 1995, and subsequently family law legislation has put a statutory obligation on the Probation and Welfare Service to provide reports to the courts. Due to increasing work demands, especially in regard to criminal law work, the Probation and Welfare Service has not been able to deliver a family law service since the end of 1995.
I am fully aware of the need to meet the court's requirements in this regard and my Department has been in regular contact with the Department of Finance in an effort to secure additional resources to enable the service carry out family law work. These efforts are continuing in the context of the Estimates for next year and I would be hopeful that progress can be made fairly soon.
