Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Probation and Welfare Service.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

50 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reinstate a court welfare service, resourced by the Probation and Welfare Service, to the district family law courts in view of the important role played by this service in mediating difficult cases of family law. [20267/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 353 together.

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 subsequent family law legislation has put a statutory obligation on the Probation and Welfare Service to provide reports to the courts. However, 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.

Having regard to the pressure on the Probation and Welfare Service from the courts and other developments affecting the service I established an expert group towards the end of 1997 to examine the Probation and Welfare Service with the following terms of reference:

"To examine- (a) the role of the Probation and Welfare Service having regard to recent and current developments (b) the needs of the service, in the context of its proper role, to deliver an effective and efficient service (c) the organisational status of the service and to make recommendations."

The expert group has now furnished its first report which I hope to have published shortly. I am awaiting the group's next report which I hope will make recommendations in relation to the role of the Probation and Welfare Service in civil cases.

I am aware of the recommendations in the Law Reform Commission report on the family law courts.