Vol. 499 No. 5
58 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group on the Probation and Welfare Service, particularly the recruitment of 75 additional probation officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3041/99]
The expert group on the Probation and Welfare Service in its first report, published on 2 November 1998, made a number of recommendations as follows: that there should be an increase in staff numbers and that staff recruitment be streamlined; that the service should develop a PR strategy; that an up-to-date IT system must be established; that a staff training analysis be carried out; that comprehensive research facilities should be available within the service, and that insurance cover regulations for community service projects be changed.
In relation to staffing matters, the following is the position. The actual number of staff serving at present is 188. There are 18 vacancies for permanent staff at present. Twelve of those vacancies are currently filled by appointing temporary unestablished Probation and Welfare Service officers on a contract for six months. It is hoped to fill the remaining six vacancies by the appointment of temporary unestablished Probation and Welfare Service officers. The Civil Service Commission is currently recruiting staff to enable the permanent positions in the Probation and Welfare Service to be filled in the first half of 1999. As regards the additional 65 Probation and Welfare Service officers and the ten other senior staff and clerical support staff recommended in the expert group's report, my Department is considering the recommendation made by the expert group, in consultation with the Department of Finance.
In relation to providing a comprehensive public information and awareness programme, the Deputy will agree that much of the excellent work done by the Probation and Welfare Service goes unnoticed and I will be looking at how best a public relations initiative can be progressed to promote knowledge about the current and future development for the service.
As regards an IT package for the service, it has been possible to make progress by putting in place local area networks in the Probation and Welfare Service offices. These are being installed at present and a considerable amount of computer hardware has been purchased. I hope that by the end of 1999 there will be a comprehensive information technology system in place. My Department will also be implementing a comprehensive training programme for the new IT system and will take into account other additional training needs as they arise.
The Probation and Welfare Service has a small research unit and when the extra staff and the improved IT system are in place this will allow for the development of more detailed statistics and data.
