Vol. 504 No. 2
282 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made on implementing the recommendations of the independent expert group on the probation services which published its first report on 2 November 1998. [11332/99]
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: an increase in staff numbers and that recruitment be streamlined; that the service needs to develop a PR strategy; an up-to-date IT system must be installed; a staff training analysis be carried out; comprehensive research facilities should be available within the service; and insurance cover regulations for community service projects be changed.
In relation to staffing matters, there are 19.5 vacancies at present in the basic grade of permanent probation and welfare officer, 11 of which were filled by appointing temporary unestablished probation and welfare officers on a contract basis. The Civil Service Commission is currently recruiting staff to enable these posts to be filled in mid-1999. As regards the additional 65 probation and welfare officers and the ten other senior staff and clerical support staff recommended in the expert group's report, I am currently negotiating with the Department of Finance on this issue. The group is continuing its work and I am expecting the group's second report in June.
In relation to providing a comprehensive public information and awareness programme my Department 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 offices. These have been installed and a considerable amount of computer hardware has been purchased. I am hopeful that by the end of 1999 there will be a comprehensive information technology system in place. In consultation with the probation and welfare service, my Department will be implementing a comprehensive training programme for the new IT system and will take into account 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.
