Bernard J. Durkan
Question:127 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if community service orders are being utilised in every case possible and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11293/00]
Written Answers. - Community Service Orders.
The Deputy will appreciate that this matter is one for the courts which are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. It is not open to me to comment or intervene in any way on the conduct or decision of any individual court case which is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. This is a long standing principle of our system of justice and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the type of sanctions being imposed by the courts.
Nevertheless, the Courts Service has informed me that the provisional figure for the number of community service orders made by the District Court during the legal year ended 31 July 1999 is 4,227. The actual number of such orders made by the District Court during the legal year ended 31 July 1998 was 4,312.