Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 1

Written Answers. - Community Service Orders.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons who have served community service orders in each of the past five years; the extent to which it is proposed to expand this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3376/01]

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

The number of community service orders notified to the Probation and Welfare Service in the years 1995 to 1999 (the latest years for which figures are available) are as follows:–

Year	Number
1995	1,602
1996	1,386
1997	1,167
1998	1,269
1999	1,342

At 1 January 2000 there were a total of 1,351 persons subject to a community service order under the supervision of the probation and welfare ser vice. A further 600 community orders were notified to the probation and welfare service in the period from 1 January to 30 June 2000 and 388 of these orders have commenced implementation by the service. Final figures in respect of the year 2000 are not yet available.

It should be noted that under the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983, persons who have a community service order imposed on them by the courts have twelve months from the date of the order to complete the number of hours work specified in the order.

As regards the expansion of the use of this sanction, I wish to point out that the making of a community service order is entirely at the discretion of the judiciary, and the number of orders made over the years 1995-99 have been fairly consistent. If, however, the Courts were to have recourse to orders made under section 3 of the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 more frequently, then any necessary extra resources required by the probation and welfare service will be provided by my Department.