Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Mar 2001

Vol. 531 No. 5

Written Answers. - Probation and Welfare Service.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

24 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to provide adequate staff and resources for the Probation and Welfare Service, especially having regard to the statement by a judge in the Dublin Circuit Court on 21 February 2001 that she could not sentence two defendants to community service, as she intended, as the probation service was not available in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6153/01]

Alan Shatter

Question:

116 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a case which came before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 February 2001 in which the judge stated that she could not require the two men she was sentencing to undertake community service due to the unavailability of Probation and Welfare Service staff to the Dublin courts; the reason the courts are not being properly serviced; and the action he proposes to take to ensure the proper workings of the Community Service Orders Act, 1983. [6367/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 116 together.

Section 4(1) of the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983, requires a judge to seek a probation and welfare officer's report before making a community service order in an individual case. No request for such a report was received in either of the two cases referred to by the Deputies. There are occasions where probation and welfare officers are unable to respond to requests from the courts for such reports. This is due to an agreement reached between management and the union representing probation and welfare staff in relation to workloads.

Every effort is being made by my Department to address the question of vacancies in the Probation and Welfare Service. The Civil Service Commission held a recruitment campaign in recent months to fill both existing vacancies and newly sanctioned posts in the Probation and Welfare Service and offers of appointment are currently in the process of being made to successful candidates. In addition, my Department recently advertised for the recruitment of 25 additional full-time temporary unestablished positions of probation and welfare officer. Assignments to fill vacancies in the service will be made as candidates from both these competitions take up duty in the coming months.

Seán Barrett

Question:

25 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to recruit to the Probation and Welfare Service the additional staff required to bring into operation sections 26 and 28 of the Children Act, 1997; the communications he has had with the health boards to provide for such additional staff as each health board will require to facilitate the sections being brought into force; his contacts with the Minster for Health and Children in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6261/01]

Alan Shatter

Question:

101 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to recruit to the Probation and Welfare Service the additional staff required to bring into operation sections 26 and 28 of the Children Act, 1997; the communications he has had with the health boards to provide for such additional staff as each health board will require to facilitate the sections being brought into force; his contacts with the Minster for Health and Children in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6274/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 101 together.

The provisions referred to by the Deputy, new sections 26, social reports in the District Court, and 28, appointment of guardianad litem for a child and provision for separate representation, of the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964, as inserted by section of 11 of the Children Act, 1997, which remain to be brought into operation by ministerial order, have been included in the Government's national children's strategy as part of its action plan. It is in that context that the associated National Children's Office will help to advance the national goals and objectives contained in the strategy, in consultation with Departments and agencies. The lead-in to the development of the strategy involved consultation between my Department and the Department of Health and Children about sections 26 and 28 and a range of other matters.