Vol. 536 No. 6
71 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff positions in the Probation and Welfare Service which are unfilled; if probation reports on offenders coming before the Central Criminal Court are likely to be on hold until the end of the summer; if so, the steps he is taking to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14997/01]
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 late last year to fill both existing vacancies and newly sanctioned posts in the Pro bation and Welfare Service and offers of appointment are currently in the process of being made to successful candidates from that competition. In addition, my Department recently advertised for the recruitment of additional full-time temporary unestablished positions of probation and welfare officer. Interviews for these posts commenced in March and were completed in April of this year and offers of appointment have already been made to the first 50 successful candidates on the panel. Twenty seven of those candidates have already accepted terms of offer of contract and have either taken up duty or have agreed a starting date.
The number of staff vacancies in the Probation and Welfare Service on 11 May 2001 was 56.5. Since then, 18 new staff have taken up duty and a further 14 new staff are expected to take up duty by 11 June 2001. At the present rate of take up, my Department is hopeful that all existing vacancies in the Probation and Welfare Service will be filled in coming months. It should then be possible for the Probation and Welfare Service to provide a service to the Central Criminal Court in the Hillary Term.
