The Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 provides for the performance of unpaid work in the community by a person who is 16 years or over, who has been convicted of an offence, for which the appropriate penalty would be an immediate custodial sentence and who has given his/her consent to the Court.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of community service orders made during 2005 was 1,167. As the Deputy will be aware, section 7(2) of the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 allows an offender, in respect of whom a community service order is made, twelve months to complete his/her specified hours beginning on the date an Order was made. During 2005, I can confirm that of the 1,167 orders made a total of 449 persons completed the full number of hours specified in their Order. This figure of 449 does not include situations where orders were carried forward to 2006 or revoked.