Vol. 393 No. 1
asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to delays in the production of books of evidence in criminal cases as a result of inadequate staffing levels in the Chief State Solicitor's Office; to the fact that these delays are threatening proceedings against persons accused of serious offences; the number of solicitors currently working in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor; if it is intended to increase such numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the backlog of work in the Chief State Solicitor's Office causing indefinite delays in producing books of evidence for the Director of Public Prosecutions which in turn result in defendants being held in custody for weeks before a trial date can be given; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
The number of solicitors at present serving in the Chief State Solicitor's Office is 28. Provision is being made in the 1990 Estimates for an additional £270,000 for extra staff in that Office and the Office of the Attorney General. Arrangements are also in hands for the immediate recruitment of ten temporary solicitors and two technical staff, and a review is at present in progress of the staffing needs of the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
Is the Taoiseach aware that of the 28 assigned to the Chief State Solicitor's Office only two on most occasions, occasionally more, are made available or assigned for the purpose of dealing with books of evidence cases and that because of the huge workload these people are expected to carry books of evidence are not being presented to court in time and, as a result, persons charged with serious offences are being released from the court? This is not simply a new development but is a pattern that occurs from time to time because of the crisis in staffing in the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
I have told the Deputy that the immediate recruitment of ten temporary solicitors and two temporary technical staff is in hand and there is a general review of the staffing needs of the Office.
Can the Taoiseach indicate how many of those ten, together with the technical staff he talks about, will be specifically assigned for the purpose of relieving in whole or in part the huge workload that is expected of those dealing in the District Court prosecution area?
The internal distribution of resources of that kind is a matter for the Chief State Solicitor himself.
Will the Taoiseach agree with me that the real problem has been created by the reduction in numbers in the grade of legal technician through wastage, transfer or leave of absence and they are not being replaced? Is he aware that at least seven have gone in a very short period and this work is either being farmed out to barristers and solicitors at a very inflated cost which apparently is not meeting the time-table in which these specialists could do the work? The grades should be brought up to the former levels at least.
We are recruiting two extra technical staff.
Does the Taoiseach not think that the whole judicial system is being brought into disrepute and, indeed, we set a very bad example to everybody, and particularly our near neighbours, by allowing persons to languish in prisons without trial for long periods? Would he move as quickly as possible to see that people can be brought to trial and dates given to them as quickly as possible?
I will see what can be done.
A final question, Deputy McCartan.
May I ask the Taoiseach to take a particular interest in this problem and keep the matter under constant surveillance, particularly having regard to what Deputy Kavanagh has said regarding the fact that persons are allowed to go free, including persons who are wanted on extradition charges in other jurisdictions? On occasion their cases are not processed as readily and as quickly as we would expect because of staff shortages and will he agree to keep the matter under review?
The review is being carried out as quickly as possible and I will try to expedite it.
