Vol. 492 No. 4
309 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases in 1996 and 1997 where community service orders were not made as a result of a report on the offender from the Probation and Welfare Service. [14393/98]
310 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community service orders imposed in each of the years 1996 and 1997; the work done by those so sentenced; the number of cases where there was non-compliance; and the outcome of this non-compliance. [14394/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.
In 1996 the number of cases referred for community service orders was 1,910 and the total number of orders not made was 524. In the following year 1997, there were 1,450 cases referred for community service orders but no orders were made in 283 cases.
In respect of the number of community service orders imposed in the years 1996 and 1997 respectively, I wish to inform the Deputy that in 1996 the total number of community service orders made was 1,386, of which prosecutions initiated for non-compliance was 173. In respect of the following year 1997, the number of orders made was 1,167 and the total number of prosecutions initiated for non-compliance was 140.
In respect of the outcome in the non-compliance cases, this information is not readily available. However, I can assure the Deputy in each case where non-compliance occurs it is followed through in the courts generally, resulting in prison sentences or long-term remands.
My Department's Probation and Welfare Service has in the early years attempted to compile this information, but due to the lack of resources the compiling of this type of statistic was not given priority. I am now initiating an independent research project on the operation and effectiveness of community service.
