Vol. 541 No. 2
130 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff vacancies in the probation and welfare service; if the probation and welfare service will be in a position to provide probation reports to the Central Criminal Court during this legal term; and if the service will be in a position to provide a full probation and welfare service to the District and Circuit Courts in relation to criminal prosecutions and family law. [22298/01]
933 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff vacancies in the probation and welfare service; if the probation and welfare service will be in a position to provide probation reports to the Central Criminal Court during this legal term; and if the service will be in a position to provide a full probation and welfare service to the District and Circuit Courts in relation to criminal prosecutions and family law. [22281/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 933 together.
The total number of staff vacancies in the probation and welfare service on 28 September 2001 was 7.5. Three new staff are expected to take up duty by mid-November 2001. The service should then be able to provide a service to all criminal courts in the Hilary term provided the demands do not exceed the current workload agreement agreed with the union IMPACT.
In regard to family law, my Department is in consultation with the Department of Finance in regard to the provision of additional staff to service the family law court. Decisions on this matter will be made in the context of settling the Estimates for next year.
Question No. 131 answered with Question No. 124.
