The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the annual reports of the Courts Service and is reproduced in the table:
Year
|
Number of Orders
|
2003
|
2,883
|
2004
|
2,026
|
2005
|
2,010
|
2006
|
2,492
|
2007*
|
2,500
|
*Note: The 2008 Report has not yet been published therefore figures for this year are not available.
I should also tell the Deputy that the Probation Service of my Department has responsibility for the supervision and management of Community Service Orders in accordance with the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983. The Probation Service provides assessment reports to the Courts and manages the completion of the Orders by offenders. This Scheme is also the subject of a value for money and policy review which is nearing completion.