Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody who made a presentation. I have three questions and do not mind who replies.

If, for example, we were to establish a footprint or network of community courts across Dublin, has anybody worked out how many we would be talking about? Would the goal be to cover the entire city or would it be envisaged that they would cover particular areas, hot spots or black spots? How would they be identified?

My understanding of how community courts operate, based on these presentations is that they predominantly deal with what we call low level crimes or - if this is the correct phrase - petty crimes. What would be the threshold above which the community courts would not operate?

I hear the comments on the probation service and the level at which it is operating.

Could I have an example of the practicalities of dealing with an offender who pleads guilty and goes through a community court? Is there a one-to-one arrangement whereby a member of staff from the probation and welfare service would accompany an offender to remove graffiti? Who would supply the paint? Is there a public liability consideration when an offender is on a mission he is required to undertake by a community court? Could we have an example of what occurs in Liverpool and New York?