Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An additional €3.4 million was allocated for the Probation Service this year, so it has seen an increase, to deal with the number of different services it provides. It is looking at further configuring the networks of the community-based officers to deliver restorative justice services, our joint agency response to crime, JARC, and the youth joint agency response, YJARC. That will look specifically at younger people who are referred to existing pathways in the Dublin north inner city and it will start this year. We are reviewing the number of proposals targeted at new programmes, services and initiatives, including the recruitment of outreach workers, the expansion of programmes in the inner city areas, the review of services in Munster in particular and the expansion of services to female officers. On top of that, consideration has been given to providing additional funding to community-based officers to cover their increased cost of living, including utility bills. It is important the teams be supported.

On prisons, I will have to get the Deputy detail on the previous year but by the end of September 2023, there were 29 probation officers in prisons, including two senior probation officers, and five administration staff. There are four vacancies at the moment and there is an intention to fill those vacancies in order that there will not be any gaps. There are two in Mountjoy Prison, one in Wheatfield Prison at Cloverhill and one in Midlands Prison. I acknowledge that when we look at the justice Vote overall, it looks like a decrease for the Probation Service, but the service comprises four subheads, namely, salaries, wages and allowances, operating expenses, services for offenders and the community service order scheme, and as a whole the funding has increased. Most important, the figure for services to offenders, working specifically with people, has not decreased but increased. These are the areas that have been identified as needing expansion or further work. I will get absolute clarity on the issue of probation officers in prisons. There are four vacancies but there has not been a massive decrease, as far as I am aware, in that regard.