Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On the policy issue, the DPP is statutorily independent and the Taoiseach is not answerable to the Dáil on matters pertaining to the discharge of that officer's functions. However, in October 2008 the DPP introduced, on a pilot basis, an initiative whereby he proposed to give reasons for decisions not to prosecute in respect of offences involving a death where the alleged offence occurred on or after 22 October of that year. To date, there has only been a small number of cases which meet this criterion. The nature of these cases was such - for example, some related to single vehicle road accidents - that there have been very few requests for reasons relating to decisions not to prosecute. It was originally intended to run the pilot until 1 January 2010. In light of the insufficient data on which to make a full evaluation, however, it is now proposed to continue it for a longer period before publishing such an evaluation. That is all the information I have in respect of that matter.

The composition of the Estimate is set out in the Book of Estimates. Most of the information contained therein would relate to the staffing and administrative costs of the office. Costs would also arise in respect of barristers and others employed by the office to prosecute cases, etc.

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