Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases handled by the probation service in 2004 and to date in 2005; and the number of staff employed by the probation service for the same period. [32923/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assume the Deputy refers to the number of referrals made to the probation and welfare service. National figures for 2004 are in the process of verification and will form part of the probation and welfare service annual report for 2004, which is in preparation at present. Preliminary national figures for the first ten months of 2005 show that close to 9,000 referrals were made to the service in that period. These figures are provisional, subject to validation and liable to change.

The approved staffing of the probation and welfare service comprises 358.8 staff, of whom 65 are clerical and administrative staff. As at 31 October 2005, the service had 279.78 professional staff and 58.6 clerical and administrative staff. In addition, the authorised number of community service supervisors is 75, only 20 of whom are employed in a full-time capacity.