Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to build on the community service order regime by introducing a community payback scheme. [19296/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983, provides that a Court may make a Community Service Order as an alternative to a sentence of imprisonment or detention in respect of any individual over the age of 16 years who has been convicted of a criminal offence and who consents to the Order being made. As the Deputy will be aware, the Community Service Order requires an offender to perform unpaid work for between 40 and 240 hours, usually to be completed within 12 months. The aim of a Community Service Order is to rehabilitate the offender and make meaningful reparation to the community for his or her crime. The Probation Service of my Department has responsibility for the supervision and management of Community Service Orders.

The Programme for Government provides for a Community Pay Back Scheme which will build on the Community Service Scheme, currently the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review by an Independent Evaluator. The findings of that Review, which will be available mid year, will influence how best to progress this aspect of the Programme for Government currently under examination by my Department.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to give victims and communities a greater say in the work offenders do as part of their community service. [19297/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 provides for the performance of between 40 and 240 hours of unpaid work in the community under the supervision of the Probation Service by a person who is 16 years or over, who has been convicted of an offence, for which the appropriate penalty would be an immediate custodial sentence and who has given his/her consent to the Court. Community Service Orders have been available as a community sanction to Courts since 1985.

In 2007 Courts in Ireland imposed 1519 Community Service Orders and offenders under the supervision of the Probation Service providing for 217,879 hours of unpaid community service work for their communities in lieu of prison sentences. The range of work generally carried out by offenders on Community Service Orders, has included painting, decorating, landscaping, clearing/maintenance of community facilities (indoor and outdoor) restoration or enhancement of existing facilities such as community centres, youth clubs, grass cutting, cleaning graveyards and work with community groups in groups.

The express purpose of Community Service is to provide benefit at no cost to communities, and indirectly to victims through the work of offenders as reparation. Community Service is widely recognised as a practical and visible embodiment of Restorative Justice principles and offender reparation, in particular. Community Service projects are identified and established with the assistance and support of local community organisations and interests. There is ongoing communication and consultation by the Probation Service with local communities to maximise the benefits of Community Service.

A key action within the current Probation Service Strategy and Workplan is to maximise the benefit of Community Service to local communities by reforming, revitalising and restructuring its delivery. An independent review of the operation of Community Service is currently being completed by consultants to advise on the most appropriate model and structure of operation of Community Service. Having regard to the commitment in the Programme for Government, I await the findings of that review which are due mid year.