Written answers

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Probation and Welfare Service

9:00 pm

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that funding is provided to keep open an institution (details supplied) in County Sligo in order that it can continue to provide addiction counselling and recovery services; if he will provide an assurance that this institution will not close in view of the essential service it provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35163/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that my Department, in association with the Probation Service commissioned a 'Review of Adult Probation Residential Facilities' in 2007 in order to examine, inter alia, the management structure, overall governance and operation of the four residential facilities and the role of the Probation Service. The commission also sought recommendations for the future of the facilities. In addition, the review included an examination of the efficiency, effectiveness and value for money achieved from the funding provided. The report was completed at the end of July 2008 and provides the Probation Service and my Department with a very valuable 'blue print' of how the four facilities are currently operating.

I would like to advise the Deputy that the residential facility in question was established to provide short term accommodation to prisoners on release. It has no role in the provision of 'critical addiction counselling and recovery services' as stated by the Deputy. The findings of the review in respect of the facility detailed by the Deputy gave cause for concern. Of particular concern is that, "a clear vision, purpose and strategy for Kazelain is absent and it is difficult to determine its fit with the Probation Service's or any other strategy". The report notes the absence of 'structured activities' and "while Kazelain's literature aspires to provide personal development and independent living skills there are no specific programmes in place to achieve this". The overall conclusion of the Report was that the centre in question was "a costly project and represents very poor value for money given the service provided. Taking the average occupancy rate of 7, the staff to resident rations is 1.71, well above the norms for supported housing in the homeless sector." The report went on to say that the Board of Management "appears divided, dysfunctional and is not working in harmony with the acting manager". The evaluator got no sense that there was a clear, coherent vision for Kazelain in the context of its role of providing services for the Probation Service that is shared by all the Board members.

Following receipt of the report the Board of Management (BOM) of the centre received a letter from the Probation Service in September advising them of the findings and inviting them to a meeting with the senior management of the Probation Service. At the meeting held on 2 October, the Director of the Probation Service discussed the report's findings with the Board. They undertook to communicate their decision following their consideration of the findings in the review, in writing, to the Probation Service.

I am committed to finding the best option available to us to meet the accommodation needs of the client group of the Probation Service. The current report, combined with other reports on the facility, gives us a good basis upon which to make informed decisions that will ultimately lead to a better, more focussed and tailored service to this particular client group.

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