Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to introduce a community payback scheme requiring offenders to provide real services for the community; and the role he will give victims and communities who are affected by this scheme. [36457/08]

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 Review which is nearing completion, will influence how best to progress this aspect of the Programme for Government currently under examination by my Department.