Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 607: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of centres that provide treatment services to sex offenders in the community; their geographic locations; the number of offenders attending each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30427/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that the Probation Service deals with sex offenders referred by the Court following a guilty finding or plea to a specific sex offence or offences. To assist in its supervision of sex offenders the Probation Service, in partnership with the Granada Institute, runs the Lighthouse treatment programmes for sex offenders under its supervision. Currently there are three group programmes in operation. Two are based in Dublin and one in Cork. The programmes deal with offenders from all parts of the country. The Cork programme currently has attendees from Cork, Waterford, Louth, Tipperary and Kerry. The two Dublin programmes currently have attendees from Dublin, Monaghan, Mayo, Wexford, and Cavan.

Each group programme has the capacity for eight offenders, giving a total of twenty four places. Currently there are seven offenders attending the Cork programme and eight attending each of the two Dublin based programmes, giving a current total of twenty three offenders nationally attending Lighthouse group treatment programmes. For reasons of efficiency and responsivity the programmes run on a rolling group basis, taking in new participants following assessment of suitability and as vacancies arise when others complete treatment. An eighth offender is expected to join the Cork programmes in the next week or two.

In addition to the group work programmes and in response to specific needs, the Lighthouse programme offers a limited number of individual places for sex offender treatment. Currently there are seven sex offenders receiving individual sex offender treatment. There are therefore 30 sex offenders currently attending Lighthouse sex offender treatment programmes.

In addition to the Lighthouse treatment programmes, individual offenders on supervision may attend for sex offender treatment with individual therapists or at privately run centres such as the Granada Institute or centres such as Cosc in the North West run by the Health Service Executive.