Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons the courts have directed to carry out community service since 2002 to date in 2009; the number of persons directed to carry out community service who have been injured or who have complained of an injury during this service; the number of persons who have lodged compensation claims for injuries sustained during their community service; the amount of compensation which has been paid out to persons who lodged claims; and the number of compensation claims which are currently before his Department. [40113/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Information as to the number of persons the courts have directed to carry out community service is a matter for the Courts Service, which under the Courts Service Act 1998 is independent in the performance of its functions (section 4(3)), which include the management of the courts, (section 5(a)) and the provision of statistics (section 5(c)).

By way of indication I can say that the number of Community Service Orders dealt with by the Probation Service is available from the website of the Probation Service www.probation.ie and the figure in question for 2008 is 1,413.

All personal injury claims against the State for injuries incurred by individuals performing unpaid work as a condition of a Community Service Order are managed on behalf of the State, by the State Claims Agency. I have been advised by the State Claims Agency that during the specified period, they have handled two such claims on behalf of the State. One has been settled for €2,000 plus costs and the other is still active.

In relation to the number of persons who have been involved in an incident while performing Community Service during the specified period I can confirm that the Probation Service has recorded 19 incidents, which for the most part, involved minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes.