Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy of the probation service in locating probation centres in residential areas; if it is planned to do so at Westview House, St. Patrick's Hill, Cork; the guarantees the probation service give to allay the concerns regarding the safety of school-going teenagers in five adjacent secondary schools and for local residents; and his plans to move the young persons probation service from the centre in Cove Street. [46562/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Probation Service has developed a partnership approach over many years within communities and developed local links where projects are established. It is the policy of the Probation Service when deciding where to locate facilities for offenders to take local concerns and accessibility for clients into account and to consider a range of issues including public safety, in the operation of the centre and its activities.

In line with this approach the Probation Service recently held an open evening at Westview House for local residents and received positive feedback from residents that the premises was back in use. A number of local residents also offered to do voluntary work with the young people at the premises. The young people who attend Westview House have been deemed by a court to be suitable candidates for community supervision or activities. I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 168 on 9 December 2009. The Deputy will note that the premises in question has been used by the Probation Service for over 25 years.