Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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703. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of funded positions in young person’s probation; the number of filled positions in young person’s probation between the years 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51652/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Young Person Probation (YPP) is an operational region of the Probation Service that assesses and supervises approximately 750 children referred to it each year. YPP Probation Officers work with children in the community, in detention and post-detention. Within YPP, there are three dedicated teams, Dublin North, Dublin South and Cork/Limerick.

Probation Service staff working in this region are trained in specific approaches to working with children and young people who are involved in the criminal justice system.

Outside of the dedicated teams mentioned, theYoung Person Probation (YPP) is an operational region of the Probation Service that assesses and supervises approximately 750 children referred to it each year. YPP Probation Of Probation Service provides child specific training to equip Probation Officers assigned to work with children where there is no dedicated YPP team. The Probation Service prioritises children’s referrals, both at assessment and supervision stages.

I am advised that the current number of funded positions across Young Persons Probation teams is 18, and a breakdown of current staffing and vacancies across those teams is contained in the attached table 1.

The number of filled positions (Newly hired staff) from 2020 to date in 2025 is contained in the table 2 attached.

Table 1:

YPP Staffing to date 2025