Parliamentary Question: Probation and Welfare Service

11th June 2003

200. Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason he is proposing to establish a regional office for the probation and welfare service in the Donaghmede Shopping Centre; if he will reconsider his decision in view of the confined and built up nature of the location and the large number of children attending schools at primary and secondary level in the vicinity; if he will enter into discussions with a view to identifying an alternative location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16080/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The probation and welfare service office to be established in Donaghmede will be a local office rather than a regional office. The probation and welfare service has moved towards localisation of its offices within the past number of years. Local service delivery enhances co-operation from those people working with the service who are normally also based locally. In Dublin, the service has been successful in establishing offices in Dún Laoghaire, Ballyfermot, Tallaght, Finglas, Crumlin and Clondalkin. These offices are situated in local communities, alongside businesses, over shops, and within industrial units. No complaint has been received by the probation and welfare service to date from any member of the public about the behaviour of those attending a local office, nor has any complaint been brought to the attention of any officer of the service about the behaviour of those attending a local office.
The premises concerned were identified over three years ago by the service and the Office of Public Works as being suitable for a probation and welfare service local office. A lease was subsequently arranged with the owners of the shopping centre. Planning permission was sought and obtained in 2002 to adapt the building to service the needs of the service. It should be noted that the probation and welfare service will, for the most part, deal with people attending the office only on an appointment basis to meet their obligations to the courts or if they are in crisis due to homelessness or other personal or family difficulty. Clients include those on whom the court has ordered reports prior to considering the type of sanction it will impose and those who are on statutory orders, either a probation order or a community service order, from the court. In addition, parents whose children's behaviour is causing them concern often seek advice from service personnel. Others who visit service local offices include lawyers, gardaí, other statutory and voluntary agencies and representatives of local communities. There is no reason to believe the Donaghmede office will be any different from the other local offices in this regard.
While I appreciate that many people would feel that such offices would act as a magnet for undesirables, they do not have that effect in practice. Indeed, they are far less likely to attract any such persons than a busy criminal solicitors office would. I met representatives of the resident's associations adjacent to Donaghmede Shopping Centre in October 2002 and recently held a further meeting with local elected representatives on this matter. During these meetings, I acknowledged the concerns expressed about the possible impact on the area. However, I also encouraged all concerned to give the probation and welfare service the opportunity to demonstrate that the office can operate to professional standards as in the rest of the country.

A monitoring group for the office will be established comprising representatives of the residents, traders of the shopping centre, the property management group, the probation and welfare service and the Garda. The Minister has confirmed that it will be open to the monitoring group to seek a review of the decision to open the office after a period of six to 12 months in operation. A safety statement for the office, including protocols and procedures will be drawn up by the probation and welfare service. I intend to take appropriate action, if in the collective opinion of the monitoring group, it transpires that the presence of the office is linked to a significant rise in criminality in the area.