COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 14, 2008

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor A. McGaughey

To ask the Manager the extent of involvement of SDCC with the Probation Services and those ordered to carry out community service. Can the Manager outline the nature of work carried out, the numbers involved and the types of benefits accruing to the local communities as a result of this work?

REPLY:

The Council has worked in co-operation with the Probation Service for many years.  Persons sentenced by the courts to Community Service have been engaged in the removal of graffiti and grass cutting in Council housing estates.  Council officials have established good working relations with Probation Officers and the Council is always willing to identify appropriate tasks and to supply the necessary materials for the execution of the work.  The Council has assigned five Estate Management Officers to cover the whole county area and each of these officers would welcome further engagement with the Probation Service.  It should be noted that the Probation Service are represented on the inter-agency Childrens Services Committee.

Council staff are not in a position to state how many persons sentenced to Community Service, were involved in the above mentioned works.  Many tasks are undertaken at weekends and the Council’s direct involvement is with the probation office supervisors only.

The benefit to the Community of this type of community service is that the appearance of many estates is improved through the removal of graffiti and painting.  Many elderly residents have also benefited through having their grass cut.