Marie Sherlock
Ceist:766. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of probation staff in each probation area for each of the years 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025. [4362/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 20 January 2026
Ceisteanna (766, 767)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:767. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of probation staff vacancies in each probation area. [4404/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together.
The Probation Service have provided my Department with the below information in answer to the Deputy's questions.
Table 1: Current vacancies in the Probation Service, by region
|
Area |
Number of Vacancies |
Breakdown |
|
Dublin North & North East |
6 |
1 Clerical Officer 1 Senior Probation Officer, 4 Probation Officer |
|
Dublin South & Wicklow |
5 |
1 Probation Assistants, 4 Probation Officers |
|
South West Region |
1 |
1 Clerical Officer |
|
Cork Region |
1 |
1 Executive Officer |
|
North, North West & Westmeath |
6 |
1 Clerical Officer, 1 Executive Officer, 1 Probation Assistant, 3 Probation Officers |
|
South East Region |
12 |
2 Clerical Officers, 2 Probation Assistants, 1 Senior Probation Officer, 7 Probation Officer |
|
YPP |
3 |
1 Probation Assistant, 2 Probation Officers |
|
RJ & Social Inclusion |
1 |
1 Higher Executive Officer |
|
Staff Learning & Development |
1 |
1 Probation Officer |
|
Corporate |
7 |
4 Service Officers, 2 AP, 1 Director |
|
Community Sanctions & Services |
1 |
1 Higher Executive Officer |
|
Prisons North |
2 |
1 Senior Probation Officer, 1 Probation Officer |
|
Prisons South |
2 |
2 Probation Officers |
|
Total |
48 |
|
The Probation Service have further advised that, as announced in Budget 2026, the recruitment of additional staff has been sanctioned. A process is underway to identify new posts and commence recruitment of same.
Table 2: Number of Probation Service staff 2025, by area and function
|
Areas |
FTE |
TOTAL |
|
Dublin North & North East |
47.6 |
50 |
|
Dublin South & Wicklow |
56.95 |
59 |
|
South West Region |
47.8 |
49 |
|
Cork Region |
40.9 |
42 |
|
North, North West & Westmeath |
67.9 |
70 |
|
South East Region |
76.8 |
79 |
|
YPP |
17.8 |
18 |
|
RJ & Social Inclusion |
5 |
5 |
|
Staff Learning & Development |
7.6 |
8 |
|
Corporate |
47.8 |
49 |
|
Community Sanctions & Services |
34.6 |
35 |
|
Prisons North |
31.6 |
32 |
|
Prisons South |
22.4 |
23 |
|
SORT / SORAM |
2.5 |
3 |
|
Total |
507.25 |
522 |
Table 3: Number of Probation Service staff 2020, by area and function
|
Areas |
FTE |
TOTAL |
|
Dublin North & North East |
47.5 |
52 |
|
Dublin South & Wicklow |
42.7 |
45 |
|
South West Region |
36.2 |
38 |
|
Cork Region |
28.5 |
29 |
|
North, North West & Westmeath |
57.2 |
59 |
|
South East Region |
56.6 |
59 |
|
YPP |
17.2 |
18 |
|
RJ & Social Inclusion |
3 |
3 |
|
Staff Learning & Development |
9 |
9 |
|
Corporate |
27.9 |
30 |
|
Community Sanctions & Services |
33.6 |
34 |
|
Prisons |
40.2 |
43 |
|
SORT / SORAM |
5 |
5 |
|
Total |
404.6 |
424 |
The Probation Service have advised that data showing the breakdown of Probation Service staff in each area and function is not available for the years 2015, 2010 and 2005. However, the below table provides total number of Probation Service Staff in these years.
Table 4: Total Probation Service Staff in 2015, 2010 and 2005
|
Year |
Total Probation Service Staff |
|
2015 |
395 |
|
2010 |
424 |
|
2005 |
436 |
Question No. 767 answered with Question No. 766.