The Probation Service is an agency of the Department of Justice and Equality committed to working to achieve the high level objectives and policy goals of the Department in working for safer communities. The Service works closely with the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service (IPS), An Garda Síochána, the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), the Parole Board and many organisations in the community. Our role is to contribute to public safety by the management of community sanctions and measures, the effective assessment and management of offenders and by facilitating the re-integration of ex-offenders.

Speaking on the publication of the Probation Service Annual Report 2015, the Tánaiste said,

“I note the work being done by the Probation Service to reverse the downward trend in the use of Community Service Orders. The use of prison as a sanction of last resort is a core principal of penal reform and I know the Probation Service has the capacity to take on the supervision and rehabilitation of more offenders.”

“Given the previous finding that 89% of offenders on supervision have substance abuse issues I am pleased to learn from the Annual Report that the Probation Service finalised its Alcohol Awareness Programme and made it available for national delivery in 2015 by Probation staff and partner community based organisations.”