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Press release

Minister Niall Collins visits Probation Service Offices in Smithfield

Minister of State at the Department of Justice Niall Collins today visited the Probation Service in Haymarket, Smithfield, to discuss their vital role in reducing reoffending as well as improving outcomes for individuals within the criminal justice system, and for victims of crime.

Speaking on the visit, Minister Collins said:

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet with Mark Wilson, Director of the Probation Service, and the incredible team here in Smithfield. I commend the vital contributions of every member of the Probation Service in furthering the important work of rehabilitation, reintegration, supervising court referrals and facilitating restorative justice.”

The Minister also discussed the Service’s focus on diverting young offenders away from a life of crime, and in delivering Ireland’s Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027.

“The Government is committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services.

Ireland’s youth justice system prioritises early intervention, diversion, detention as a last resort and addressing root causes of offending behaviour. Interventions provided by the Probation Service are pivotal to ensuring that young people who may be at risk of committing crime are given the opportunities they need.”

Speaking further on the importance of Young Persons Probation, Minister Collins said:

“Young Persons Probation (YPP) is an operational region of the Probation Service that assesses and supervises approximately 700 children each year. YPP Probation Officers work with children in the community, in detention and post-detention.

“The Probation Service is also a key stakeholder in the Youth–Joint Agency Response to Crime (Y-JARC), a multi-agency approach employed in the case of prolific young offenders. The Y-JARC response focuses on the volume of crime, desistance, as well as the child’s needs.”

Speaking at the visit of Minister of State’s visit to the Probation Service, Mark Wilson, Director of the Probation Service, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, and appreciate the opportunity to showcase the vital work of the Probation Service, especially in the area of youth justice. “Our Young Persons Probation teams work tirelessly to support young people in turning their lives around, reducing reoffending, and building safer communities through education, intervention and restorative approaches. Minister Collins visit underscores our shared commitment in the development of opportunities for children and young people, addressing offending behaviour and ultimately building safer and more inclusive communities across Ireland.”

Notes for the editor

  • The Probation Service is an executive agency of the Department of Justice. It aims to support community safety, reduce reoffending and create fewer victims of crime.
  • It is responsible for the assessment and management of offenders in the community. It provides services to adult and young offenders in the community, in detention and in prisons. Services are organised nationally and delivered locally through probation supervision, community service, community return and anti-offending behaviour programmes.
  • The Probation Service is focused on ensuring court-ordered supervision is implemented; reducing the likelihood of reoffending and risk of harm to the public; and making good the harm done by crime (reparation and restorative justice). It delivers the following services:
    • Offender assessment, supervision and sentence management
    • Community Service and Community Return Schemes
    • Young Persons Probation (YPP)
    • Community Partner Initiatives (inc. Community-Based Organisations funding).
  • The Probation Service employs more than 600 staff across 50 locations nationwide. Eighty-percent of professional-grade staff work directly with offenders and victims.
  • The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 is a whole of government approach to children and young people at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
  • It commits to extending the remit of the Youth Diversion Project (YDP) network to provide dedicated family support, early intervention, and Harder-to-Reach programmes throughout the State.
  • YDPs are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives that seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families.
  • On average the YDPs engage with between 3,500 and 4,000 young people across the State in any one year.