We do take certain steps.”The Probation Service ensures a range of court ordered sanctions are implemented. Source: Probation Service Annual Report 2024A probation report can help identify what’s going on in a person’s life that could affect their chances of reoffending. “In the last budget, the Probation Service got an extra €6.7m while the prison service got an additional €39m and there’s a lot more people in the probation service as clients than there are in prison. They have built up a very good network and a good relationship with the courts service, the prison service, the guards, the councils and many other stakeholders. I suppose what we do is a vocation for many of us working in the Probation Service.”

Source: The Herald March 06, 2026 19:26 UTC