DPP says cutbacks will affect number of prosecutions

Some cases prosecuted in the District Court may have to be handed back to An Garda Síochána for prosecution in light of the cuts in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, James Hamilton has warned.

The DPP was referring to the impact of additional cuts in his office's budget on the functioning of the office. He said he would welcome any independent management consultant being sent in to examine where further economies could be made.

"We were asked to make a 3 per cent cut in payroll costs and we succeeded, largely by giving up our Abbey Street office," he said. "Having agreed on the Estimates and signed off on them, we got a communication to say we would have to pay the 3.5 per cent pay increase next year out of existing resources.

"Our administrative budget is quite small. There are three big items in our budget - staff costs, fees to counsel and legal costs that are ordered against us.

"We can do nothing about the legal costs. We have already cut back on fees to counsel after talking to the Bar Council.

"So the only other way is by cutting staff or not prosecuting certain cases, like some at District Court level.

"Already the number of files this year is running 6 per cent ahead of last year. There's about a 5 per cent increase every year. I have no control over the number of files I get."

CAROL COULTER, Legal Affairs Editor

More story at-http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1023/1224625124824.html

© 2008 The Irish Times

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