Annual Output Statement 2007
NOTE : The purpose of the Output Statement is to match key outputs and strategic impacts to financial and staffing inputs for a calendar year. The outputs in the statement are based on the year 2007 and they reflect all work done during 2007 on prosecution files and legal proceedings whether the files were received in 2007 or in previous years. For this reason, statistics quoted in the statement are not directly comparable to statistics quoted in Chapter 8 of this report which are compiled on the basis of the year the file was received in the Office.
The fundamental function of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is the direction and supervision of public prosecutions and related criminal matters. The majority of cases dealt with by the Office are received from the Garda Síochána, the primary national investigating agency. However, some cases are also referred to the Office by specialised investigative agencies including the Revenue Commissioners, Government Departments, the Health & Safety Authority, An Post, the Competition Authority, the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities.
High Level Goal
To provide on behalf of the People of Ireland a prosecution service that is independent, fair and effective.
Impact Indicator
The extent to which an independent, effective and fair prosecution service is maintained.
Programme Objectives
The consideration of criminal investigation files submitted to the Office and the timely taking of decisions regarding whether or not a prosecution should be initiated or whether a prosecution already initiated by the Garda Síochána should be maintained.
To ensure that decisions to prosecute are acted upon in a timely manner and in accordance with the published Guideleines for Prosecutors.
The Office is funded by a Vote of the Oireachtas. This Vote provides for the salaries and expenses of the Director and his staff, the salaries and expenses of the State Solicitor Service, fees payable to counsel engaged by the Director to prosecute cases in the various courts and the payment of costs awarded against the State arising out of Judicial Review and other legal proceedings. Expenditure on the last two items is demand led and depends on the volume of criminal work processed through the Courts in any given year. The figure for Appropriations in Aid relates principally to the recovery of costs awarded to the State in criminal proceedings. As this varies widely from year to year, a nominal figure is shown.
The increase in 2008 over 2007 expenditure is largely due to the transfer of the State Solicitor Service to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
|
BUDGET 2007 € Million |
Provisional Outturn 2007 € million |
BUDGET 2008 € Million |
% Change on Outturn | |
|
Voted expenditure |
35.81 |
34.70 |
44.55 |
+28% |
|
Non-Voted (State Source) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Gross Expenditure |
35.81 |
34.70 |
44.55 |
+28% |
|
Appropriations in Aid |
0.02 |
0.09 |
0.02 |
- |
|
Net Expenditure |
35.79 |
34.60 |
44.53 |
+29% |
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions pursues a single programme, the provision on behalf of the People of Ireland of a prosecution service that is independent, fair and effective.
INPUTS
|
BREAKDOWN OF TOTAL GROSS EXPENDITURE BYSTRATEGIC OBJECTIVE | |||||
|
2007 |
2008 |
% Change 2007 over 2006 | |||
|
Budget € Million |
Outturn € million |
Budget € Million | |||
|
Administration expenditure |
Pay |
2.48 |
2.18 |
2.88 |
33% |
|
non-Pay |
4.08 |
3.02 |
4.29 |
42% | |
|
Programme expenditure |
Pay |
10.32 |
9.50 |
11.53 |
21% |
|
non-Pay |
18.92 |
20.02 |
25.85 |
29% | |
|
Total Gross Expenditure |
35.80 |
34.70 |
44.55 |
28% | |
|
Appropriations-in-Aid |
-0.02 |
-0.09 |
-0.02 |
-78% | |
|
Net Expenditure |
35.78 |
34.61 |
44.53 |
29% | |
|
2007 | |||||
|
Number of Staff employed at end of 2007 (whole time equivalent) |
183 | ||||
OUTPUTS
|
2007 Output Target |
2007 Outturn |
2008 Output Target |
|
Directions issued in approximately 7,500 – 8,000 files submitted by investigation agencies. |
Directions issued in relation to 10,300 suspects on 8450 files. |
Directions issued in relation to approximately 10,000 suspects on files submitted by investigation agencies. |
|
Prosecutorial decisions taken within target timescales: 40% of cases within 2 weeks 50% of cases within 4 weeks 75% of cases within 3 months |
5 % of cases within 2 weeks 64% of cases within 4 weeks 83% of cases within 3 months |
Prosecutorial decisions taken within target timescales: 40% of cases within 2 weeks 50% of cases within 4 weeks 75% of cases within 3 months |
|
Directly deal with approximately 2,500 Dublin District Courts prosecution files. |
2,200 files received and dealt with. |
Directly deal with approximately 2,500 Dublin District Courts prosecution files. |
|
Handle approximately 2,000 District Court appeals,including appeals in cases prosecuted by the Garda Síochána under delegated authority. |
2,600 files received and dealt with. |
Handle approximately 2,000 District Court appeals, including appeals in cases prosecuted by the Garda Síochána under delegated authority. |
|
Directly deal with approximately 1,300 new indictable cases and also ongoing indictable cases from previous years which have not yet been concluded. |
1,900 new indictable cases dealt with as well as ongoing indictable cases from previous years. |
Directly deal with approximately 1,800 new indictable cases and also ongoing indictable cases from previous years which have not yet been concluded. |
|
(There is no 2007 output target as this service was transferred to the Director’s Office during the course of the year.) |
(There is no 2007 outturn as this service was transferred to the Director’s Office during the course of the year.) |
Manage the 32 solicitors in private practice who comprise the State Solicitor Service and who deal criminal prosecutions on Circuits other than the Dublin Circuit. |
|
(There is no 2007 output arget as this service was transferred to the Director’s Office during the course of the year.) |
(There is no 2007 outturn as this service was transferred to the Director’s Office during the course of the year.) |
Acting through the State Solicitor Service, deal with approximately 1,500 new indictable cases and also ongoing indictable cases from previous years which have not yet been concluded. |
|
Deal with approximately 1,700 High Court Bail Applications and approximately 350 Judicial Review cases. |
1,700 Bail applications and 400 Judicial Review cases received and dealt with |
Deal with approximately 1,700 High Court Bail Applications and approximately 350 Judicial Review cases. |