DPP: OUR LACK OF FUNDS IS CRIMINAL
Warning that resources shortfall may stop some trials going ahead
THE DPP’S office has warned that it can no longer deliver an effective prosecution service unless its funding is increased.
It has warned in a letter to the Department of Public Expenditure of a “significant” risk that criminal cases might not be prosecuted due to a shortfall in resources.
In a pre-budget submission, its acting deputy director Elizabeth Howlin warned the DPP office’s workload had increased by 41 per cent from 2017 to 2021.
And she revealed an eight-fold increase in cases relating to financial crime and fraud – with a jump of 820 per cent in what she described as “resourceintensive case work”.
She wrote: “Prosecutions arising from financial crime and corruption are in general very large complex cases, which require comprehensive expertise and resourcing.”
Ms Howlin revealed sexual offences
Una Healy with her kids Aoife Belle and Tadhg. Below, the siblings together are on the rise with close to 1,770 cases being dealt with by the DPP’S each office each year.
She added: “It is critically important to the administration of justice that this office is appropriately resourced to manage the
Paschal Donohoe TD volume of cases it now receives as well as its disclosure obligations with regard to the volume of data involved.” The DPP has called for an increase in its basic funding of up to €15million, with a request for an urgent initial top up of €9m for 2023. Yesterday, a spokesperson for the DPP’S office confirmed to RTE’S Colm O’mongain that €6.5m had been granted leaving a shortfall of €2.5m. The Office is now facing “acute funding pressures” after requests for additional resources were not met. news@irishmirror.ie