DPP sets out strategy for next three years

Catherine Pierse

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has grown from an office of just four legal officers in 1975 to almost 300 staff at the end of 2024.

“Our new strategy statement seeks to build on that strong legacy, as well as on the progress made to deliver on actions under the strategy statement 2022-2024,” Ms Pierce said today.

The 16-page document notes a “significant upsurge in court activity”, with a 149 per cent increase in the number of court dates in the Central Criminal Court since 2019 and a 24 per cent increase in the number of Circuit Court sitting dates in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Courts over the same period.

Files received by the ODPP “involve more complex and specialised case work, increased reliance on international co-operation and greater resourcing input”, it adds.

Ms Pierse said the new three-year strategy comes “at a time when our operating environment continues to evolve at pace”.

She said: “We have experienced significant increased demands on our service with a marked increase in activity levels across all criminal court jurisdictions. This, alongside the growth in the volume of digital data relevant to criminal investigations, continues to impact on the work we do and how we do it.”

Over the next three years, the work and resources of ODPP will focus on the delivery of three strategic goals:

1. Driving excellence and high professional standards.
2. Maintaining public confidence in the criminal prosecution service.
3. Building a culture of innovation and collaboration to support service improvements in the criminal justice system.

Ms Pierse said: “I am conscious of the pressures and delays that exist across the criminal justice system in progressing cases from complaint to finalisation and of the impact on all of those involved.

“It will be necessary for all of us in the criminal justice system to work together to effectively respond to the reform challenges that lie ahead and to improve the experiences of people who interact in the system.”

She added: “While this strategy focuses on the key actions that we will take over the next three years, the broader feedback provided during the process will serve to inform our thinking about a wider range of initiatives that could be taken into the future.”