Files submitted to DPP up 40 per cent since 2017

Catherine Pierse

Both the volume and complexity of cases has increased in a period of “unprecedented growth in demands on the Irish prosecution service”, the DPP, Catherine Pierse, has said in her office’s new strategy statement for 2022–2024.

The document sets out the office’s focus on the delivery of four strategic goals: service, digital, collaboration and people.

As of June 2022, the DPP’s office has 230 staff, of whom 60 per cent are legal and 40 per cent are corporate and administrative support.

Ms Pierse said: “A functioning prosecution system is fundamental to the rule of law in any democracy. Every case that is submitted to our office involves real people — victims, suspects, witnesses — and our decisions can have life-changing consequences for those involved.

“The staff of my office have a very strong awareness of the responsibility that this brings, and of the overriding importance of ensuring that we perform our functions independently and to the highest possible standards.

“The strategy therefore places an importance both on what we do and how we do our work. Our shared values will guide our work and support the delivery of our strategic goals and priorities over the next few years.”