Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This arose when the Secretary General and deputy secretary were here and before the Committee of Public Accounts. We have taken into the Department 1,700 new employees and we are putting considerable emphasis, this year and next, on the training of staff, who are now working on general social welfare issues in respect of the various schemes of the Department.

With regard to credits – this is probably why the Deputy's issue arose – it must be asked whether a person is available for work. Without being too technical, I contend that is the key clarification point. The Deputy knows that better than I do.