Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

Yes, absolutely. We have quite an extensive range of training supports, an employee assistance service and we regularly try to look to see what other innovations can be introduced in order to try to support staff both through their own training or local management support in terms of dealing with the circumstances they face.

In respect of the areas that face particular challenges, there is no doubt that as the live register reduces, obviously we have fewer people of working age presenting to the Department looking for working age supports, however, we are seeing some pressures in the sections dealing with in-work supports because as more people go into employment we have many more people availing of in-work supports. Equally in the whole illness related schemes - illness benefit, invalidity pension, disability allowance, carer's allowance - undoubtedly we have experienced quite a lot of pressure. That is something we are working through and trying to improve.