Mr. Paul Carroll:

As we speak, there is no definitive mapping or equitable distribution of resources according to need. What we have been doing and will continue to do in the Department is to look at that issue, try to map it and to have equitable resources across offices and across divisions. As Ms Vaughan mentioned earlier, we are in the process of doubling the number of case officers. What my colleagues and I did at divisional level was to consider where the case officers should be located. As we look at the reconfiguration of services, we are trying to increase the complement of case officers in the areas that have fewer case officers per thousand on the live register. The old social welfare offices were staffed relative to the live register. The then FÁS staff were distributed in accordance with the range of services it provided, as was the community welfare service. Each of those services inherently mapped service provision around need in the area. We now have the opportunity to reconfigure services to release people. In my own division I will be redeploying staff from one area into Coolock, Finglas and Swords. I was asked if the number of staff in Ballymun would be the same as the number in Blackrock. Ballymun, as the area of most disadvantage in my division, currently has by far the greatest proportion of activation resources per head of population compared to anywhere else in my division. That is not just in terms of staff from the Department of Social Protection, but staff in the local employment services, with whom we work closely.