Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

On the second issue, it is a matter for the DPP and the Garda and I do not have a role in that regard.

With regard to the social workers, while there have been 100 appointments this year, some of these are temporary staff who have been made permanent and some staff have taken retirement, so the net additional position is approximately 50. Therefore, there is a further number to be gained and it is my ambition to achieve that by the end of next year. However, resources obviously will be an issue and those matters will have to be resolved in terms of the ongoing Estimates and discussions with the Department of Finance.

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