Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

The HSE compiles a monthly census of employment in the public health and social care sector. The latest data available is in respect of January 2012. This shows that the total number of social workers employed in the HSE and in directly funded agencies was 2,435 whole time equivalents, WTEs. The impact of recent retirements will be more fully reflected in future monthly employment returns. The latest information from the HSE in respect of the number of social work staff who retired in February indicates that 31 social work staff retired. That is the most up-to-date figure, not the 45 mentioned in the Deputy's question. It refers to the end of January, so the figure I gave does not necessarily mean there were 31. Clearly, there is a great deal of movement at present in terms of recruitment of new social workers as well as the retirement of other social workers.

The HSE is actively reviewing the impact of recent retirements at national and regional level. The national director of children and family services, Gordon Jeyes, will apply his discretion over the course of the year to the filling of vacancies, having regard to identified need and subject to services being delivered within available resources. The HSE has in place an agreed service plan for 2012 and the challenge is to ensure full delivery of the range of commitments set out in that plan.

I am very much aware of the financial and service challenges facing the HSE in 2012. The Deputy will be aware of the budgetary challenges we had to meet last year. The challenges are such as to require acceleration of the reform programme across child and family services, leading to the establishment of a new and dedicated children and family support agency, to which the Government is fully committed.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Government has made additional budgeting provision of €19 million for child welfare and protection services compared to the funding made available last year. This compares to a reduction of €14 million which was made in the HSE's 2011 national service plan which was approved in December 2010. The additional funding made available for 2012 provides further impetus to the comprehensive reform of service delivery which is under way and which is aimed at generating the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

My Department will be working very closely with the HSE throughout the year to ensure the priorities set out in the HSE national service plan are implemented where they relate to children and family services. We have set an ambitious programme of work, one which is designed to strengthen significantly the policy, legislative and practice framework. Our shared goal is the delivery of appropriate, effective and consistent services, notwithstanding the very challenging and demanding circumstances in which these services are delivered.

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