Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I support Senator McFadden on this very good amendment, which is one from which we can derive much information. The Minister referred to 115 staff that would be brought into the Department. Where do these people come from? I fully agree that there must be a degree of flexibility in other Departments to allow the Minister to take people from other Departments and bring them into the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Perhaps it is a new phenomenon in Departments but it is welcome. We should have more flexibility. What Departments are these people coming from or are they temporary staff to do this job?

The amendment will require extra work but it is a worthwhile amendment. I hope the Minister will accept it. It is an important function of the Department that we would know how many people are in receipt of rent supplement and how many are on the waiting list. It is a valuable amendment.