John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the difficulties being experienced in the recruitment of social worker assessors for adoption purposes; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in the Waterford area of the south Health Service Executive there are four vacancies with two on career breaks and two on maternity leave; the steps she is taking to resolve this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3730/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for adoption assessments. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's south-eastern area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.