Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff employed by his Department in each of the social welfare local and district offices in County Kildare; if this number is compatible with Department specifications for each office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33408/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has allocated 37 posts for four different locations in County Kildare. A total of 26 posts are currently filled in Newbridge local office, with a further six posts in the Department's investigative office in Newbridge, two posts in the Department's investigative office in Athy and two posts in the investigative office in Naas.

There is currently one vacancy in the Department's Newbridge local office. As with other offices in the Department, the staffing allocation for the County Kildare offices is reviewed regularly. A review of the staffing allocation for the Newbridge local office is currently under way.

In addition to the above offices, the Department has a branch office in Athy, County Kildare, operated and managed by a branch manager. Branch managers are employed under a contract for services and are not employees of the Department. The contract under which each branch manager operates stipulates that she or he is required to provide the services of a competent deputy whenever she or he is absent for any reason and sufficient clerical assistance in order to allow for the efficient performance of the work of the office.