Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff employed currently in her Department; the number that currently have no office space or workstation; the number that must remain away from work as a result; if she will provide the information in tabular readable form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27327/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As of 1 June 2008 there were 4,857 staff employed by the Department. I am not aware of any staff member in the Department in the situation as described by the Deputy.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans for recruiting clerical staff in the Louth, Meath and Cavan areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27355/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under current agreements, all permanent clerical posts in the Department's existing offices in Louth, Meath and Cavan must be filled, in the first instance, from a central transfer list under arrangements agreed at Civil Service General Council. The names of civil servants wishing to relocate to these locations are noted in order of their date of application.

Under the Programme of Decentralisation the Department is due to relocate 85 posts to Carrickmacross and 440 posts to Drogheda. All posts will be filled in the first instance from the Central Applications Facility in line with agreed decentralisation protocols.

Any shortfall at clerical level, either from permanent vacancies arising or from a shortfall for decentralising posts, will be filled from Public Appointment Service panels.

The Department recently established panels of temporary clerical staff, following a competitive process in the locations above. These panels will be used as necessary to cover temporary staffing requirements such as the absence of a permanent member of staff due to maternity leave.