Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of approved posts in the immigration and asylum sections of his Department and its agencies; the number of posts currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27098/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department (including the immigration and asylum areas) is required to operate within overall staffing levels approved by Government. The staffing of the immigration and asylum areas is dealt with in the same manner as obtains across the Department and is determined by: the availability of staff; the competing priorities of the many critical areas of responsibility handled by my Department; and overall Government policy on Civil Service numbers. Having said that, I am satisfied that the immigration and asylum areas are adequately resourced to meet the many challenges they face. In the circumstances, the question of significant numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled in the context of other Departmental priorities does not arise.