Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she proposes to deploy adequate staff throughout her Department in order to deal with the increased workload arising from the downturn in the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17351/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The increasing Live Register has meant that Local Offices, being a frontline service, have borne the brunt of the additional workload as a result of the downturn in the economy.

During the past year an additional 190 staff have been assigned to local offices throughout the country. In addition, as many local offices are very close to capacity as regards accommodating further staff, the Department has set up a number of central decision units around the country. Four such units are currently set up in Dublin, Sligo, Finglas and Carrick-on-Shannon. Each unit has 10 staff. It is now planned to establish three further units with 10 staff each in Roscommon, Tallaght and Wexford and these units should be operational within the next few months.

A further 16 Social Welfare Inspectors have been assigned to various locations throughout the country to undertake means testing and other work associated with processing claims for the jobseekers allowance. Staffing levels are being monitored on an on-going basis.