Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the 30 additional facilitators announced as part of Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal report in December 2008 that have been appointed to its social and family support service; and if this service has been implemented on a nationwide basis. [43123/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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To date 21.5 of the 30 additional facilitator posts announced as part of Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal Report in December 2008 have been appointed to the Department's social and family support service.

The number of facilitator posts currently filled is 61.5 (half post is due to a work sharing arrangement). It is envisaged that this number will increase to 70 in the coming months.

The facilitator service is available on a nationwide basis to all social welfare recipients via the local network. Facilitators are assigned to cover a geographical area. They hold open clinics and meet with people who have been referred either by the social welfare local office, the employment support section or by other agencies.