Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of social workers currently in the Health Service Executive north-east region; the way in which this figure compares with the average for each other HSE region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34945/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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With regard to the number of social workers currently employed in the HSE, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans she or her Department has to increase the number of social workers in the Health Service Executive north-east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34946/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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My Department has written to the Health Service Executive setting out the overall approved employment control ceiling for 2010. As part of this approval, written confirmation has been provided to the HSE that the general moratorium on recruitment, promotion and the payment of acting up allowances does not apply to specific designated grades. Delegated sanction has been given to the HSE for the creation and filling of frontline posts, including social worker posts. The approval indicated that vacancies in existing posts in these grades may continue to be filled. New posts may also be created in these grades, up to a specified limit, provided that the HSE is satisfied in each case that there is no scope to redeploy an equivalent post from the hospital sector to the primary and community care sector. This moratorium exemption provides for an increase in the number of social worker posts, in line with Government policy, in order to meet the requirements of integrated care delivery and primary care needs particularly in respect of children at risk, the elderly and those with disabilities.

With regard to the recruitment of social workers in the HSE North East region, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.