Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of whole-time equivalent social workers employed by the Health Service Executive on 1 May 2009; the number of whole-time equivalent social workers employed by the HSE on 1 October 2010; the number of new employees employed as whole-time equivalent social workers by the HSE between 1 May 2009 and 1 October 2010; the number of whole-time equivalent social workers assigned to child protection and child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39508/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's Implementation Plan for the findings of the Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers before the end of 2011 to enable the HSE to fulfil its statutory obligations that every child in care should have a care plan and an allocated social worker.

The Government provided an amount of €15m in 2010 to advance the actions in the Ryan Report Implementation Plan, including the recruitment of an additional 200 social work posts in 2010. The recruitment of an additional 200 social workers was provided for in the HSE Service Plan 2010. The filling of social work vacancies and the recruitment of additional social workers was exempted from the current public sector recruitment moratorium.

The latest available information from the HSE's Employment Census, in respect of August 2010, shows an increase of 93 social work posts to date in 2010. I would point out that there is a time lag between individuals taking up duty and their inclusion in the HSE Employment Census. The HSE has assured me that the targeted increase in social work employment for 2010 will be met. In this regard the HSE has advised that contracts have issued in respect of 199 posts under the Ryan Report Implementation Plan, while a further 4 posts have been accepted by candidates whose clearances are being processed.

In relation to the specific enquiries, these have been referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.