Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will consider extending the contracts of employment for those temporary community welfare officers, currently employed until 30 June 2011 who facilitated the transfer of community welfare services from the Health Service Executive to the Department of Social Protection, in view of the very significant work of these employees in dealing with those looking for help. [10603/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The transfer of the Community Welfare Service from the Health Service Executive (HSE) is due to be completed by 1st October 2011. As and from 1st January 2011, all staff of this Service were seconded to the Department of Social Protection, but continue to be employees of the HSE, up to 30 September 2011. I have been advised that the staff in question were employed in a temporary capacity by the HSE in 2010 for a period of six months. These contracts were subsequently extended on the basis of being terminated on a phased basis from end-June to end-September 2011. The HSE has appointed Transition Managers from within the Community Welfare Service, to work with the Department of Social Protection to oversee the transfer of the service to that Department and assist with practical issues that arise in this regard.