Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of professional qualified social workers in the Health Service Executive area and especially those who understood that they will be offered a job but their employment was not proceeded with over the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24945/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Employment Control Framework for the Health Sector exempts a number of grades, including Social Workers, from the moratorium on recruitment to maintain essential services. Since 25 June 2010 the Health Service Executive has filled a total of 457 social worker vacancies. These were to satisfy the recommendations of the Ryan report and to fill other vacancies caused by retirements, maternity leave, etc. This recruitment of Social Workers has resulted in a net increase of 212 WTE to 2,448 WTE at end-July 2011.

Currently, the HSE is processing a further 242 posts (62 of which are to address the recommendations of the Ryan report) as follows

70 - in the clearance process/awaiting permission to issue contracts

91 - at job offer stage (the clearance process has not begun)

81 - at earlier stages of the recruitment process

In July 2011, the HSE made the decision to pause recruitment in order to assist in addressing its difficult financial situation. Notwithstanding this pause, exceptions are still being made address critical service risk.